Instead of reviewing each bit and piece of the two-hour season premiere, I’d much rather make commentary on the final thirteen.

Brittany: I do not know exactly why Brittany was chosen, because without a handy make-up kit and artist around, I don’t find her to be particularly pretty or modelesque. She just looks very… country, to me. She lacks the sophistication in her face naturally, but when she takes a photograph, she definitely looks like a possible model you’d see in a magazine or a Ralph Lauren ad or something. I found she looked very classy in her shoot this episode, as well.

Cassandra: It’s interesting how she seems to get lost in the mix; there doesn’t seem to be that much that stands out about her. She is clearly one of the prettier potential top models on the show, and while she didn’t seem to be the best at taking direction nor figuring out the best way to get creative with her props/scene, in the end, she managed to find enough artistic merit to take a decent photo. I would have loved to see a fiercer, hungrier look on her face. She looks like she’s almost about to giggle or smirk instead.

Diana: I was definitely surprised when they announced there would be two plus-sized models on this season, but hey, more power to the plus-size ladies. Unfortunately, Diana’s shoot wasn’t the best, considering what she was given to work with. I found myself cringing while watching her photoshoot because she seemed very awkward in her jumping/movements. I’m not sure if it is first-time jitters, but it certainly isn’t something I want to keep on seeing.

Dionne: Dionne looked amazing in the chosen photo for judging, but during the shoot, I found her far less impressive. She has great angles and strong features, but she needs to learn how to use them more. I would have love to have seen more neck in her photos, because her head feels like it’s weighing her body down.

Felicia: First, I do not see the resemblance between her and Tyra very much. In fact, I would never have thought it without being told before hand. I have to agree with Jay about Felicia during the photoshoot; she was unreceptive to criticism/direction and could have really used that male mannequin a lot more to get that great photograph. She looks good, don’t get me wrong, but it seems like a flat photograph in the end.

Jael: Gotta love Miss J, “And it looks like she just got out of jail, too.” It’s interesting how she seems kind of trailer-park-white-trash-punk, but when it came down to her photoshoot, she really pulled off a classy woman that looked elegant and feminine. She might be a great blank canvas to use, and the fact that she’s energetic and willing to go places to get her shoot done will be a great asset to the show. I did find that she was a bit poor in figuring out how to represent anti-abortion, though. She could have given more to the shoot with such a position.

Jaslene: The first thing that came to mind when I saw Jaslene was that she reminds me of the transvestite on Nip/Tuck that the characters are friends with (the name escapes me at the moment). She definitely has masculine features, because her face is so angular and her features are incredibly strong. However, how feminine will she be able to be when it comes down to it? Will she be able to soften those features when the time calls for it? I’m not so sure. I can tell you that I do not like her as a person whatsoever. She reminds me a bit of Jade from Cycle 6, and I couldn’t stand her personality.

Kathleen: Was I the only one really surprised that Kathleen got eliminated so quickly? She had so much personality, I figured America’s Next Top Model couldn’t resist keeping her on for a least a few more episodes. I didn’t care for her otherwise, but she seemed extremely bubbly and just… happy. I think there is a good possibility she is on some sort of medication.

Natasha: She is kind of like a Russian Barbie doll, actually. In some light, she looks pretty, but often she looks a bit bedraggled, a little rough around the edges. Her hair is definitely too frizzy and fried; I can’t wait to see it conditioned and softened during the makeover episode. I imagine her to resemble Angelina Jolie an awful lot, if only she had darker hair. Her first photoshoot was disappointing, and I feel like she doesn’t quite understand what is required of her. It’ll be interesting to watch her progress through the show and if it ever gets better.

Renee: At first, I was sympathizing with her, I found myself happy to see someone with a different background (motherhood) than many of the other models, but then later felt that she was too much of a preaching type. I feel like Renee believes she knows it all, and it doesn’t seem like she’s prepared to take criticism. Although, she did take an incredible first photo as a peace-lover; although I would have loved to see better control over the mouth.

Samantha: I think she is going to be too homegrown for me to like her very much. She’s too worried about her bubble-upbringing to really consider acting the part, rather than stressing over how it isn’t her comfort zone. I agree with the judges that the photograph of the pro-gay marriage was flat, kind of boring. I could have seen a lot more being done for that subject. She’s pretty, but a tad plain.

Sarah: It’s the other know-it-all on the show! Only this one thinks she knows it all about fashion and modeling because she’s a photographer. A photographer does not translate into knowing what angles and poses suit one best. It’s a lot different capturing someone else than imitating the same poses or finding the right ones for you. The first photoshoot for Sarah was awful; I wasn’t impressed. Her face was awkward and oddly positioned, and she just didn’t get any sort of message across to me whatsoever. I can’t stand her constant babble about how she knows what she’s doing or how she’s been a professional photographer before.

Whitney: I love her personality - she seems so happy with herself, and I think that’s a great trait to have in a potential top model. I feel like she isn’t as well proportioned as Diana, the other plus-sized model, though, which may end up coming off odd in photoshoots. She does need to work on popping in the photoshoot, because she was lost in her photograph. She just didn’t stand out at all, so it was difficult ot judge just how much she can contribute to the show. I was surprised that she wasn’t in the bottom two, actually.