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Are you ready for some models?? Well, this cycle of America's Next Top Model is coming to a close. There are only 3 beauties left and only 1 can become America's NEXT Top Model. We have Chantal, a gorgeous barbie blonde; Saleisha, spunky and confident and Jenah, sarcastic and amazingly photogenic. Who will fade out of the group photo and who .... will .... become ..... America's Next Top Model? How many times can a recapper use America's Next Top Model in one recap? Stay tuned to find out. Wanna be on top??????
We begin the end in Beijing with some...
TyraMail! This competition is ripe for the picking. It's time to show me your flava! Love, Tyra
Whew. For a minute there, I thought Tyra wanted to see Flava Flava. I am having nightmares!
The three musketeers are contemplating the end. Chantal makes the stunning revelation that only 1 of them won't be in the bottom 2. Yup, that's called subtraction! Jenah is moaning about how she things she's headed home.
Jay and Brent from CoverGirl tell the girls they are doing a national print ad and commercial for CoverGirl Wet Slicks Fruit Spritzers. Jaslene from Cycle 8 pops out and tells them this experience will forever change them. I guess they just throw her in every once in a while to remind everyone who won last cycle.
Chantal begins her commercial. She laments that she's not sure she's 100% prepared. She looks stunning in gold, telling us about how she just loves Lemon Splash. Jay and Brent loved it. Chantal was happy.
Jenah appears in a bright fuchsia gown and looks radiant. Brent wants her to bring Jenah with her. I'm pretty sure she's not bringing Bianca so should be set. Or not. Maybe she should have brought someone--anyone--along to the shoot to help. When the cameras roll, you can hear the crickets. After take 11, they want her to use cue cards. That disappoints Jenah, so she asks for one more take without the cards and they agree. Miraculously, she does great, once she got her confidence up. Jay thought she did come across on the bitchy side.
Saleisha's next up and is adorable in her orange gown. She's confident and excited. She stumbles and has some problems. She takes a second to deal with her frustrations. I'm wondering at this point of take 17, why they aren't making HER use cue cards. She breaks down, regroups and makes a tangerine splash!
Time for the photoshoot. The girls pose with their fruits. Not necessarily the world of high fashion.
Suddenly Tyra and the judges appear and tell the girls it's time to go from 3 to 2. The final 2 girls will be in a Qi Gang fashion show.
Tyra runs a trivia contest. It's not a very nice one either. She begins by asking Saleisha who has the most potential and <gasp> she says herself. When asked who has the least potential, she answers Jenah. She says Jenah can be disrespectful and rude, even though she takes great pictures. Up next, Chantal says that SHE has the most potential and Jenah has the least potential - she has a better than you are attitude. Jenah's up and she says that SHE has the most potential with Chantal being the most amateur.
The judging begins.
- Saleisha - has smiling eyes and believes what she's saying. Tyra says her annunciation is off. Her photo is beautiful, but she only ever has 1 smile.
- Chantal - technique is bad, but she does have natural charm. Her photo was beautiful and much better than the cheesy grin on the last CoverGirl shoot. Jay thinks she's relatable and believable as a CoverGirl.
- Jenah - Tyra felt Jenah was making fun of the whole thing. She has to believe in herself. Jenah hates to be misunderstood. She doesn't feeling like she needs to spew rainbows all the time. She breaks down when trying to explain why she wears a coat of armor all of the time. She doesn't want to cry and show weakness. She finally showed the real Jenah - vulnerable. She had a very simple, clean photo.
Deliberation begins.
Not-quite-RobotTyra appears and shows us photos of the final 2.
- Saleisha - Delicious - she takes what she's learned and executes it. She is definitely CoverGirl material, but isn't quite high fashion.
- Jenah - Did a total 180 and really meant it when she said she was sorry. More self-aware and has a most stunning photo.
- Chantal - Most flexible, but very much an amateur
1. Chantal
Saleisha and Jenah come forward
Saleisha showed potential and became stronger. Jenah's photos rival that of all the other top models
2. Saleisha
Major blubbering ensues. Tyra tells Jenah she can have a kick ass career - her photos are amazing.
So our final 2 get ready to do a Seventeen Magazine photoshoot. It appears to be over in about 45 seconds, but I'm guessing it took a wee bit more than that. The girls did look happy and relaxed. The winner will appear on Seventeen with one of these photoshoot photos.
So they now head to a Qi Gang fashion show. They want to merge the old culture with the new. There are 500 Ch'ing Dynasty extras, the 2 finalists and Jaslene. Not sure where she fits in or why she's here, but okay.
Tyra hugs the girls - tells them they'll be on the world's longest runway. Jay tells them to sell it. The finale runway show begins as both girls profess how much they really want to win.
Miss J., Twiggy and Nigel begin their deathwalk down the runway. Tyra then struts out with quite a large mushroom umbrella behind her. She works that runway as if she's a finalist. There are people on stilts walking and then Jaslene hits the runway. Then Saleisha heads down, confident and really working it. Chantal struts down knowing it's all on the line
Costume change! Saleisha's having a major adrenaline rush and Chantal's nerves are pumping. Another costume change! Saleisha feels confident in her red gown. Chantal is doing great until the train of her dress knocks down one of the stilt performers. She keeps composure and the show ends. The runway clap (models version of the golf clap) ensues and Chantal doesn't trip anyone else (although I thought I saw her try to trip Saleisha)
The judging begins
The girls look radiant and their Chinese dresses. The fabulous prizes are again reviewed. In case you were under a rock, let's review. The finalist gets a modeling contract with Elite Model Management, a cover and 6-page spread in Seventeen Magazine and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics.
They review each girls Top Model career, reviewing some of their prior photoshoots. They review their runways and give props to Saleisha for really owning the runway. Chantal wasn't as confident and rather stiff.
They deliberate for the final time. They definitely have 2 completely different girls. While they are both very commercial, Chantal is definitely more high fashion. Saleisha is in charge of her body, Chantal's on the stiff side. Tyra didn't believe either one of them would be here this long - she thought they would both be going home early.
Tyra tells Saleisha and Chantal they both have a shine and beauty on the inside, which is really what brought them this far. Tyra can really feel their nerves. She reviews the prizes. Again. She tells them life is going to change. Big time.
Saleisha is named America's Next Top Model. It's no surprise if you've followed the spoilers and even the editing in this episode. But, she's a beautiful and determined girl. She thanks God and we fade to black.
Congratulations Saleisha! Thanks for taking this journey with me. It's been amazing. I think we had a connection.
I appreciate your hard work in taking this show on and always getting these recaps up so fast. 
