A cycle of international fierceness all comes down to tonight when America’s Next Top Model 2012 British Invasion crowns a winner. Will it be loveable pinkie Brit Sophie or American self-proclaimed pirate Laura? The America’s Next Top Model results will be in by the end of the hour!
This also marks the final shows for judge and noted fashion photographer Nigel Barker, runway diva coach Miss Jay Alexander (who actually doesn’t appear in this episode at all sadly), and photo shoot creative director Mr. Jay Manuel. Who knew that America’s Next Top Model cycle 18 would ultimately end in their demise? Sigh. I can’t imagine the show without any of them, especially Mr. Jay who’s been there from the very beginning of the show when Adrianne Curry was crowned the first America’s Next Top Model. And now she’s married to a Brady…wait, are they still married?
WARNING: AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL 2012 SPOILERS AHEAD!
Please stop reading here if you do not want to know what happened and who won America’s Next Top Model 2012!
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Sophie’s problem area, according to Tyra Banks, is standing out in a photo; Laura’s is her walk. Combined they are the perfect model!
The show opens still in Asia and Sophie’s hair looking quite pink. Very Gwen Stefani circa whatever year No Doubt’s second album came out. The two are sent to the Cover Girl shoot where they are greeted by Mr. Jay. Sigh. He reveals that their commercial has actually already been in the process of filming…the entire America’s Next Top Model cycle 18! Twist! Of course they also have to film a line read. Sophie comes off as relatable. Cut to Laura’s photo shoot where she seems to struggle a bit. She’s a little too nervous! America’s Next Top Model 2012 needs to be fierce! Unfortunately Laura has a complete meltdown and starts shaking. They end up calling a medic and she gets shipped off to the hospital. Nothing like going to a hospital in a foreign country, am I right?
Sophie hears the bad news and then has to still turn in a good photo. Which of course she does! Laura gets back to the hotel from the hospital and gets ahold of her ‘rents to let them know she had a panic attack. Sophie returns and comforts her (they’re like international besties now!) and they get a Tyra mail that reads something in Italian or, as Sophie points out, “That’s not even Chinese!” Are they GOING to Italy? Nope. Shooting for Italian Vogue, part of America’s Next Top Model 2012 prize package. Sophie’s shoot seemed to go all right but Laura’s was a bit better, according to two people with Italian accents. Laura returns to the hotel and Jay tells her they are going to attempt finishing the commercial. Luckily she stays in one piece but her read seems a little off to me.
Tyra shows up at the hotel to chat with the ladies. Laura talks to her about her episode and Tyra wonders if the pirate in Laura is covering up a traumatic memory. Dr. Tyra, in the house! Sophie worries to Tyra that she can’t win as a Brit. Tyra reassures her if she was 21, she would want to be her friend. She doesn’t want to be buddies, Ty, she wants to be America’s Next Top Model 2012!
At the runway show for Forever 21, Mr. Jay reveals the twist to this year’s show: holograms! So Tupac Shakur of them! They also bring back fallen models Catherine, Eboni, Alisha, and Annaleise to participate in the hologram fun.
Of course the show starts with Tyra. Then Laura walks out carrying a large stuffed lion. No prop for Sophie, but she doesn’t need one! The trick is that the girls have to stay in a light projected on a screen behind them. Silly Alisha fails this task. The girls then have to fight hologram ninjas projected on screens behind them and then pick holographic flowers which all makes complete sense, yeah? At least it’s better then last year’s swimming/flying/dancing fiasco from the America’s Next Top Model All Star Cycle. Which I continue to maintain Allison Harvard should have won.
The final judging panel includes Nigel (sigh), Kelly Cutrone and guest judge Mr. Jay (sigh again). Tyra reviews the prizes and they get down to business. They review the fashion show first. Laura’s walk is all right but she comes off a little to smirky and spunky. Sophie’s walk was strong and elegant and confident (these are their words, not mine, but yes I am biased). In the commercial review Nigel points out to Laura that she would most likely be replaced in a real life model sitch if she’d had her panic attack there. Her commercial read comes off a little robotic but her candid moments are strong. Sophie’s line read is great but her scenes in between aren’t as memorable. Again, combined they are the perfect America’s Next Top Model 2012! Could Tyra maybe morph them as her superpower? Laura’s final photo is all right. Sophie’s gets better reviews. What will happen? Will pink or pirate prevail?! (I get excited, OK?)
In the final review, the judges look back on their respective journeys. Kelly says she would book Sophie over Laura which I find interesting since she’s huge in PR. To Kelly, she’s the Little Engine That Could. Nigel favors Laura. Wait a minute! The American judge likes the Brit and the British judge likes the American?! And here Tyra was worried about country favoritism.
Finally the America’s Next Top Model results are in. Is it sad that my stomach is literally churning? They never pick the girl I want so I am just assuming it will be Laura. Drum roll please! America’s Next Top Model 2012 is…(spoiler ahoy!)
…Sophie!
Wow! Finally some redemption for the like five other winners I’ve disagreed with in the past! A Brit is America’s Next Top Model 2012! It eases the sting of losing Nigel and the Jays. Sort of. A little bit. I guess.
Congratulations, Sophie!!
Hilarious recap! i’ll so miss the Jays and Nigel too.