Episode 12: The Girl Who is the Next Top Model (5/17)
For the top three, it all comes down to the final challenges: a CoverGirl photo and commercial shoot, and a fashion show walking on a lengthy, complex runway. After Jade and Danielle both have a tough time reciting their lines during the commercial shoot, they are put up for elimination. Though she continues to believe the judges have made an error in judgment, Jade is sent home because her great pictures don't make up for her attitude. Joanie and Danielle are set to walk in the last competition, and they both perform brilliantly on the runway. However, only one girl can be named America's Next Top Model and, in the end, Danielle is the chosen one. "My life has officially changed," she says jubilantly. "I am a CoverGirl!" PLEASE... Now that Sara is gone, Joanie wants only one thing: "Please send Jade home." Jade professes that she'll be happy no matter who wins, while Danielle hates not knowing what will come next. She was in the bottom two with Sara and it's thrown her off her game. Tyra Mail arrives to announce that the CoverGirl commercial is the next challenge and Jay gives the girls their scripts. This time, there will be no copying off of each other: the lines are different in each commercial. The day arrives and the girls are brought to the studio to meet photographer Jim DeYonker before the shoot. It's all about the eyes; they've got to portray their personality through them or it's not going to work. No improvising is allowed, much to Jade's dismay. Each of the girls has something holding them back: Joanie's still not used to her teeth, Jade has trouble memorizing and Danielle still hasn't conquered her accent. Who will be the best? EXCUSES, EXCUSES Joanie is up first, but her initial attempt is too much like a caricature for Jay's taste. Her second go is much improved and Jay loves it. When it's Jade's turn, she can't get a single line correct from memory. She flubs and flubs until Jay finally brings out cue cards for her to read from. Many takes later, she gets it right. When Danielle asks how it went, Jade says, "It worked out perfectly." Danielle is nervous; she has a real problem getting her words out. "From the moment the camera turned on, I turned off." Finally, she manages to knock it out and Jay is relieved. Next is the photo shoot. Danielle thinks of her mom as she poses, while Joanie worries about how fake her smile looks. She's still not used to her new teeth. Jade, true to form, imagines winning the competition as she smiles for the photographer. The moment of truth arrives: the penultimate elimination. The final three meet the judges, including guest judge Roj Singhakul, a top Thai designer, and his translator. Jade's photo is presented first. "It's a beautiful picture of you, but I'm not sure it strikes me as a hundred percent CoverGirl," Nigel says. However, Tyra likes it because Jade looks soft. When her commercial plays, Roj doesn't buy her as a CoverGirl. Jade makes excuses that it's her first commercial, and Twiggy reminds her she needs to keep her mouth shut once in a while. Tyra isn't impressed. When Joanie's photo is up, Miss J. sees how tight her mouth appears, though Twiggy finds it to be classic. Her commercial goes well, too, and Twiggy thinks she looks like Grace Kelly. However, when Roj notes that her smile isn't free and easy, Joanie nods in agreement. Danielle's photo comes up, and Nigel says, "You make me want to melt." Tyra loved her film, but when her commercial comes up, there's some dissent. Nigel thinks it's the most personable of the three commercials, while Twiggy wants her to smooth out her accent a bit more. Tyra states succinctly, "I didn't like it." She wants Danielle to try harder on the accent. JADE IS VANQUISHED It's deliberation time for the judges. Danielle's photo is amazing; her skin is flawless. But even Roj's translator notes how her accent is getting in her way. The judges swoon over Joanie's old movie star look. Twiggy thinks her sophisticated image would be very hot in Europe right now, while Nigel questions if she's edgy enough to make it in this market. Lastly, Jade's attitude once again gets on the nerves of the judges, despite her lovely photographs. When the verdict is read, Joanie is called first, and she is overjoyed. Danielle and Jade step forward. Danielle knows what's coming when Tyra speaks. "That voice can not necessarily sell make-up; I've never seen it done in my entire career." As for Jade, she hears a familiar story s well: "The judges love your pictures, but they feel you have excuse after excuse after excuse." Jade can't accept that from Tyra, wagging her head as though she doesn't believe it. With that, Tyra hands her picture to Danielle, who cries in relief as Jade makes a dramatic bow upon exit. Jade believes a mistake has been made, and it's not one she's made herself. "The regrets would probably be in that made a wrong choice in who they'll select to be America's Next Top Model. overlooked my ability and my confidence was definitely mistaken for arrogance. I have what it takes; it's just that my look is in a different realm and people don't know how to handle it. This face will definitely be hard to forget. Jade will be hard to forget." After Jade's elimination, Joanie and Danielle celebrate their success with a meal together; they can't believe they've made it to the end. "Ebony and ivory, sucka," Danielle says as she gives Joanie a high five. THE ANCIENT CITY The next day, the final two arrive at the site of the runway show and they're astounded by the size and complexity of the set. It's an enormous city of temples on water and the runway isn't just a runway, it's a maze of walkways that go on for ages. Miss J. notes that they'll be walking at audience level rather than on a raised platform, so every detail will be seen. Plus, it's about 99 degrees, so it's going to be a hot afternoon show. The girls take some time to ponder what's coming next and both of them want to win so badly they can taste it. Family is on their minds; Joanie wants to make her father proud, while Danielle is focused on winning for her mother. When she gets started in hair and makeup, Danielle doesn't care about the other models and the experience they may have over her. "This is my stage. This is my time to shine." Joanie isn't so confident: "I'm going to be a mess up there on that stage today." Tyra shows up backstage to give the girls a pep talk and a final encouragement: "Work it!" Adrenaline is pumping and the girls prepare to get started. They get two chances to make their marks. Although Danielle slips and slides her way on the flowers covering the runway, she covers nicely. Joanie is careful as she walks, but is sure to stop and pose strongly for the judges when she has the chance. When it's over, the girls scream and shout backstage in excitement. Danielle explains that the experience was everything she expected and more. "Just the love that I was feeling from the judges and the audience was amazing." Joanie did well, and she's relieved it's over. "I feel really good." They both made Tyra proud. MISS J. IN DRAG? The big moment arrives, and the girls appear in their final runway attire from the fashion show. First things first: Tyra congratulates them for having made it to the end. Then the evaluations begin. As they watch footage of Danielle during the show, Tyra quips, "Miss J., Danielle is doing your walk." He retorts, "I was looking at myself in drag." Twiggy felt teary as she watched Danielle strut, though Tyra wished she'd "had a little more alertness in the face." Joanie's second walk took Tyra's breath away, though her first didn't have as much pizzazz. Nigel noticed that she was often looking down, which isn't so good because a photographer can't take a good photo when that's the case. Now it's time to look back on the portfolio shots of the entire competition. In the bald shoot, Danielle really connected with the camera. Twiggy is amazed at Joanie's first photo; her eyes "sear into your soul." The falling shot is next, and Danielle's face is strong while Joanie's body is fantastic. Each girl nails the doll shoot, though Joanie's crying shot has a little more emotion behind the eyes than Danielle's. The elephant photos are equally gorgeous, and the swimsuit shoot only serves to point out both the differences and strengths of both girls. As for the final shoot, Tyra says that "both are CoverGirl ads." When the evaluations are over, each girl thanks Tyra and the panel for the opportunity she's had. Danielle is grateful they've given her a chance despite her accent. She is willing to work hard on it no matter what it takes. Joanie is thrilled to have been given a beautiful smile, and she's indebted to finally have the self-confidence she's struggled to find for so long. DANIELLE TAKES THE CROWN Now what Nigel calls the toughest deliberations yet begin; never before have two girls presented such strong portfolios at this stage of the competition. Nigel sums up Danielle: "Beautiful, Amazonian girl, tall, great on the runway, really strutted her stuff for me." Twiggy says Joanie photographs "like a dream; she's got so many different looks." Tyra calls her a chameleon, unlike Danielle, who has a signature look. Danielle may have a more powerful presence in person, but Joanie might have a better portfolio. Who is stronger? Now, the journey comes to an end for one and only begins for another. Danielle and Joanie step forward. Tyra is proud of both of them, but there can be only one winner, and in the end it's…Danielle! Joanie keeps smiling as she hugs Tyra. "I'm disappointed," she says. "I would have been so happy if it was me, but I'm okay. The best girl won." Danielle is elated; she almost can't believe it's true. "I am the winner of America's Next Top Model; my life has officially changed. My mother's going to be so happy right now. It hasn't always been easy. We've had struggles and we've had ups and downs--right now it doesn't seem real to me…. Everything happens for a reason and I know that God blessed me with this opportunity and we don't have to struggle anymore. I'm a CoverGirl, Mommy. I'm a CoverGirl." Source: http://www.upn.com/shows/top_model6/show/ep12/