Wanna be on top? These 14 girls of the latest cycle of Asia’s Next Top Model definitely do. Yup, it’s time again for a fresh round of weekly photo challenges, Cindy Mail, tearful eliminations, and hearty doses of drama – maybe (hopefully) a few catfights thrown in for good measure too! And with the premiere of the first episode of Cycle 5 last night, we’ll be here to bring you weekly episode recaps.
So for Cycle 5, we’ve got Yu Tsai and Cindy Bishop returning as judges, while Hong Kong-based model Cara G McIlroy replaces Kelly Tandiono as model mentor. And… there’s also Pia Wurtzbach – yes, reigning Miss Universe herself – making guest appearances from time to time.
As for the contestants, Singapore has 2 representatives, Nametha and Layla. And we’ve got twins this season (just like Cody and Tash in Cycle 23 of ANTM)! Valerie and Veronika are from Indonesia, and they make their sibling rivalry clear as day in every of their scenes – each twin’s biggest aim is to first and foremost beat her sister, a goal ranked above winning the other girls.
The theme for Cycle 5 is “Expect the unexpected”, and this first episode is quite an accurate reflection of that indeed. For one, the girls are thrown into their very first challenge barely 5 minutes into the episode, and it’s quite something: a guerrilla lingerie catwalk show, right in the middle of Singapore’s Marina Bay district, in full view of plenty of gawking tourists. The producers sure aren’t wasting any time getting things started.
The task is to strut down the runway with a topless male model, and at the end, the judges hold up a placard with a particular expression or action the girls have to convey, for example “passionate”, “fierce”, or even “kiss the male model anywhere”. Some of the girls nail the walk and the pose easily, while it’s quite a painfully awkward process for some of the rest.
By the end of this challenge, there’s already a fall, and a near-fainting spell. The girls have to run from the dressing room back to the catwalk – in towering heels, of course – after an outfit change, and the physical demands proved too much for Vietnamese contestant Tu. Yet, she picks herself up and soldiers on down the catwalk; we already see that this girl has fire in her, and she’ll be one to watch.
After that, it’s to the model house, where the girls will call home for the rest of the season. This sprawling place has some serious Balinese villa vibes, and we’re really curious as to which secret part of Singapore this house is hidden in. And… the first Cindy Mail arrives, the rankings from the first challenge are revealed, and Shikin from Malaysia comes up tops.
We’re then whisked off to the first-ever photo challenge, shot by local photographer Joel Lim. The theme of the shoot is “Runaway Model”, and the girls have to strike poses mid-leap, against the Marina Bay waterfront. The judges don’t hold back on the criticism for some of the weaker girls, and Cindy from Taiwan seems to bear the brunt of it. This leads to a hilariously awkward outburst on her part, where she suddenly exclaims in front of the judges, “What are you doing, Cindy?!!” Before realising she looks like she’s screaming at judge Cindy Bishop… 😬 Oh well. At least she nails her shot afterwards.
But the one who’s really struggling is Layla – right from the first click of the camera shutter, her poses are lacklustre, and completely devoid of energy. When the judges call her out on it, she breaks down, claiming that her emotions have gotten the better of her, and she doesn’t want to do this anymore. Get it together, girl!!! It’s only the first episode! For sure we’re disappointed at this coming from one of our nation’s representatives; thankfully, after a pep talk from one of the other contestants, Layla decides to get her act together, and is given a second chance at the shoot. This time round, her shots are actually pretty decent.
The shoot wraps up, and too soon, it’s elimination time. Cindy Bishop reveals the prizes this season’s winner will be walking away with, and it’s a brand-new Subaru Impreza, a chance to head to London and get signed by Storm Models, and… a fashion spread and cover shoot for NYLON Singapore (woop woop)!!!
The top performer for the week is Clara from Indonesia, and it’s unsurprising because this gorgeous girl caught our eye right from the start, and she definitely knows how to work the camera. All too soon, Cindy only has one photo in her hands, and the two lowest scorers Nametha and Anjelica from the Philippines are standing in front of her… and it’s Anjelica’s photo that Cindy’s not holding. Phew, our homegirl Nametha is safe – for now. Both her and Layla will really have to up their game from next episode onwards, though.
See the rest of the images from the photoshoot challenge, and decide for yourself if you agree with the judges’ rankings.
Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 airs every Wednesday at 9pm, only on Star World (Starhub TV Ch 501/Singtel TV Ch 301). asntm.com
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