America’s Next Top Model recap: the finale

After a week off, Top Model is back, and just in time for the season finale. As everyone with half a brain predicted, it came down to one American (Laura) and one Brit (Sophie).  And, as always, the winner couldn’t be crowned without some major drama in the final episode.

At the finale photo shoot the girls are, of course, shooting for Cover Girl, but the girls get a surprising twist when they find out that they have been working on footage for their commercial the whole time they have been in Macau. The girls still have to struggle through reading a script though, because nothing crushes a contestant like failing epically at a commercial, although, sadly, there were no major breakdowns in that area this season.

The shoot was difficult for Laura, who had difficulty capturing a beauty shot before suddenly started feeling faint in the middle of the shoot.  Laura was unable to move on to her commercial because her ‘illness’ turned out to be a legit panic attack and she was sent to the hospital.

But where Laura struggled, Sophie excelled. Her commercial piece wasn’t completely amazing, but her photo shoot was full of fun and different expressions. Basically, it looked like she killed it, but you never really know until we get to panel.

The next day, Laura was feeling better, which was good because the girls were off to shoot for Vogue Italia.  The shoot was done in nude colored underwear and Laura excelled, of course. And since she is still feeling well, Laura went back to the villa and finished her Cover Girl commercial.

The runway show this season was for Forever21, which is a pretty major step down for this show, but a runway is a runway, right?  However, before that can happen, Tyra has to stop by the villa and talk to the girls one on one so she can give these girls some of her wonderful, den mother advice.  So after some tears and a pair of hugs, both girls feel better prepared for their possible future as America’s Next Top Model.

At the runway show, all the girls who made the trip to Macau returned to walk in the show.  Laura expressed her excitement at getting to see Annaliese again, which makes since. Annaliese is super friendly, while Alisha tells the camera that if she was still in the competition the other girls would be scared, because she would have rocked the runway and won. Oh, to play the ‘what ifs’…

During the show, the girls have to walk side to side in a spotlight, which proves to be too difficult for Alisha, who walks ahead of the light. I guess she wouldn’t have won after all, huh? Both finalists do rather well; Laura’s walk isn’t completely busted and no one falls. It’s a close race, and it really just comes down to who the judges prefer.

At the judging, Laura’s runway performance didn’t get rave reviews while Sophie’s got high praise.  The commercials were rather evenly matched. Laura was commended on her candied shots, while everyone liked Sophie’s line readings.  And when the print ads were revealed, Laura’s reviews were mixed, but everyone liked Sophie’s photo.  So judging by the results of everything that happened, Sophie was primed to be crowned the winner. But the full portfolios also have to be considered, and Laura’s photos are definitely stronger in general (Although, I’m happy to say that my girl Kelly Cutrone was revealed to be a Sophie fan. Just when I thought I couldn’t love her more).

In the end, Sophie prevails and a Brit is named America’s Next Top Model! Personally, I am thrilled. I never really liked Laura and Sophie is so adorable and back-handedly bitchy. Like Tyra said, as a 22-year old I would love to be her friend.  I think she is great.