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...