CNTM: Who Been Sipping that Jesus Juice...?

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Stephany photographed by Marvin Bartley

This week was... interesting. There were a lot of problems that had nothing to do with the girls, but can we just agree that the drama between them is just too draining to be worth mentioning anymore? Kendra, you are not humble if you talk about how humble you are. Athaliah, someone not asking excuse, while rude, is not a capital offense. Calm down. Lisa, stop with the passive-aggressiveness. It's not cute. And all of you, leave poor Treveen alone please. There's a reason she's shooting past the rest of you while you battle for a spot in the bottom two. Top Model is a family franchise. There is no reason TV6 should have to place a parental guidance warning before the show. Tone it down ladies. 

But as we mention the bottom two, can we please discuss how completely messed up the call out order was this week? AGAIN? Somebody on that judging panel is hitting that Jesus Juice a little hard. I won't say who, but it rhymes with "Shmashmendy"... I mean Wendy. Wendy is sipping that Jesus Juice. There is literally no other explanation for this mess.

Frankly, I'm a little surprised that they pulled out the nude shoot so early in the game, but if the rumours are true and this is to be the only season, I guess that makes sense. Aside from the usual issues, this episode was plagued by the phantom boom mic, which kept popping into frame at the most obnoxious times. My other peeve this week was the photos themselves. Not the girls, mind you, but the composition of each shot. So many otherwise great shots spoiled by trees and shrubbery! But enough griping. Let's get to the critiquing.

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I do not love this photograph of Stephany. It’s not terrible, but I don’t love it. It’s very close to “quite good” and it’s a marked improvement in Stephany’s overall performance, but this is not the best photo of the bunch. Stephany needed to extend the energy in her eyes into the rest of her body; what Tyra call H2T modelling: head to toe. She needed to point her toes, lengthen her back, and exude more purpose. This photo looks like she is simply reproducing one of the yoga poses that they learned earlier in the week. There is nothing about this that distinguishes it as anything to be praised. It is however, one of Stephany’s better shots, and it’s a marked improvement from her portrait shot two weeks ago. So, for that alone, congratulations. 

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Sedia photographed by Marvin Bartley

Sedia still never manages to make an impression on me somehow. I actually really like this shot, and I think that she's improving a lot and this is one of her stronger photographs, but when I think of her, the first thing that comes to mind is "meh". She just doesn't do it for me, but I supposed I'll have to chalk that up to personal bias.

In any case, this is pretty good. There is purpose in her eyes, and she's working with a lot of different angles. I positively hate the fence in the background, but that's not her fault. I wish she'd brought that left hand down and leaned her head back a bit more, but this will suffice I suppose. Hopefully she does something next week that endears her to me a bit more.

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Athaliah photographed by Marvin Bartley

As much as it pains me to say this because her general attitude is so abhorrent, I think this shot may well be the best shot of the week, and I don't know why it wasn't called higher up. There's no way that Sedia's shot was stronger than this. That's that science! ( I kid, obviously) This pose not only expertly shows off Athaliah's great body, incorporates the yoga that they learned earlier in the week, but it automatically draws the eyes up to her face, which fantastically enough is also engaged, strong and focused. You couldn't ask for anything more. I'm not Athaliah's biggest fan, but I can't deny that she is a pretty strong competitor, and I definitely see her making it all the way to the finals.

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Lisa photographed by Marvin Bartley

I love you Lisa, but NO. This is not it.  Not only is there a tree growing out of her head, (not her fault) and her legs are cut out of frame, (also not her fault) but the angle of this shot makes it appear as though she has a chicken wing growing from her stomach. KNOW YOUR ANGLES GIRL. You have to know how your body photographs. Intimately. As a model you should know off the top of your head how your body will look when shot from different angles. 

Lisa is another one with a spectacular body. There is SO much more she could have done to make this a standout shot. On the other hand, WHO THE HELL IS PICKING THESE PHOTOS?!?!? Aside from all the problems with her lines, her face is completely dead. I'm beginning to think that there is someone behind the scenes who really doesn't like these girls and is actively trying to see them fail. I cannot think of another explanation for this nonsense.

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Treveen photographed by Marvin Bartley

This was another shot that brought down compositionally by the super conspicuous tree trunk in the background. Poor Treveen. Two weeks ago there was an entire car in the background of her frame! But tree trunk aside, there really is no reason that this photograph should have been called so far down the line. This is very solid shot and should have been called in the top two, if not first. Not only is her face strong and focused, but she's using her body to create shapes and add visual interest. I really have no idea what's going on with the call out order each week, but the arbitrary way they're assigning value to these shots makes me seriously doubt the judge's credibility. In which world is this shot worse than Lisa's? 

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Trudy photographed by Marvin Bartley

Firstly, there is NO WAY this was Trudy's best shot. Secondly, I'm getting to be quite disappointed with Trudy's performance. She has such amazing ability, but she's letting that damn hair take her power away! It's just hair, it grows back. I PROMISE! She needs to get back that quality that made her stand out in that first shoot. She's fading fast, and if she doesn't get it together ASAP she's going to go home. I can see her going all the way in this competition, and it really bugs me that she's not making the most of her time here.

But on that note, this is not a very strong shot. It has no purpose. Trudy has a great body, and this was her shoot to win. There are so many ways that she could have used her lines and curves to her advantage. We got a glimpse of that during the episode, which is why I'm so surprised that this was chosen as her best photo. This might have been improved if there was more softness in her face (a note she got often during the shoot), if she'd brought her feet together, pulled up in her core and arched her back more. That would have allowed her to create a smoother line with her body, and make the shot more compelling. I feel like Trudy has been moving backwards in the competition. Here's hoping she finds herself again.

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Susan photographed by Marvin Bartley

Oh Susan, my darling Susan... I don't hate this shot at all actually, and I don't think it should have been in the bottom two. It's almost there in my estimation, but I can see it in her face how uncomfortable she was! It's almost comical actually. She's a beautiful girl with a gorgeous body, but once again, she's far too stiff. It's like she doesn't know how to connect the different parts of her body and can't co-ordinate them all at the same time. She has yet to produce anything that gives me confidence that she could succeed outside this competition. 

I'm weirdly torn between giving up on Susan altogether and really, really wanting her to succeed. There is so much there visually that it almost pains me to think that she just doesn't know what's she's doing, and that maybe this opportunity is a bit premature. But Susan is steadily improving each week, if not by very much. I'll have to keep my eye on her.

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Kendra photographed by Marvin Bartley

And as pretty much everyone predicted, Kendra was the one to go this week. Honestly, I don't think she ever recovered from her makeover. Pedro make a comment a few weeks ago about getting the sense that Kendra didn't want to be seen, and I think he was spot on. Even in this photograph, her face is away from camera, her body folded into itself. For awhile now, it's been quite apparent that Kendra's heart hasn't been in it completely, and it's led to a gradual reduction in the quality of her photos. But I'm not sad to see her go. Unbeknownst to her, she's been filler for quite some time, and I personally never saw what it was that made her special enough to have made the final cut.

*****

I think the biggest problem that I had with the girls this week was the rhetoric surrounding Treveen's alleged eating disorder. For one thing, at this point, this supposed disorder is all speculation. No one has any proof to substantiate their claims, and I have a real problem with them talking about it as though it is fact. Secondly, if Treveen does in fact suffer from an eating disorder, then it would behoove the other girls to remember that it is in fact, a disorder and not something to be ridiculed, mocked or speculated about. If they are genuinely concerned about her health, they should be trying to find ways to help her overcome her illness, not shaming her for having one. Eating disorders are prevalent, well-documented, and often encouraged in the fashion industry. It should be common sense at this point that someone who suffers from one needs help, not criticism. So maybe think about that while you stand outside the bathroom sniping at each other?

Conversely, it's important to note that size is not a good indicator of health. Treveen being skinny tells us nothing about her physical state except that she is skinny; nothing more, nothing less. There is a bias in the Caribbean towards fuller, thicker women, so it doesn't surprise me that so many people (looking at you twitterverse) seem to take the allegations of her competitors at face value, but using what may very well be her natural size against her does no one any good.

Well biddies, next week is go-sees. I can't wait to see who folds under pressure. *Rubs hands together gleefully*

What did you think of the girls' performance this week? Who is your favourite girl so far and who do you think will make it to the finals? Let me know in the comments below!

Previously on Caribbean's Next TopModel: 
CNTM Cycle 1, Episode 4: Carnival is Bacchanal 

CNTM Cycle 1, Episode 3: Flounder or Flourish?

CNTM Cycle 1, Episode 2: Beginners, Bullies and Buck-Toothed Bitches

CNTM Cycle 1, Episode 1: Introducing Caribbean's Next Top Model