Let’s Talk About America’s Next Top Model Cycle 24 Episode 7

Let’s talk about America’s Next Top Model cycle 24 episode 7, “Beauty Is Raw”. Sure, I’m behind by two days, but the Olympics (oh my gods, that women’s hockey gold medal match from last night was INTENSE, man) have been all up in my TV pretty much nonstop.

“Beauty Is Raw” sure seemed like was going to be the nude photoshoot episode, which oftentimes sees some contestants going home because they cannot allow themselves to be photographed au naturale. Needless to say, that isn’t strictly what happens this week.

Also, if you missed it last week, you can catch up on what happened here. Don’t forget that VH1 has this cycle’s episodes on their website, within a day or two of airing. And you can watch the interview segment with judge Drew and the girl that went home in episode 6 here.

As a reminder, prizes for the winner of this cycle of America’s Next Top Model include a cover and spread with Paper magazine, modeling contract with Next Management, and the new twist this year: an ANTM mobile game where the winner will be an avatar along with Tyra, and $100k from Pantene.

Things that happened:

• The episode begins with the girls returning to the house post panel to see best photo from last week, Khrystyana, on the wall
• Kyla talks about how humbled she is about being in the bottom two. “I don’t suck, I just don’t know what I’m doing.”
• Brendi is still having emotional issues.
• Christina calls Brendi immature, says “If you really don’t want to be poor anymore, just man up” and Erin reacts in a shocked way.
• Erin tells the girls about her son’s father, who passed away from cancer. It’s such an emotional reveal, and it’s hard to watch
• The next morning, the ladies talk about what they think the ‘raw’ challenge is going to be
• Erin says she cannot pose nude
• Tyramail #1, says the ladies had some not so great hands last challenge, and so they’re all getting a manicure.
• Tyra shows up, says she hasn’t had a manicure in three months, and joins the ladies for the nail care.
• Christina comes forward with a tearful reveal of her homelife, and what her father had gone through (heart failure and subsequent coma)
• Tyra tells her that this reveal will help her with her relationships in the house, “Vulnerability is beautiful”
• Khrystyana reveals in her confession that she was molested at the age of 11, and that it shaped her personality over the years. She doesn’t tell the group.
• After some tears, Tyra reveals that the stripped and bare shoot will be no makeup, not nude
• Tyra will be shooting the girls, the setup is one central face, surrounded by the hands of the other contestants.
• Brendi falls apart in her confessional shown during the shoot, saying that her mother has never told her she’s pretty without makeup, but boy did she deliver some strong face during her shoot
• Time for the challenge shoot with Drew
• Director X is there to do video PSAs on bullying
• “We’re going to use our voices and our strength to battle bullying.”
• The girls are writing their own scripts, helping each other.
• Stacey McKenzie comes back to help the ladies with the challenge, and Christina takes the opportunity to tell Stacey she’d been bullied in the model house
• Oh girl, honest criticism is not bullying
• Brendi reveals more of her issues with her mom, and Stacey says that she knows exactly what she’s talking about. “Use this in your video”
• The ladies are screaming out their rage at the camera, and Khrystyana just breaks the heart
• “I was a voiceless child”
• This may be one of the most real things this show has done. Wow.
• Truthfully I can’t see it being used to send someone home, seems like everyone went into an extremely honest place. Oh good, it’s just a reward challenge. -whew-
• Drew introduces guest judge Heather Anderson, Programs director at the National Crimes Prevention Council
• Drew plays the vids, which Tyra has recovered the voiceovers on
• You know, the voice over really takes away from the raw beauty.
• Kyla, Sandra and Khrystyana win the challenge, their psa will run with Tyra’s voiceover
• Tyramail #2: “Are you ready to find out who’s next level fierce? A cut. Is. Coming.”
• Judging starts, Tyra introes the judges, Law, Drew, and Ashley. She reminds the contestants of the prizes.
• Tyra asks what a thighbrow is, and Ashley lifts her skirt to show her.
• Sandra delivers, finally.
• Brendi also kills it
• Rio is just fabulous
• I like Erin’s photo, even though the judges don’t
• Khrystyana tells the panel and the contestants about her being molested, and it’s horrible to hear. All I want to do is hug her through the screen.
• Both Tyra and Ashley tearfully thank her for sharing this, because it’ll help other girls somewhere. Ashley also drops a “what we’ve gone through”, meaning she’s gone through it too.
• Khrystyana’s photo absolutely shows the emotion she said she was feeling during the shoot, “these hands are holding me together”
• Christina again steps in it with Tyra, being disrespectful
• Brendi gets called first, but then Tyra starts calling all the other girls other than Erin and Christina.
• “All 7 of you have tied for best photo.”
• It comes down to Erin and Christina. “Erin, you got too stuck in your own head. Christina, you’re in your own way.”
• Erin gets to stay, and Christina gets sent home.
• “You listen to critiques, and you’re moldable, that’s what this competition is about.”
• So so glad. Bye lady.