Asia's Next Top Model and the Contestant with Nine Lives

I'm not much for reality shows, but the Top Model series is one of my guilty pleasures. I don't watch them religiously, but I do tune in when I manage to catch an episode on cable.

Then last year, they started Asia's Next Top Model, which pits girls from each Asian country against each other. Naturally, and you should be aware of this if you're Filipino, nothing gets that whole "Pinoy Pride" blood pumping than an international competition with a Filipino finalist. What made me more intrigued was the said finalist also happens to be from Bacolod, my family's province. Plus, I'm a curious frustrated fashion wannabe (I mean, I wish, but it was one of those never-ever-insertTaylorSwiftSong-meant-to-be things). So you can see how this all contributes to make me turn on the TV every Sunday night when I normally wouldn't, and risk waking up my son.

My favorite is actually Kate Ma of Taiwan. I love that she's so crazy.

That is, until three episodes ago when it was already obvious to me who would be winning, and when our Filipino rep, Stephanie Retuya, got her third straight slot in the Bottom Two... and was saved... for the nth time. Let me just get a handle on that for a moment.

First, a disclaimer: I have no fashion experience whatsoever, but I like to look, as does most people. If I start ranting, it's not because I'm hating. I'd like to think I'm being objective, as an outside observer with no clue of what's going on except for what she sees on camera. Also, I happen to like Stephanie; without the "Pinoy Pride" Goggles of Extreme Subjectivity (TM), I think she's sweet and charming.

That being said, I am disappointed that she can't seem to perform as well as the others. She's never won a challenge. She's never had Best Photo, although she's come close. Apparently, her strength seems to be on the runway, but Top Model is about good pictures. I am mystified as to how she's escaped elimination 5 times already, and is now even in the Final Three! The judges keep telling Sofia Wakabayashi (Japan) about her lucky shots, but Stephanie's the one with all the luck, it seems. She's been bottom 2 in two non-elimination rounds, where we all assume she would have definitely been kicked otherwise, and in the other episodes, the judges have had plausible reasons for letting the other girl go.

Girl's got nine lives, y'all!

Still, I don't think it will get her the title [of being Asia's Next Top Model]. Luck can only do so much, and Jessica of Thailand is just too good, too... natural; she should be in a Maybelline commercial. ("Maybe she's born with it...") Rumor also has it that, since this show is pretaped, there are already quite a number of fashion editorials with her face on them, and most of them came from Europe. I mean, if her four Best Photos didn't give the result away yet, that definitely did.

Not to be a spoilsport or anything, but I think this photo does not mean tht Stephanie wins. I think this screenshot was because Tyra visited and she greeted all the girls and Stephanie hugged her very enthusiastically.

Ah well, I wish Stephanie luck. She is pretty, has the height, the legs, and the skin. I guess she just needs experience. And being on a show like that will definitely open many doors, no matter what rank you get.

As for Asia's Next Top Model, I hope the ratings are not too dismal for this first cycle so they can do another one, dare I say, with more challenging contestants? Maybe then it won't be so predictable, at least the second time around.