Janet the fourth girl cut from 'America's Next Top Model's ninth edition

Janet required too much coaching during the photos shoots, which caused 22-year-old aesthetician from Bainbridge, GA to become the fourth runway wannabe eliminated from America's Next Top Model's ninth season during last night's broadcast of The CW reality competition series.


"I'm it's sad because it's something that I've wanted for a long time," said Janet following her ouster.  "I've visualized myself as being part of something like this for so long and it's always kind of bittersweet when you leave.  But I think there's a place for me in the fashion industry. I'm just really excited to see where it will take me.  I know this is just the beginning for me."

Top Model's fourth episode began with Jenah, an 18-year-old student from Farmington, CT, describing Janet as the "house mom" after she preached to the other girls about cleaning.

"Sometimes I just find myself nagging about how nasty this place is," said Janet.  "But the most important thing is just stay focused and do the best that I can in the photo shoot --continue to improve -- just because I'm not the tallest girl in the house.  I am a little bit curvy... I'm fighting against a lot."

Heather, a 21-year-old college student from Valparaiso, IN who suffers from Asperger's, a mild form of Autism that hinders her social interaction and verbal communication, then held court with some of the other girls, showing no fear in telling them what she thinks is wrong with their modeling skills.  She even admitted that her own body is "a little bit awkward."  Meanwhile Ambreal, a 19-year-old college student from Dallas, TX, was singing show tunes and boasting about how she's "really confident."


The next morning Lisa, a 20-year-old dancer from Jersey City, NJ, explained to a few of the girls how she's "over thinking" at the photo shoots, a comment that Sarah, a 20-year-old college student from Heath, MA, took as meaning Lisa's "insecure."

The runway wannabes then met posing instructor Benny Ninja at the gym, where he taught them how to pose with movement by using a trampoline, asking them to convey emotion while in the air.  He noticed Lisa lacked confidence and thought Ambreal excelled, however he had a tough time with Janet.

"Janet's problem is she has a harder time trying to get into these poses," explained Benny.  "She was uncomfortable with what she was doing."

After their trip to the gym, the girls traveled to an ice skating rink for their reward challenge.  They were met again by Benny, who explained they'd have to pose in the air while being lifted off the ice by a male figure skater.  They would be judged on their poses -- not skating ability -- by Benny; Top Model sixth-season champ Danielle Evans; and Ann Shocket, editor-in-chief of Seventeen magazine.

The girls learned various figure-skating poses from former Skating with Celebrities professional partner -- and the father of Kristy Swanson's baby -- Lloyd Eisler.  The challenge's winner would appear in an ad campaign in Seventeen as well as participate in a photo shoot with Danielle for an advertorial in the December/January issue of the magazine.


Janet was the first to go and was asked to portray anger.  Ann thought Janet's emotion was "all over the place," was unsure if she knew what she was doing, and described it as "messy."  Most of the girls had a hard time with the challenge, however Ambreal; Lisa; Bianca, an 18-year-old college student from Queens, NY; and Sarah provided a few of the highlights.  The judges revealed Lisa was the challenge's winner.

"Lisa was very good when it came time to give me the emotions, her emotions were right on," said Benny.  "It was a unanimous vote by the three judges."

"I'm so excited, I'm so crazy... I just can't believe I won!" said Lisa, who chose Janet and Ebony, a 20-year-old nursing student from Chicago, IL, to accompany her to the Seventeen photo shoot the next day with Danielle.

As the shoot was taking place, Bianca commented how she was "insanely jealous" that Lisa won the challenge and Ambreal was also "a little pissed off."  Jenah spoke with some of the girls how she wanted Lisa to leave at the next judging panel, but was unsure it would actually happen because she takes such good photos.  Lisa could sense some bad vibes coming from the girls when she returned to the house.

"I really don't get it.  I don't if it's jealousy, intimidation, that I won the challenge... Maybe they really just don't care for my personality," said Lisa.  Saleisha, a 21-year-old receptionist from Los Angeles, CA, then told Lisa what Jenah had said about her.


"It makes me just want to work harder," Lisa told Saleisha.  "It's like whatever.  I'm not here for them.  I'm not here to make friends."

The girls then received some Tyra Mail, which alluded that their upcoming photo shoot would take place high off the ground.  Ambreal was immediately scared, explaining, "I do not do heights at all."  Despite her own insecurities about heights, Ambreal still helped Janet with some of her poses before heading to the shoot.

The girls arrived at Los Angeles' Omni Hotel, where they were met on the building's roof by Top Model's art director Jay Manuel. Ambreal was already in tears since she's scared of heights.  Jay explained the girls would be posing on a platform to create the illusion that they were standing on the edge of the building.  Mike Rosenthal would serve as photographer.

Janet was the first to encounter a problem at the photo shoot, as she was dressed in mostly dark clothing but was wearing white underwear.  Jay told her not to worry about it, but it was obviously still on her mind and Mike had to instruct her to use her arm and hand to block the whiteness.

"I don't think she can get it on her own," commented Jay.  "I don't know if Janet actually got this photo shoot.  I'm not convinced that Janet could do it on her own without constant prodding to let go."


Jay also criticized Saleisha for being too "men's magazine looking," while he commented Lisa was "thinking way too much."  Both were able to get their heads together and finish strong.  Ambreal's fear of heights was definitely evident during her shoot.  She began to worry about crying and screwing up her makeup, while Jay assured her the platform was "totally safe."  His encouraging words didn't work.

"The same face in every picture... That's the biggest problem," commented Jay.  "I'm glad you got over your fear, I just wish there was more creativity.  I say that because you should be further along."

With the shoot over, the 10 remaining aspiring runway walkers then had their fourth individual evaluations, where they would be judged by Top Model creator Tyra Banks; runway expert J. "Ms. J" Alexander; photographer Nigel Barker; former model Twiggy; and Benny.

Ms. J compared Ambreal's shot to a "fashionable robot," and Nigel agreed it "looked a bit comedic."  Ambreal admitted to being afraid of heights, and Tyra said it showed.

"I felt looking at your film -- going through it -- that you looked extremely uncomfortable," said Tyra.


Sarah was also criticized by the judges for not giving the look they were after, and Twiggy said it could have cost clients money because they wouldn't use the shot.  Twiggy thought Janet's photo was "very intense" and commented she "loves it as a photograph."  However Nigel said he didn't see many angles in the photo, and Janet explained how she posed to hide her white underwear.  Nigel was a little stunned, and told her that could have been corrected digitally in editing. 

"When you're doing editorials, just get the shot and embody yourself," instructed Tyra.  "Now when you're doing catalogue, they're paying for a very professional model and you do need to know if your underwear is showing or if your bra is showing."

Once all the individual evaluations were complete, the judges began to deliberate which girl would be the fourth one eliminated.  Ms. J said he still didn't see "high-fashion model" when he looked at Ambreal.  Nigel thought Sarah "dropped the ball" and said she "missed the point."  Twiggy thought Janet's face was "very pretty," but added she just doesn't look like a model.  The judges then compared Janet to Liza Minelli for the hundredth time.

Tyra then revealed that Lisa; Bianca; Ebony; Chantal, a 19-year-old student from Austin, TX; Jenah; Saleisha; Heather; and Sarah were all safe.

Tyra said the judges felt both Ambreal and Janet are "beautiful, striking women" but maybe not "beautiful, striking models."  She described Janet as having an "athletic, muscular body," but added it "needs to be coached so much" to get a good shot.  Tyra said Ambreal's poses are "getting worse, not better."  Overall, she said both girls' photos "aren't as strong," however Ambreal received a chance to improve as Janet was booted.

"All the girls are so cool," said an emotional Janet.  "They're going to be lost without me!  Mama Janet has left the building."


America's Next Top Model 9's next episode will air Wednesday, October 24 at 8PM ET/PT on The CW.






About The Author: Christopher Rocchio