Sexy poses, fantastic photos, grand attire, and ecstatic energy have officially taken over the catwalk at Texas A&M International University’s Housing’s Next Top Model.
Episode One: Putting the “I” in International; Roy nails
The competition began Wednesday evening, March 31 at the University Village with 9 out of the 11 participants present. The participants included: Ted Christensen, Joaquin Garcia, Brenda Gutierrez, Jerry Gutierrez, Wouter Kemink, Diana Oviedo, Jerry Pina, Hector Perales, and Valencia Roy.
The theme for the first show was “Country,” in which the models had to portray a country in their photo and in their attire on the runway.
Valencia Roy who represented England and Diana Oviedo who represented Kenya had the judges in awe over their fabulous photos as last year’s winner Johnny Espinoza gushed, “You girls truly nailed your photos.”
However, the judges were not too impressed with Joaquin Garcia’s representation of Guam. The background of his photo was of the University Village’s swimming pool but was meant to symbolize a beach.
Another model that wowed the judges that first night of competition was Hector Perales who represented France. In this photo he was dressed up as a mime with a complete face mask. “This definitely showed your unique side,” said Judge Carlos Mar.
The judges surprised audiences with a double elimination the first night of the competition, eliminating Jessica Perez (Bermuda) and Jario Chavez (Mexico), the two models who were unable to attend the show.
Episode Two: Rocking Desires; Perales looses control
The April 7 show took place at the Residential Learning Community outside by the pool with lights and all. It served as a perfect runway for the models, as they started at the top of the stairs and made their way to the two stages on the corners of the pool.
The theme for the models’ photographs was Emotions & Aspirations, in which they each had to represent a different emotion effectively in their pictures. The runway consisted of rock stars, artists, pirates, marines, Olympic runners, dancers, teachers, and beach models.
Once again, Hector Perales had the crowd and judges going as he entered the runway as a “hip-hop dancer” to Missy Eliot’s “Music Make You Lose Control.” As he approached each stage he broke dance, flipped, and shook his booty to the music. His photo represented “Rage,” and he nailed that as well.
Wouter Kemink stomped the runway dressed up as a “pirate” with a hook and hat prop. His emotion in his photo was “Serious,” and the judges felt he really looked like a model in his photo saying, “It’s no doubt the camera loves you Wouter.”
Joaquin Garcia entered the runway to Lil’ Wayne’s “Bedrock” as a “beach model” with a towel wrapped around his waist with beach shorts and a t-shirt underneath. He captured “Pressure” in his photo, but fell short, according to the judges.
“Your walk does not look like sexy beach model, but shy beach boy,” said judge Johnny Espinoza. Although he felt like he deserved to stay in the competition, Joaquin was eliminated that night.
Episode Three: Sports Crazed; Roy captures, Oviedo falls
“Sports” was the theme for the April 14th show which took place at the University Village.
The models had to dress up as the ultimate sports fanatic and show their outgoing crazy side on the runway.
Valencia Roy captured the crowd’s attention when she entered the runway to “Jerk” by New Boyz. She showed the crowd her dancing skills along with her #1 thumb prop and basketball poster. In her photo, she represented “Soccer.” While the judges liked the intenseness of her photo, they said she needed to maintain facial awareness.
Yet it was model Diana Oviedo’s emotionless photo and dull runway walk which didn’t impress the judges, sending her to the chopping block with Jerry Gutierrez; it was her late arrival to the show that upset the judges and she was sent home.
Episode Four: Green is sexy; Pina goes m.i.a., Gutierrez shines
“Going Green” was the theme for the April 22 show. The models filled the runway with recycled outfits made of newspapers, bottles, cans, and magazines.
With Jerry Pina unable to attend the photo shoot, he was automatically eliminated, making it a double elimination night. However, all of the remaining contestants’ outfits made it hard for the judges to decide the fate the contestants.
Perales wowed the crowd with a full out costume decorated with all types of eco-friendly items. His top hat encompassed with coke bottles, really catching the judges’ attention. He was the first one to be saved, automatically making it to the finals.
Brenda Gutierrez truly caught the judges attention for the first time since the beginning of the competition. She came streaming down the runway dressed in a recyclable flamenco outfit with a fan top and matching dress tail.
According to Judge Carlos Mar, his raging male hormones had him saying, “Vote for Brenda!”
Valencia Roy, who happened to be fashionably late due to an athletic banquet she had to attend, caught the crowd’s attention when she walked out with swagger in her mini skirt made out of brown paper towels with a matching purse and accessories.
However, the judges weren’t impressed with her photo once again this weekend and she was eliminated. While judge Carlos Mar considered Valencia one of his “favorites,” judge Johnny Espinoza said she waited too late in the game to show her creative side.
Housing’s Next Top Model long journey will come to an end next week Wed. April 28 at the Season Finale.
(Sarah Herrera may be reached at sarahrebecca@dusty.tamiu.edu)