America’s Next Top Model recap: College edition!

So America’s Next Top Model is back, but it is not the same. This season is the ‘college’ season, meaning all the contestants are in college, and the viewers now have the chance to vote for who stays and who goes. But the biggest change is the fact that there are all new judges (except Kelly, thank goodness. She is the best).  Replacing Nigel at the judge’s table is Rob Evans, who is a boxer and model.  And replacing Mr. Jay at the photo shoots is John Wujeck, a stylist responsible for Katy Perry’s look (which may or may not be something you want to brag about in the fashion world). I’m just praying Ms. Jay makes some sort of appearance, even though they have this Bryanboy guy to be a mentor. Who else is going to teach these girls to walk?

Anyway, all the prospective college girl models are gathered and having a good time dancing to tunes played by Taryn Manning (really, her career has come to this?), until Tyra herself comes out talk to them and introduce the old and new judges. All the girls are falling for Rob, who is the same age as them (really Tyra? REALLY?), and they are excited to work with the guy who worked with Katy Perry. Ugh.

Things get right down to business as the girls strip down to their bikinis for a runway walk and photo shoot.  Obviously some of the girls don’t have the best walk, but no one really crashes and burns.  Some girls say some of their hard-life stories in their interviews, but at this point it is just the casting stage and it is too difficult to keep them all straight and get emotionally involved. I’ve seen this show enough times to know that we will hear the stories of the girls who make it over a dozen times.

During the photo shoot Johnny is being friendly and encouraging while Kelly is not afraid to criticize.  He better not be a complete push-over while he directs the photo shoots. That would just be a disservice to Mr. Jay and all he has done.

Back at the holding area for the girls, there is a bunch of computers for the contestants so they can look at the ANTM social media websites to see how many ‘likes’ and votes they are getting while the other girls do their little audition with the judges. In the audition we meet a diverse group of girls.  There is the super poor girl, the girl who is missing a tooth, and the girl who likes to meow like a cat. Seriously, you cannot make this stuff up.  There is also the social outcast girl who is going to school online, the girl with a gap in her teeth, and many, many more. Tyra sure knows how to pick them.

Since this season is the ‘college’ cycle, the girls are living in the America’s Next Top Model ‘sorority’ house and their photo shoot is going to be with Nylon magazine instead of Vogue.  Downgrade. 13 girls end up making the cut, including Jessie, the nerdy girl with a great butt, who I kind of love right now.  The meowing girl doesn’t make it, and I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing. She would probably get annoying very quickly, but I think having her around for like a week or too would be interesting.  In the sorority house the girls are assigned rooms, which are labeled things like the ‘geek room’ and the ‘pink room,’ which seems like a great way to segregate the girls, but whatever. We know there will be drama either way.

I’m a bit skeptical about this season.  I know there will still be the same petty girl fighting there always is and I’m really glad Kelly is still going to be around, but I’m just going to miss Nigel and Mr. Jay SO much. Oh well, we all know I’m still going to watch, even if it is just for Kelly and her biting critiques.