2008 Woodie Awards
America's Next Top Model
Kara Agosto
Issue date: 11/17/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
What happens when you put fourteen gorgeous women in an apartment together? Absolute chaos dressed in designer clothing with glossy lipsticks and eye shadow. Drama is constantly in play as calories are counted and carbohydrates are avoided.
Essentially, America's Next Top Model is boot camp in which the girls learn the ropes of the business. Each week a challenge is presented that the group will later be tested on, ranging from the catwalk to underwater photo shoots. In the grand tradition of "reality television," one member of the cast is voted off each week. As the weeks pass, competition becomes more and more cutthroat.
This season's contestants could not be more diverse. These women are from many backgrounds and have very different styles that would be new and exciting for the modeling world. Twenty-one year old Nicole Borud, who is still currently competing for the title, believes that she is the embodiment of a model with a former punk rock influence. Julie Titus, although eliminated from the running, was an East Indian dancer, with a very ethnic and intriguing look. Nigerian born Yaya Da Costa Johnson is one of the favorites to win. This girl has got it all: beauty and brains. She attends one of the Ivy League Universities and can speak three languages, which could be a major advantage in her modeling career.
The diva of this season is Eva Pigford. She is no stranger to confrontation. Having no qualms about her opinions, she expresses them freely, irritating other members of the group. Despite her overbearing and controversial attitudes, she is still one of the more stunning contestants. Her friend, Ann Markley, has also been involved in some of the arguments in the apartment as well. Fed up with the less-than-neat habits one of her fellow models (Cassie Grisham), Ann carves a vulgar message into the reduced fat brownies that she neglected to clean up. After a verbal battle, Ann threatens to tell Tyra about Cassie's dirty secret: her bulimia.
Essentially, America's Next Top Model is boot camp in which the girls learn the ropes of the business. Each week a challenge is presented that the group will later be tested on, ranging from the catwalk to underwater photo shoots. In the grand tradition of "reality television," one member of the cast is voted off each week. As the weeks pass, competition becomes more and more cutthroat.
This season's contestants could not be more diverse. These women are from many backgrounds and have very different styles that would be new and exciting for the modeling world. Twenty-one year old Nicole Borud, who is still currently competing for the title, believes that she is the embodiment of a model with a former punk rock influence. Julie Titus, although eliminated from the running, was an East Indian dancer, with a very ethnic and intriguing look. Nigerian born Yaya Da Costa Johnson is one of the favorites to win. This girl has got it all: beauty and brains. She attends one of the Ivy League Universities and can speak three languages, which could be a major advantage in her modeling career.
The diva of this season is Eva Pigford. She is no stranger to confrontation. Having no qualms about her opinions, she expresses them freely, irritating other members of the group. Despite her overbearing and controversial attitudes, she is still one of the more stunning contestants. Her friend, Ann Markley, has also been involved in some of the arguments in the apartment as well. Fed up with the less-than-neat habits one of her fellow models (Cassie Grisham), Ann carves a vulgar message into the reduced fat brownies that she neglected to clean up. After a verbal battle, Ann threatens to tell Tyra about Cassie's dirty secret: her bulimia.