MAYHAPS Combining the best qualities of the terms "maybe" & "perhaps" into a single superior word

America’s Next Teeny Tiny Top Model

America's Next Top Model started its 13th Cycle and I think its going to be huge.  For the first time, Tyra changed the height minimum of 5' 7" to the maximum for this season.  Those beautiful petite girls will finally have their shot at Top Model stardom.  For this reason, I think this may be the best season ever.  The girls in past season knew that just being on the show was enough to get their career started, but for the short girls there won't be as many options in the modeling world unless they win.  I think they are going to be competitive as hell and try really hard.

After the agonizingly crazy hour long casting episode, the main event started.  I really liked all of the girls that Tyra chose with the exception of one: Amber.  She was spouting on and on about Jesus and how she was going to change the world.  She was super crazy and I didn't feel like having someone with that kind of energy on the show.  But lo and behold, when the episode begins we learn that she had to drop out for personal reasons and is being replaced by one of the other finalists.  I clapped and hooted.  For the first time ever, there isn't a single girl that I strongly despise.

The name of the episode was "The Early Bird Gets A Makeover" and it delivered right off the bat.  The girls all got makeovers by Sally Hershberger who is most well known for giving Meg Ryan her signature shag.  The makeovers are usually sorely needed but in seasons past they waited til 2 or 3 episodes in to do them.  The change was drastic for most of the girls and helped place them mentally in a more model oriented state of mind.

For some reason, Tyra has an obsession with bleaching/lightening eyebrows this season with mixed results.  She is also trying to coin the phrase Ty-overs instead of makeovers, but I refuse.

The photo shoot for the week was cute and clever: baby pictures from each of the girls was re-imagined in a modern high fashion interpretation.  The first shoot can be tough.  Some girls haven't modeled in professional situations like this which can be hard, never mind the fact that some of them look completely different than they are used to.

But these short girls delivered.  They know better than to just rely on being pretty; they are all working it as hard as they can.  Let's take a look at the winning photo:

It is simply stunning.  Ethereal and angelic.  Light and soft.  It's like a memory transformed to today.  An edgy ballerina.  The model is Rae.  She's a single mother who survived a horrific kidnapping and sexual assault.  Despite or maybe because of this, she is strong and focused.  Keep your eye on her.

Equally fun is taking a look at the losers for the week.  Take a gander:

Bianca (on the left) had one of the best pictures of the week, but was mainly in the bottom two so she could be taught a lesson.  She was difficult all week when it came to her makeover and her makeup during the photo shoot.  She needed to learn the hard way that it doesn't matter what she looks like, she is hired to make that look appear to be the hottest thing ever.  Her look is a bit too hard though, which will probably hurt her in the long run.

Lisa, on the right, was in the bottom two because she was terrible.  When the girl dropped out of the show, she was the replacement.  You'd expect someone who had been given a second chance like that would try extra hard, but he shoot was awful.  She looks like an angry clown pretending to be a model.  She's gone and nobody will remember her two weeks from now.

I had an extremely hard time with my picks.  Most of the girls are pretty damned awesome but I narrowed it down ended up picking the following:

Nicole is a bit of an odd duck.  She spaces out a lot and has a hard time interacting with others, but when she steps in front of the camera it is incredible.

Sundai's picture this week was terrible, but she has one of the most beautiful faces out of the bunch.  What I also love about her is that she is 5'3", the shortest girl in Top Model history.  She has a lot to prove and I hope she gets the chance to.

In the modeling world, there are very few Asians.  Imagine being a short Asian and trying to make it.  Her first shoot shows that she looks great in a picture and has the creativity to try new things.

You can watch America's Next Top Model every Wednesday at 8 pm on the CW.