It's the finale! Muster up some excitement even though you've seen this exact thing roughly twelve times already. Molly and Brittani start off the episode with a little tete-a-tete with IMG Senior Vice President Ivan Bart, who asks them some questions and takes a look at their portfolios. He seems particularly taken with Brittani who, he notes, has a great attitude. And Molly wasn't even particularly stank with him! You can just tell, I guess. The girls then head to their Cover Girl commercial shoot, in which they'll have to negotiate three cameras filming at once from different angles. The middle one has a teleprompter, so at least there's no freaking out about forgetting lines. Molly does a fine run-through in the makeup chair with Jay Manuel, but then turns into a total weirdo in front of the camera. She's very stiff, which seems to be the result of her trying to be cheerful and perky. Her synapses must just be firing with the effort. She is not pleased with her performance. Brittani looks amazing, but starts to freak out a little under the pressure. However, she doesn't crack and delivers a fun, quirky, comfortable performance. The Cover Girl photo shoot is . Molly is a star, and photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari likes Brittani's attitude and retro look. At this point, it seems to be a toss-up.
The two finalists meet with photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari and Valentina Serra, the stylist for Vogue Italia, to shoot their Beauty in Vogue cover and spread. They're at a pimped-out mansion, posing in their underwear. Brittani was very professional and the Vogue Italia people seem to enjoy her. Molly, meanwhile, is on a tear of complaints after having no chicken with her salad. She's in a foul mood per usual, and Valentina asks her not to look so sad. Paolo and Valentina agree that no matter how tired and pouty you are, you need to bring it. Molly starts to crack a little bit at the prospect of being the first loser.
And then, sadness. The girls return home to find Molly's adorable parents, which is exciting for Molly but sad for Brittani, since her mom's panic disorder and recent back surgery prevent her from traveling. Brittani is used to this, in the saddest of ways. They talk on Skype, which is sweet though again also sad. Molly is de-crankified, so Brittani's hope of an easy win is also dashed.
Brittani and Molly meet up with Jay at some sort of palace, where they will have their intimate salon-style fashion show. They'll go from one room to another to another, modeling creations from Vivienne Westwood's new line, Anglomania. Kasia, Alexandria and Hannah are all back to model in the show, and so is Cycle 15 winner Ann! She looks so relieved at the prospect of not being the reigning Top Model. The show starts, and I have to say that Ann's walk is looking pretty good. Molly and Brittani both look gorgeous, and take their third pass down the runway in tandem. They pose together awkwardly, and when they accidentally land in a "sex position," Brittani starts to laugh. That can't end well. Someone is throwing rose petals from above, and Brittani's giant-heeled shoes catch them the wrong way and she goes flying. It's a bad fall, and she apparently jacks up her ankle and cuts her wrist. The girls are told that they have to take a final pass, and Brittani isn't sure she can do it. But then she does, smiling the whole time.
The girls are given a whole new look for panel, which involves super-short hair. Molly looks SO PISSED. She should, she looks like Justin Bieber. Brittani looks stunning, which makes me think that she might pull this out after all. The judges do give Brittani shit for breaking character and laughing during the runway show, while Nigel tells Molly that her walk looks cheap. Brittani's happy-go-lucky commercial gets big props, while the judges tell Molly that she looks like a mean girl. The judges are complimentary of both Cover Girl photos, but I think Brittani's has the edge. The judges deliberate and then…Brittani wins! It's happiness. Molly has only her terrible haircut as a consolation prize.
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It's the finale! We've waited all season for this, the moment when we learn who will get contracts with Cover Girl and IMG and be featured in Vogue Italia, and then promptly fade into obscurity. Last week, Hannah and her magnificent hair were booted, leaving our two finalists. Will the winner be Brittani, the girl with humble trailer park beginnings who consistently impressed in front of the camera and on the runway, but who hit a speed bump (known as Alexandria, seething hatred of) in the middle of the season and faced a serious dressing down from Tyra? Or will it be Molly, the girl who takes stunning photos, and whose adoptive parents supported her every step of the way, and whose attitude is stink, stank, stunk? Two bitches remain! And only one can be named the baddest bitch in all the land.
Brittani and Molly head home from panel, excited yet oddly somber (and probably exhausted) at being named the final two. Brittani tells us that she grew up with her mom, who was a single mother and had panic anxiety disorder. This shaped Brittani, and she tells us that they were on welfare for the first eight years of her life. Everyone at home is going to be shocked at Brittani's success, and Brittani tells us that her mom is going to be really proud. Molly thinks her mom will die (in a good way) upon learning that she's in the final two as well. She says that this has been her dream, and her mom's dream for her, ever since they started watching this show. Well, you can't say that Molly's adoptive parents instilled her with lofty goals, at least. In case you haven't heard, Molly has anger issues stemming from her abandonment issues. She also did lots of drugs and then went to rehab, and became a better person as a result. Molly tells us that she's living proof that things can always look up. If the current Molly is the glass half full version, she must have been one really miserable drug addict.
Back at the house, Molly's best-of-week photo is displayed as digital art. She notes to Brittani that she never noticed how high her cheekbones were until she got on this show. She looks particularly flat-faced as she says this, but maybe it's just because she's not working her angles or whatever. This is Molly's third best photo in a row, which is obviously a very good thing. She tells us that Brittani is stiff competition, and even though Molly is tops in photos Brittani is a fierce runway walker. Still, Molly says, no one is going to want you as a runway model if you take a shitty picture on the end of the runway. Well it's not like Brittani's photos are terrible! They're totally fine! Brittani tells us that one side of Molly thinks she has it in the bag, but another part of her must be nervous because Brittani is more high-fashion. That's mostly due to the haircut, though, right?
There is Tyra Mail: "Sahel, Khafif, Zoulnah." You've been wondering how to say, "Easy, breezy, beautiful" in Moroccan, right? I mean, I assume that's what that means. Brittani tells us that she would be a great Cover Girl, and that the only time that she was in the bottom two it was because of, "that whole bad thing that happened." Way to try to be vague, Brit-Brit, but you underestimate the power and ubiquity of the sepia-toned flashback. We see Brittani say mean things about Alexandria on the set of the Ford cancer thingy, and then have a panic attack when Tyra gives her what-for. Now, Brittani says, Tyra is looking at her as a person on the inside. It's really amazing how much good will Tyra can generate with a 20-minute heart-to-heart. Molly, meanwhile, is nervous about the Cover Girl commercial. She says that she can be herself, but herself is not really primed for being cheery and dumb like you need to be to sell a product whose name ends in "Blast." To get a really good commercial, she says, she needs to act a little like someone else. Her big mistake here is in not realizing that she needs to act a LOT like someone else.
The morning, the girls get ready and head off to a lovely country club. Ivan Bart, the senior vice president of IMG Models, is there to meet with them one-on-one, likely so he can cast his unofficial vote. He asks Molly when she decided that she wanted to model. She says that she was twelve, with gap teeth and a bowl haircut, and though she didn't look like a model at the time she wanted to be one anyway. Molly would also like to be a designer's muse. Ivan takes a look at her book, and says that she's an amazing model in photographs. In person she looks like a pretty girl, but something happens with the hair, makeup, and magic. Ivan asks Brittani how she'd feel if he told her that she had to move to Milan for six months. Fucking lucky, I'd say. Brittani tells him that she'd be okay with that, because it's her dream. She admits that she'd never been away from home for more than a week, but now she's been away for almost two months and is doing just fine. Her mom has told Brittani that home will always be there, but her opportunities are somewhere else. Ivan tells us that Brittani has a beautiful face and a wonderful attitude. He's very excited to see Brittani do runway, since he's heard that's her strong point.
The girls meet up with Jay, who tells them that they'll be working with well-known photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari for their Cover Girl shoot. The winner's photo will be a national ad that you will never see anywhere, except maybe in a Walmart display. The product that will be featured is Cover Girl's Lip Perfection Lip Color, which comes in 40-odd shades. Jay says that they'll thus be able to find the perfect shade for each girl, which will then allow their true personalities to shine through. Because what is more expressive of your inner self than your lip color? Jay will be directing the commercial, which will be shot on a white site in typical Cover Girl fashion. However, there will be three cameras shooting from different angles simultaneously, so the girls need to deliver in every direction. There's a script that the girls will have to learn, and for support there will be a teleprompter in the center camera only.
The girls get haired and makeup-ed, and Brittani tells us that she's nervous since commercials aren't exactly her thing. She sucked on the Fierce Roast Coffee commercial, as well as the spot on Moroccan beauty trends for The Insider, so basically any time she speaks in front of the camera it's not good. Except for her interviews, I guess. Though come to think of it, those are pretty anticlimactic, too. Make-up artist Vincent Jabes tells Molly that he's chosen the lip shade of "Spellbound" for her. Molly dutifully tells us that Lip Perfection Lip Color not only gives you undeniable color, but makes your lips nice and soft. I remain skeptical. Molly does a run-through of the script for Jay, who tells her that she was great and natural. Brittani's run-through isn't so spectacular, and Jay tells her that they need to find a way to get more of her personality into it. He asks what she's passionate about, and Brittani starts to cry. What is she even crying about? Molly certainly doesn't know. She tells us that she'd be able to handle the stress of the fashion industry much better than Brittani, who is still young and has some anxiety issues that apparently make her cry at nothing in particular. Molly is at a better place in her life, where she deals with all this madness by getting really surly. Healthy!
Molly is up first to shoot her commercial, and Jay tells her to be herself. That doesn't seem like good advice at all, and Molly knows it. She's nervous, and forgets that not scowling is generally a good idea, even before the camera starts rolling. Jay calls action, and Molly runs through her lines. I've never felt that someone was so mad at me while also trying to make me buy a product. Jay tells Molly that she can move around a little, and so she experiments with some awkward arm movements. Molly tells us that she got in her own way a little bit, and that she was self-conscious and felt like an idiot up there. There's nothing like feeling like an idiot to make you look like an idiot. Molly tells Jay that she doesn't usually talk with her hands, and he tells her not to talk with her hands, then. She seems confused, and Jay tells her to be herself, which is what makes a Cover Girl a Cover Girl. She does another take and sounds really sarcastic, leading Jay to say that the take was much more her. He tells us that Molly was so concerned about finding a way to be herself and also a model, that she lost all of her charm. And it's not like she had a case of that to begin with.
Brittani is on set, looking absolutely gorgeous. Her hair is so shiny! Maybe it's argan oil. Brittani chirps through her first take, and Jay tells her that she sounds like she's rattling off a laundry list. Brittani says that she needs to slow down and it will be better, then interviews that she's very stressed and overwhelmed. On her take she gets tongue tied, and tells us that she started freaking out and thinking she was going to have a panic attack. Her eyes well up, and Jay tells us that he's nervous about whether Brittani has the confidence to flip through and deliver a commercial that's truly genuine. With a head full of doubt, we head to commercials.
When we return, Jay tells Brittani to pretend like she's talking to her three best friends, Camera A, Camera B, and Camera C. Brittani is a little freaked out, but knows that she can do this if she lets her personality shine through. And then she gets totally cute! Jay loves that when Brittani decides to flick a switch on, she's just on. He tells us that she delivered a performance that was quirky, fun, and very comfortable. A triumph of the spirit! And now her lips are so luscious and smooth, too.
Molly heads to shoot her print ad with photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari. She says that her commercial wasn't the greatest, but she knows she takes great pictures and that's what people see. Because no one ever watches TV or anything. Pierpaolo says that Molly was perfect for the beauty shot, and has a beautiful mouth and very bright eyes. Brittani is , and Pierpaolo tells her to be strong rather than sweet. Brittani explains to us that Cover Girl is going beyond "the girl door" to "the edgy, fun girl" who probably still lives door and isn't that fun at all. She thinks this is right in line with her style. Pierpaolo says that Brittani reminds him of models from the past, which could have something to do with her hair. He likes her strong attitude, which I guess means that she didn't cry at all on this shoot. Victory!
Back at the house, the girls discuss how the day went. Molly confesses that her commercial shoot was not so hot. Brittani is glad about this, and hopes that Molly being down in the dumps will affect her all week so that she'll sabotage herself and give Brittani a chance. Brittani tells Molly that she'll kill it in her Italian Vogue shoot, which seems like a safe assumption. Molly is still nervous and feeling the pressure, though. I had no idea she was such a stress case, but she really does seem to be having some problems managing it all.
The day the girls head to a gorgeous mansion for said Beauty in Vogue shoot. Paolo is there to photograph, along with stylist Valentina Serra. Brittani tells us that she always wanted to be the girl in the magazine, and if she does well here she stands a chance of taping a photo of herself to her very own wall. Meta! She poses in some sort of nightshirt thing, and Pierpaolo says that Brittani was very professional. Valentina adds that she also clearly enjoys working. Brittani walks back to the holding room and asks Molly how her lunch was. Molly spits out, "Missing chicken." She is definitely a salad-half-empty girl. Brittani confirms for us that Molly is hungry and cold and didn't do so well yesterday and all this equals crankypants. Molly then complains about being last on every photo shoot (even though she appeared to be first at the Cover Girl photo shoot), and that it's very cold, and she has to sit in underwear on a stone floor. She could be putting rotisserie chickens on a spit at Boston Market for eight hours a day. Shut it, lady. Molly says, "It's just annoying." We know the feeling.
Valentina tells Molly not to lose energy, and adds that she looks sad. Molly cries as she tells us that she's stressed out, and that if she does one thing wrong she's not going to win, and if she doesn't win she's going to be pissed off. Valentina tells us that Molly lost energy at some point, and Pierpaolo adds that even if you're tired and cold, you have to have a volcano inside. The Italians always know how to put things best, don't they? The girls head back to their house, and Brittani tells us that there's a big attitudinal difference between her and Molly. Except for that one time that Brit was a total nit, I guess. But you know, Molly is really a bit of a downer. She's also totally stressing out and reminds us again that she'll be pissed if she doesn't win. I'm sure she'll find a way to be pissed even if she does win.
After a commercial break, the girls return to their home to find a big surprise. It's Molly's parents! She runs to them and gives them big hugs, and tells them how happy she is that they came all this way to support her. Molly's parents, of course, adopted her when she was four days old, and were awesome even when Molly wasn't. They reunite and it feels so good, as Brittani watches on -- a sad, solitary figure. Brittani knows that her mom isn't there, on account of her mom's anxiety disorder and the fact that she has recently had back surgery. In an interview, Brittani starts to cry as she says that she's used to it, since it's always been hard for her mom to do things, given the disorder. That really must have been a pretty tough lot for a kid. In a particularly heartbreaking bit, Brittani says that she's so used to looking for someone, and there's nobody there. Oh, the poor thing. She doesn't say it in a bratty way, but it's clear that some mondo pain is involved. It's too bad that the winner of the show doesn't get a free year of weekly psychotherapy as part of her prize package. Brittani knows that it isn't her mom's fault, and says that she'd be there if she could.
Brittani watches on as Molly talks to her parents about being stressed out. Molly's mom is totally nice, as expected, and tells both girls that regardless of what happens from this point, they've both done something amazing and life-changing. Molly interviews that usually when she gets uncomfortable and angry she quits, but this is her dream and so she's sticking with it. Her parents are proud of her for that. Happily, Brittani actually does get to talk with her mom via video chat. They miss each other, and Brittani's mom wishes she could be there. Brittani tells us that she wants to be able to support her mom, since she's worked so hard to support Brittani. Her mom is apparently a housekeeper, and Brittani says that given her recent back surgery it really isn't good for her to be scrubbing floors. If Brittani wins, she'd love to tell her mom that she doesn't have to work anymore. I guess $100,000 could buy you a bit of time off, particularly if your living expenses were low. Brittani's mom is very proud of her, and Brittani feels a lot better after they talk. Molly's parents take off for the evening, too, and then there is Tyra Mail: "Tomorrow's runway will be modeling mania. Love, Tyra." Both ladies are excited, and Brittani is not entirely glad to see that Molly's visit with her parents has boosted her spirits and made her less likely to hand over the crown through unbridled crankiness and self-sabotage.
The morning is the day of the runway show and final judging. The girls meet Jay at a Moroccan palace, which was built in the 16th century. In tribute, he is wearing three metric pounds of eyeshadow, a giant necklace, and some sort of brocade vest that may or may not have pearls on it. He looks like the Moroccan Liberace. Jay explains that the girls will be doing a salon-style fashion show, which is a first in Top Model history. It will be very intimate, and the girls will have to travel from one room to the to the , selling the garment all the while. The designer for the show is Vivienne Westwood, and the girls will be wearing pieces from her Anglomania line, which is youth-oriented, hip, chic, and British. Perfect for Morocco, am I right? Kasia, Alexandria, and Hannah are back on hand to walk in the show. And so is Cycle 15 winner Ann! She looks exactly the same, which makes sense because it was like five months ago that she won her title. She tells the girls to have fun with it, and looks quite relieved that her reign as America's Top Model is about to end.
The girls head backstage, and we get to hear who the various former contestants are rooting for. Hannah is on Team Brittani, saying that she came from a trailer park and really deserves it. Alexandria votes for Molly, who has had best photo more times than Brittani and thus has proven her merits. Kasia, the consummate diplomat, is rooting for both. Brittani tells us that she expects herself to do better than Molly, especially given that she has the superior runway walk. She hopes that she doesn't slip up or do something stupid to ruin it. Molly talks to her parents, and says that she's scared but excited. I think when you are wearing a big teased-out wig with a tiny beret in the middle, the fear is just absorbed in through your scalp. Tyra shows up to meet the parents, and says she's proud of their baby girl. Molly's mom says that she wanted kids with good self-esteem and a good sense of humor. Sadly for her, she got Molly instead. Oh and ha! Then Molly's mom totally says that her kids may not have been a good student or liked being in school or stayed out of trouble, but they always had good self-esteem and a sense of humor. Tyra says that they've had great conversations about how much Molly appreciates her parents and their unconditional love, and then Molly cries a whole bunch as she tells them how much she appreciates them sticking through everything with her, since she was a total asshole. Molly's mom first looks shocked, then turns to Tyra and says, "Ooh, you got her to admit that? Thank you." Molly tells us that she got angry and very depressed around age twelve or thirteen, but she's not so sad anymore. By getting this far in the competition, she says she's paying her parents back and making them proud. Tyra tells Molly to do her thing and pose fiercely at the end of the runway.
Tyra visits Brittani , calling her Chaka Khan because of her big, teased-out black wig. Brittani tells Tyra that she feels okay about her mom not being there, and kind of expected it to happen due to the anxiety and back surgery, etc. Tyra tells Brittani that she's showing the strength that's needed in the fashion industry. Brittani tells us that she needs this win more than Molly does, because she can't do it without Top Model, while Molly's parents have already agreed to help her. And you know, I buy that. Plus now I'm just all endeared to Brittani. I'm a sucker in that way, which is why I always cry at The Biggest Loser despite being so mad at it for ruining my Tuesdays for the last hundred years.
So, finally, it is time for the fashion show. Tea is poured, and not from the top of anyone's head. Nigel and Tyra toast. Molly is nervous, and tells us that if she doesn't kill it on the runway, she might not win, and she did not come on this show to be runner-up. Brittani tells us that this is the biggest moment of her life, and will determine if she goes to IMG or back to the trailer park. Which, even if it is a very nice trailer park, which Brittani's appears to be, is kind of a no contest proposition. Jay cues the music, and three ladies sprinkle rose petals all about. And then there's Ann! She emerges flanked by two dudes, and then commences with her signature walk, wherein her back is tilted back at a forty-five degree angle. How does she DO it? Her knees also appear to be blurred for some reason. Maybe FCC regulations about boniness? But seriously Ann's runway walk has for sure improved, and as usual I find her to be totally delightful. Molly is down the runway in a black and white striped ensemble, and kind of sashays with a lot of hips and bounce. I think she looks pretty good, with the possible exception of the Men on Film beret. Her face really is just fantastic. Molly tells us that she could see this being her life, even though she might get tired and cranky and in need of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
We get a glimpse of Alexandria, Kasia and Hannah working the runway, and can rest assured that we got the correct two finalists. And then it's Brittani's turn. She's wearing a mixture of red and pink, which looks great with her skin. Her walk has plenty o' bounce in it, too, and the ensemble makes her look rather bodacious. Brittani tells us that, given her humble beginnings, she never thought she would make it to the final two of America's Top Model. May she be a role model to pretty girls in trailer parks everywhere! We catch a glimpse of backstage madness in which Brittani is dressed and redressed and assaulted with loose powder. Soon enough, it's time for Molly's second lap in a red dress. She looks kind of spacy in her giant sunglasses, and it works. She's feeding off of the music, and looking fly. Molly's parents are impressed at the whole scene, and think she looks beautiful. Brittani walks again in a very shiny gold and green ensemble. Her bag is pink and purple instead of red, which deprives me of a "Karma Chameleon" reference. Brittani tells us that she gets an adrenaline rush on the runway, and we hear Tyra say to Nigel, "That girl's got something."
And then it's time for the final lap, in which Brittani and Molly have to walk and pose together. They're wearing the same ensembles as their last pass. Molly tells us that it's a lot harder posing with another person, because you don't know what they're about to do. Brittani confirms for us that they had no sort of coordination, and we see her crack up at one point when it looks like Molly is butt-fucking her right in front of the judges. Tyra, Nigel and ALT do not look amused, though Miss J. screams, "Broken down doll!" I think his witticisms chip has malfunctioned. The two continue their inept posing, and then tragedy strikes. Brittani reminds us of the rose petals all around, and reveals her Pennsylvania roots as she says that they're "slippy." That just reminded me to call my mom. Anyway, Brittani says that their shoes tended to glide on the slippy rose petals. As they reach the end of the runway, Brittani goes flying for real and slams into some sort of pillar or furniture near the entrance. Molly extends a hand to help her up, which is probably more than Alexandria would have done in the same circumstance, and Brittani worries that she's lost her only chance to get out of the damn trailer park. Backstage, she notes that her ankle hurts, and then she gets the call that she and Molly need to do another pass. She's limping, and doesn't think she can go down the runway again. Jay tells her that, even though it's killing, she'll have to try to push through it. She's wearing those stupid boots with cut-out toes, which I blame for everything. Brittani cries that her mom's not there, which really really sucks, because she wants to talk to her about all this and she can't. And she was totally fine just thirty minutes ago! Tend to your sympathy pains as we head to commercials.
When we return, Brittani tells us that her night pretty much went downhill when she slipped on rose petals, slammed into a wall, cut her wrist, and did something nefarious to her ankle. That would indeed be a mood-killer. Jay gives her a few encouraging words, and then she heads out on the runway with a big smile and no limp in sight. Inside, though, she's disappointed in herself, because she's supposed to be so awesome on the runway. I'm disappointed in her because in her interviews for the entire episode she's wearing one of those tank tops with the clear plastic bra straps. Hopefully once she gets out of the trailer park she'll stop shopping for clothes from the Victoria's Secret catalogue. Backstage, Jay stands with Ivan Bart and tells the girls that 1) this is the tightest competition that they've had, but; 2) they need to kick it up a little more, and; 3) Tyra's had another one of her brilliant ideas. Ivan delivers the news that both girls would look a bit more modern with a new look. Yes, they're getting a pre-panel makeover! This is going to turn out to be enormously shitty news for one of them.
We head to panel, where Tyra stands in a gorgeous long red dress. I always kind of love it when she proves to us that she's still mondo-fly. We then catch a glimpse of the girls, and oh dear. They both have new pixie cuts. Brittani's looks absolutely gorgeous, and makes her face look so delicate and beautiful I can't even tell you. And then there's Molly. She is rocking a very haute Sandy Duncan in Peter Pan look. Let me assure you that, at least in spirit, she's not flying. Think lovely, wonderful thoughts, my cranky friend. No joke, you can just see the burning hatred emanating from her eyes. This is the moment at which I first thought that Brittani might actually take it, because the loser always looks kind of crunk at panel.
There are prizes: a contract with IMG Models, a spread in Italian Vogue, a cover of Beauty in Vogue and six-page spread, a feature on vogue.it, and a $100,000 contract with Cover Girl. There are judges: Nigel Barker, Andre Leon Talley, and Mr. Jay Manuel. They start by evaluating Brittani's walk. Jay tells her that she strutted out on the runway with confidence, and Nigel agrees that she owned it. However, he chastises her for dropping out of character a few times, and tells her to stay in the moment. Tyra jumps on that and brings up the giggle that accompanied the butt-humping incident. She said that she couldn't tell that something was uncoordinated until Brittani burst out into a laugh, and it wasn't cool. Jay, however, commends Brittani on the fact that she pushed through the pain and embarrassment of her slippy rose petal spill. ALT likes that Brittani has an urban walk, as if she's rushing down the street. Tyra tells Brittani that her posing with Molly (not the butt-humping giggly pose) was divine, and that she melted into Molly rather than trying to overshadow her. But as a reminder, laughing = bad.
Nigel tells Molly that her walk was great, but there's a little shake that she does that makes her look cheap. Jay says that her nerves took over, and that she started to think about the walk instead of being confident in her strengths. ALT also noticed the bounce, and agrees that it was too much, particularly when she walked away. Butt bounce! Tyra liked the walk a lot, but says that Molly has to work on being smoother during her transitions from walking to posing and back. Her transitions were very, "Yeah, girl!" which is not high fashion.
With that, it's time to evaluate the girls' commercials. We see the full, combined commercial at first, in which Brittani looks like a really happy flapper and Molly looks like she wants to strangle us with her very long scarf. The three-camera thing comes off very strange. It makes me feel self-conscious about my own posture. The judges take a look at Brittani's best take, which is totally cute. It makes me want her lipstick and her hair, which has to be a good thing. Nigel says that one of the things he loves is her two profiles -- she's smiley with one, and sexy with the other. Tyra says that it's the asymmetry of her face, which works amazingly well. ALT is also a fan, and says that he loves her angles and side-views. Jay notes that Brittani was bubbly and perfect and easy to direct on set, because she didn't let anything bother her at that moment. That's an impressive quality for a model.
The judges then look at Molly's best take. Oh, she looks so mean! And I can't say why exactly, but she doesn't look nearly as pretty as she usually does. Maybe it's the bright purple strangle scarf? Tyra agrees with me that Molly looks like a gorgeous but mean girl. Nigel adds that it isn't Cover Girl, since Cover Girl is inviting and accessible. ALT wishes that Molly's hair had been shorn prior to the commercial, because it makes her look very fresh. Boy-who-won't-grow-up fresh! Jay says that Molly read the entire script to him from memory, which was very impressive. She absorbed it, and was so charming. Except in front of the camera! It's really lamentable.
, the judges look at the Cover Girl ads. Brittani's looks like it's out of a Hitchcock film, in a really good way. Nigel says it's stunning, and that she looks a little startled. The only flaw that ALT sees is the heavy left hand. Jay says that, especially now, Cover Girl is getting a bit edgier. He asked Brittani to bring that to the photo shoot, and she did. Tyra agrees that the photo is stunning, and says that when you model cosmetics, you have to put every ounce of energy into whatever body part the product is applied to. Brittani's lips have the requisite energy, and even Tyra wants the lipstick.
The judges evaluate Molly's ad. Nigel says that the way the light is hitting her face is stunning, and the photo is beautiful, soft and gentle. Jay likes that Molly committed and delivered the image. ALT thinks that it's wonderful, and suitable to be framed and put in the salon. Tyra notes that Molly has a tiger-esque quality, which is brave but not intimidating. I don't know, I think she still looks mean. With that, it's time for the judges to deliberate, and Tyra notes that they'll be evaluating the girls' entire bodies of work.
So, Brittani! She's gone from trailer park to top model, and can't wait to tell her mom that she won. Tyra tells Brittani that it's up to her to take the title and shoot off into the stratosphere. You know, like so many America's Top Models before her. Brittani tells us that it doesn't matter where you're from or how you're raised or what you have to go through -- you can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it. She was close to giving up, and says that this proves that you shouldn't do that, because whenever you're ready to give up something great happens. Well, I don't know if I'd go that far. But I bet she's really glad that Tyra got outvoted when she was ready to kick her off! The moral of the season is that democracy does work.
And with that, the season is over! Blessed day! Thank you all for reading and I hope you have a fierce summer!
Potes is celebrating the end of the spring recapping season with a nap and a pulled pork sandwich. You can tweet her extra BBQ sauce @traciepotes or email some to potesypotes@gmail.com.