Thursday, May 18, 2006




















Danielle is ANTP

Last night's America's Next Top Model seemed to rush through the one-hour finale. After weeks of single contestant eliminations, this week saw the FINAL (and much-awaited) demise of pompous , deluded Jade within the first half-hour (after the final three, Danielle, Jade and Joanie shot a Cover Girl commercial), they rushed to Thailand-set finale. This was our first experience watching the show (even though we'd once interviewed one a previous winner, Eva Pigford, for a magazine).

The final contest was a walk on a long, beautiful, elaborate runway and Joanie and Danielle pranced and preened. After weeks of drawn out commentaries (many seemed forced, and contestants urged to 'dis each other), the last half-hour breezed by quickly. And while Danielle couldn't take a bad photo -- and she was gracious and kind -- her win was little curious based on the comments by judges Miss Jay, Tyra Banks (host), Nigel Barker, Twiggy and a non-English speaking Thai designer. They all seemed to agree that both girls were gorgeous and beautiful and took amazing photos, but who had more versatility? Danielle's mush-mouth -- not really her southern accent, as the Little Rock native kept referring to it -- was a huge issue with the judges. Still, she promises to take voice lessons and remain a sistah, albeit an articulate one. Congrats!