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.