Australia's Next Top Model Cycle 5 - Week 8

It's off to London they go! Sarah comes to say goodbye to the girls as they were packing, with a warning that they would always be on show. If that isn't enough to say sneaky photographers then I don't know what else is. The girls stopped-over in Abu Dhabi and enjoyed some pampering before continuing their flight to London. Obviously, Sarah advice wasn't enough for the girls as they were caught not looking their best, though none of them looked bad either.

The girls were met by Gerry DeVeaux, one of the judges on Britain's Next Top Model who took the girls out shopping to show them some examples of London style, and who guided them through their photo shoot. The models were housed at the pentuhouse suite of Sanderson Hotel. The next day, they were ecstatic to visit Topshop, declaring that they had never seen such a large shop before. I am in total agreement and think Australia needs a Topshop and H&M. At the very least.

After visiting a few more shops, they are done and it is then revealed to the girls that they had had a challenge without even realising it; they had been being secretly photographed upon arriving at Heathrow Airport. The girl who looked the best was Adele, who chose Cassi to go with her to the London premiere of Fast and Furious. Tahnee and Clare remained at the hotel and pretended to be Adele and Cassi.

Next up for the go-sees. They were to make their way to two of the top agencies in London - Storm and Premier. At Storm, the girls were interviewed by Managing Director Sarah Doukas. Clare and Cassi both received a lot of praise, with Clare being declared the perfect balance, able to do editorial, high fashion, commercial and catwalk, while Cassi's photos showed her skill in front of the camera. While Sarah Doukas also thought highly of Tahnee and Adele, she thought that the former might be a bit more commercial and the latter still had room to grow, though she had the potential to grow into a very good model.

At Premier, the girls were met by Director of Scouting, Anthony Gordon and Premier founder Carole White. The girls were asked to walk and none of them escaped scott-free. Adele was told that she had very good posture and was given a few pointers of how to hold herself while walking, but was also deemed a little too tall. Again, Clare was described as perfect, but was unable to correct a slight bounce in her walk. Cassi's walk is much improved but just wasn't up to the tandard it needed to be. Once again, she gave excuses for her poor walk, which didn't impress too much. Tahnee walked well, but for the second time, was seen as perhaps being a little limited in her client base, due to her more commercial look and curiver figure. At the end of the go-see, Carole dd mention that if she had to choose, she'd go with Clare and Cassi.

Next up was the photo shoot. The brief - the cool and sexy London look (its almost a Rimmel ad). The photographer - Robert Astley Sparke. The locations - iconic London landmarks. Tahnee was first up and shot with Big Ben in the background. She was versatile, took direction easily and delighted Sparke enough to be booked again in the future. Adele wore a shimmery dress that cost AU$100,000 though I certainly didn't think it looked like it should have been anywhere near that pricey. Her shoot took place in one of the unmistakeable red phone booths. You could see that she tried giving more range in her expressions but in the end, the photographer didn't think she took direction very well. Cassi had her photos taken while hanging out of the double decker bus and clearly wowed Gerry. Clare was dressed very androgenously and her location was on the steps of a London terrace house.

Back in Australia, the girls headed for judging and elimination. Guest judging were Jonathan Pease and past Top Model winner Alice Burdeau. Clare was up first and while she and Sarah liked her photo, Alex and Charlotte hated it, calling it cheese. However, her face was still very strong so it wasn't horrendous cheese. Overall, the judges deemed that Adele was still giving that same look in her photos, though they also acknowledged that Alice had done the same thing and that the one look was a fantastic one. Plus she had mande a $100,000 dress look much cheaper than it was - I don't agree, I think it was the dress itsel but hey, that's just me. Cassi's photo was decidedly uninspiring and looked just like a girl hanging off the back of a bus; there simply wasn't any modeling there. Tahnee's photo, while the best of the lot, wasn't her best photo either.

While the judges didn't like Clare's photo on the whole, they collectively agreed that she had the best range and was the most mature and professional, and had been from day 1. She was a keeper. The issue of Tahnee's limited client base was brought up but her good photos were undeniable. She was through too. With Adele and Cassi in the bottom two, anyone who had been following the show should have known already who would go, as Alex Perry clearly said he didn't agree with the decision made, and he had been barracking for Adele all along. And so, we say goodby to Adele.

Emma Watson in Teen Vogue August 2009

Little Hermione has grown up! And thankfully, not into some hard-partying, drug-taking and alcohol-soaked celebutante either. Emma Watson always seems to have this air of chic elegance about her. I love this shoot, and I think the clothes and the setting suit her to a tee. However, I do hope that isn't real fur she's been styled with. As much as I love her and her style, I love my animals more.

Also included are some out-takes. Thanks to Just Jared for the photos!

Australia's Next Top Model Cycle 5 - Week 7

This week it's all about acting and projecting a range of emotions. For their lesson, the girls head to NIDA where they meet up with Jonathan who introduces them to Director and Head of the Open Programme, Mark Gaal and former graduate and now tutor, Ana Maria Belo. After a series of exercises the girls are given Sarah Mail, which leads on to the challenge.

More like a prize in itself, this week's challenge for for a starring role (and two supporting roles) in a Telstra TV ad. Cannes winner, Director Adrian Hayward explained the brief. Almost immediately, Franky's claws were out and the bitching began. True, Adele has always been quiet but not so long ago, it was another quiet redhead that took the crown. Franky was paired with Clare and both of them got good feedback. Then came Cassi with Adele who probably didn't do as well. Franky came on again with Tahnee and together, they both shone. Unsurprisingly, Tahnee got the lead, while Franky came in second. Clare was told she had the third spot, but would lose out to Cassi if she continued to be too 'pretty'.

On the day of filming, the winning girls head into hair and makeup while Adele and Cassi had to play set assistants (a job I would have killed for, personally). Cassi, sore after having lost out to Clare was constantly bitching about Clare's performace, while Clare still had the shadow of being replaced by Cassi looming over her head. Finally, Telstra Marketing Director Chantal Walker mentioned to Adrian that he should let Clare know that she was doing an outstanding job and that her position in the commercial was safe.

Up next was the photo shoot. On set for the entire shoot was Sarah who along with Collette Dinnigan, Lisa and Armani, had also worked with photographer Paul Westlake. It was a Ford photo finish, with fords through the years used as props for the girls as they channeled certain icons. Franky got Grace Jones; a very apt fit even though she didn't know much about her. Adele was Greta Garbo and while I admit that not many young things would have heard of her today, I certainly had at her age. Bext up was Tahnee, who got the iconic Liz Taylor. And Tahnee, I love you, you take amazing photos and you're so gorgeous, but how could you never have heard of Elizabeth Taylor? I was completely and utterly shocked. Clare was very happy to know that she was to cahnnel Twiggy and arguably the easiest icon, Posh Spice went to Cassi. Before har and makeup, Sarah informed the girls that they were to go on a trip to London; all but the model who would have to leave at the end of this week. The stakes, were definitely getting higher.

Adele was out first and while she looked very glamourous, she said she felt awkward and ugly. neither Jonathan or Sarah were loving her shoot either, both citing boredom. Tahnee came on next, and for someone who had never heard of her icon, she absolutely nailed it. With her hair and makeup done, she looked sultry and seductive and really embodied the Great Liz in her photos. Clare did Twiggy very well, though Sarah was concerned that she only brought Twiggy to the table, and not much else. Cassi looked like she was struggling ad clearly needed a lot of direction. Franky was amazing. She showed a lot of range and embodied Grace Jones to a T. In quite a few poses, I thought she looked just like her.

Back at the house, Cassi decided that she didn't want to go to London as much as the other girls, and announced (yet again) that she would voluntarily leave the competition. Come elimination day, she changed her tune, but I don't think any of us were surprised. While Tahnee and Clare were safe with their photos, Franky and Adele found themselves in the bottom two. By the skin of her teeth, and her ability to take a good photo, Cassi had turned a mediocre shoot into a very strong photo. Also, it was decided that she had more of a chance of making it in London. Alex still championed strongly for Adele and while Franky did a great job this week (it was a 'Grace Jones' photo, but it wasn't really model-like), it was decided that her look would not translate as well internationally and she was sent home.

Australia's Next Top Model Cycle 5 - Week 6

Wow, the claws were out pretty much from the word go. Today's episode started with Lola, Franky and Tahnee taking a walk and while it was very refreshing to see any of the girls actually doing some exercise that wasn't part of a challenge or lesson, they also unfortunately decided to use the time to bitch about the other three girls.

So this week, the girls had to learn about selling a brand, their image and handling the media. Charlotte had the girls represent V Australia for a press conference. They not only got info cards to learn, but were also dressed up in cabin crew uniforms. However, none of them were able to sell the brand of V Australia (or themselves for that matter) as well as they looked. Lola did seem to do the best, while Cassi, Franky and Tahnee did really badly. Amidst all the uhms and ahs, Tahnee did manage to sell Victoria's Secrets, while Cassi boldly lied about stopping smoking. Franky came across as very cocky and I really don't know which of the three press conferences pained me the most.

The next assisgnment would normally have been the weekly challenge, but instead turned out to be the weekly photo shoot. Photographers Gay Campbell and Denis Montalbetti (who also did a shoot for Make Me A Supermodel - when the models were dressed in costume and posed lying on the floor) shot the girls in various one-off designer dresses to be auctioned off for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. The girls were dressed as follows:

• Adele - Kit Willow
• Cassi - Alex Perry
• Clare - Collette Dinnigan
• Franky - Sass & Bide
• Lola - Easton Pearson
• Tahnee - Akira Isogawa

First up was Cassi. She struggled. That's really the only way to put it. Gay had to keep telling her to keep her toes pointed down and to control her arms. Cassi wound up very winded though that was probably due to the ciggies than actual exertion. And what does she do as soon as her shoot is done? Goes out for another cancer stick of course. Other strugglers were Franky, who had never been on a trampoline till that shoot and Lola, who had some difficulty concentrating on her poses and then keeping the concentration from showing on her face. Adele did well enough, though it did take some time for her to warm up and get into the spirit of the shoot. Stand-outs were Clare and Tahnee, both of whom the photographers said they would happily book again.

The challenge for the week came after the shoot, and the girls headed to Hugo's for a Fashion Targets Breast Cancer charity event. Not only did the girls have to walk in the dresses that they were photographed in, but they aso needed to know about the dresses the were modeling. Adele's Kit Willow was worn by Eva Mendes while Clare's Dinnigan gown was created for Nicole Kidman's Harper's Bazaar shoot. When the girls took to the catwalk, Cassi stood out as the only model who as yet, can't actually do catwalk. As such, she lost this week's challenge and was given the task of doing whatever the girls required of her. Winner Franky was queen for the day.

Obviously, with both challenge and shoot out of the way, the only thing that could possibly come next was the elimination. Alex Perry was in fine form and launched an attack on the girls' attire. Adele was accused of wearing a nightie, Franky was told that lycra and her were never going to be friends, Cassi was trailer park, Tahnee had apparently 'stolen' a top from some old casino junkie, Clare was told never to wear underwear as outerwear and Lola could have been a seat cover.

Once that was done, were could actually look at the photographs. And despite the problems that some of the girls had gone through during the shoot, all the photos came out exquisitely. Some more than others of course. I probably like Adele's face the least, though I do love the colours of the dress and the flowers together. Tahnee had greatly impressed Gay and Denis with her athleticism when asked to do a pike and you got a feeling of playfulness in her photo; I thought she looked just like a gorgeous cheeky little pixie. While Cassi still takes a good photo and the Alex Perry gown is just jaw-droppingly gorgeous, there is something a little off with the photo, its no where near her best. Lola's face is so beautiful and her dress also works well with the background, as does Franky's shot. Both showed a lot more softness and tranquility than was actually felt on the day of the shoot. And lastly, Clare. The photographers chose a pose that Clare had suggested. With her fair skin and hair and pastel gown, her photo can only be described as ethereal. Even the petals of a flower in the background look like wings.

Normally I would have a very clear idea of who should go but this week, I just knew who was utterly safe - Clare and Tahnee, despite the latter's hiccup with press-handling. I thought Cassi's photo was pretty but not spectacular. Plus she struggled a lot during the shoot and still cannot walk the runway properly. Both Franky and Lola had also had some trouble during the shoot though I thought both managed to produce solid pictures. In the end, it was down to Lola and Franky. At this point, I had hoped Franky would go. I suppose I just like her face less of the two, but it was Lola's time.

And then there were five...

Australia's Next Top Model Cycle 5 - Week 6

The girls started this week by learning a little about style and fashion. They were sent to Harper's Bazaar Australia's headquarters, where they met up with Jonathan Pease and Harper's fashion director, Claudia Navone (who can, quite incidentally, sound scarily mannish). Poor Cassie was the main fashion offender but no one really escaped unscathed.

Claudia unveiled what she percieved to be the 3 looks to work for autumn/winter 08. Look 1 was strong and edgy, playing up the shoulder - very Balmain. Her second look was what she termed English garden, no doubt inspired by Christopher Bailay at burberry. The final outfit was inspired by the global traveller and featured a mix of safari, native, peasant and boho.

The girls were put into groups: Franky dressing Cassi in English garden, Clare dressing Lola in global inspiration and Laura being dressed by Adele and Tahnee in the strong power-woman look. While none of them quite nailed their challenge, they did hopefully pick up a few tips about fashion and style.

We next see the girl heading to Alex Perry in QV1. There, they meet Alex himself, along with Trevor Stones. They then proceed to walk for a place in Alex Perry's show aboard the QM2. Cassi still really needs to work on her walk and less on her excuses. When told that she needs to try keep her body in a long lean line while walking, she cited her uneven shoulders and hips makes it harder for her. Franky, in true form, declares that she never has and never will like Clare's walk. Well, she didn't need to like it. What mattered is that both Alex and Trevor loved her walk and long with Adele were chosen for the show. Tahnee also inpressed, so much so that she was asked to go to the fitting just to see if they could squeeze her into the show. Franky of the high and lofty opinions was once again, left high and dry.

This proved to be yet another emoational week for the models, though for much nicer reasons. The mother's were all flown in so that they could spend some time with their daughters and it was very clear that all the girls had missed their mums very much. It was highly emotional and teary. Even Franky for once, refrained from making any caustic comments.

The night before the Alex Perry show, Clare said she wasn't feeling well. I thought it was quite amusing she had created a 'sick station', replete with a barf bin. However, she still trooped on - I really don't think anything would have kept her from walking that show. In hair and makeup, the girls were surrounded by profesional models, one of them none other than Alice Burdeu. While the three were getting prepped, the other models were given the task of helping to arrange chair and attach little numbered cards on them. Franky was very quick to declare she was "over it".

Finally the show started. I know Alex Perry looks like an overly-botoxed, middle-aged human Ken doll, but he can certainly design clothes. They were beautiful. Just stunning. And the girls certainly held their own, some walking better than other seasoned models (this excitedly proclaimed by Sarah, Alex and Charlotte).

After the excitement of the show came the onslaught of the photo shoot. Photographed by Richard Freeman and dressed entirely in Chanel, the girls were asked to pose on a pylon in the ocean. Okay, it wasn't deep and no one would have drowned, but the last thing anyone would have wanted was to see any interlocked C items in the sea. Thankfully, that did not happen. For me, Adele as the only person who seemed at ease during the shoot itself. Everyone else either seemed not quite there, or just struggled.

During judging Adele's photo stood out. While they did struggle I also liked Clare's and Tahnee's photos, the latter actually being a candid shot. I didn't think much of Franky's and Cassi's pictures and just hated lauras shot. I rather liked Lola in her picture - her face looked a lot softer and her legs looked like they went on for ages. Both Franky and laura found themselves in the bottom two and Laura was the one to pack her bags and wave goodbye.