So after having seen the Bravo's Last Season of Project Runway ( don't worry people, it just moving to another station), I can't help but feel that the wrong person won!
I have always admired Project Runway for being one the the only "Reality" television shows for getting it right, when alot of them have already or are going to "Jump the Shark" by awarding the prize to the most drama filled person and not the most talented. But one can't help but feel that Korto should have won.

After stunning showings from Leanne and Korto.....Kenley's was not even worth mentioning ( it reminded me of a first year fashion student) The majority of guest that they asked wanted Korto to win.
Leannes collection , though stunning and the amount of work that went into it was fantastic, was the same look over and over again...




She said that she was inspired by water and waves and she certainly incorporated that with the dozens of Petals on each dress, making then flow like water back and forth when the model walked down the runway.....over and over again. But this finale wedding dress was a stunner, looking like it could be off the pages of vogue.

Korto , on the other hand, was inspired by her homeland of Africa and it came thru.....




She managed to incorporate her culture into clothing and not look like a costume...keeping it upscale and wearable . And unlike the monotonous color palette of he rcompetitior, hers was vibrant and rich, really playing to nature. This white two piece above was fantastic coming down the runway, this photo doesn't do it justice...you can't see the details.

Kenley's on the other hand, was not even in contention for the prize and everyone knew it but her!


She said that she created this line after having been inspired by Alice in Wonderland....but I have read and seen "Thru the Looking Glass" and I think that if Alice or any other charecter was wearing this, the Queen of Hearts would have definatly cut there head off.
What is so funny ( and I hope that Kenley watches herself on t.v) is that she doesn't know designers, so when everyone constantly told her that her designs had been seen before , instead of being himbled, she was defensive. Case in Point..........
Kenleys Dress (On Left) Alexander McQueens Spring 08(On Right)

Kenley's Dress (On Left) Balenciage Spring 08 (On Right)

Remember, Spring 2008 is shown Febuary 2008 of every year, long before they start taping the show ......MMMMMNNNN.THERE IS A BIG RESEMBLENCE!

And speaking of taping, alot of time, what you see on screen is not what was taped. Did you know that Jerrell & Suede actually showed at Fashion Week? As with every episode of the finals they actually have 5 designers showing due to Fashion Week scheduling and air timing. Also, because past contestants and the media is actually there, so by them showing 5 designers, it will not get leaked who the final 3 are. They just edit the ones that gets cut out.

Take a look at Jerell's line below:

Here is some of Suede's Show:






I actually like Jerell and think he is talented, BUT.... based on the other collections, he and Suede would have been in the same boat as Kenley.....not on the same level as Korto and Leanne.

Also, incase you didn't notice......Did you see several America's Next Top Model Alumni Walk the Runway?

dani

Bianca ( Top Model Cast Off)

Both of them walked for Korto's line.....Also Naima tryed out ( Did you see her in the Model Casting?) Of course she didn't get cast, but it's good to see her still trying to model.

Though Korto didn't win....this is one reality show competition where it's still about talent. And these designers, do have a career after this show, we know Korto will.............

DO YOU THINK THE RIGHT DESIGNER WON?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF KENLEY?

So if anyone saw the Live Special on Tuesday, then you all know that Danity Kane as we know it is done!. Diddy kicked out Aubrey O'Day and then let loose her partner is crime D. Woods.
In the Episode stunner, we saw Diddy, tell Danity Kane members, that what he sees here is not the vision that he had when he created the group and that Aubrey is was out!

With stunned silence following , he then turned to each of the members and asked them if they wanted to still be in this group?

"She's gone, would you like to go with her?"

They all tried to get Diddy to change is mind, but it wasn't happening. He then continued to shock us when he turned to D. Woods and said that she has been unhappy for a long time so was out of the group as well! By the look on D. Woods face, you could tell that she wasn't prepared for that & looked like she was going to cry and beg at any moment.
After he leaves the room , the girls all hug and cry to then say goodbye and D.Woods and Aubrey leave the building.... Dawn sits there in complete shock and says
"What are we going to do? I have nothing to go back to!"
After Diddy comes back in the room, he informs the girls that there will still be a Danity Kane....we we think that the rumors are true. There will be another season of Making the Band, with Diddy finding 2 replacements.....

To me this is the end of Danity Kane....this group is not Destiny's Child status yet and cannot rebound from the replacement of 2 members. Of those five girls, we all know who the star is.....

Deny it all you want, but this is the first name that everyone remembers! She doesn't have the best vocals , but she has personality and that keeps people talking. She is the Bobby Brown to New Edition, the Donnie Walburg to New Kids on the Block! Those are the people you remember!
Plus you would think that Diddy would appreciate that since he is not even close to the best rapper, but still keeps putting out albums and has PERSONALITY...that's why people keep talking about him, not because of his MC Skills!
Other than Faith , what other legitimate artist does Diddy have on his label? They have all left him......in fact Comedian Maronzio Vance (NBC, BET, Comedy Central) says it best......he explores the poison that is Diddy , just take a look at his funny rant below....it is on point!

“Everybody that Puffy comes into contact with are either dead, in jail or we don’t know where the f**k they at - or their careers have fallen out.”

He needs this show & MTV, to not only feed his ego, but get new artist. The question that we ask, is if MTV didn't have this show and his other one called "I Want to Work for Diddy"...we he even be relevant? This is man who has kept his big billboard up in Times Square from when he ran a marathon 4 years ago

He is respected in the hip hop game for past deeds with Notorious B.IG and others, much like Russell Simmons, the only difference is that Russell knew when to hang it up and do better and bigger things. Diddy seams to be stuck back in his heyday of the early 90's..

But your hits have been few and far between....he had to find another way to feed the ego.
So after several seasons of this show, we all know Diddy's M.O and we just like the members of Danity Kane should really know there boss by now. How many times have you set in a board meeting and the boss asked you to "express your feelings" and the next thing that you know, that "person" who said something was cleaning out there desk!

At the end of the day, that is your boss, he is paying you , controlling the money, and has final say , and you can't talk to him anyway you want, EVEN if he is wrong.
Being in the entertainment industry and also dealing with Diddy comes with a cost, especially if you are in a group. Your image and everything about you is under scrutiny, you have to go in the direction that the record label wants you to go in, that includes music and looks...at least until you become an established artist....Remember Beyonce' and Pink...both having to go behind there managments back to get there solo albums made...Beyonce said she had to hide it from her Managament ( her father) becuase it was a different sound than they wanted to go with, and her album went multi platinum , but the managment was upset at first!

They were not complaining on there all expense paid trip to Cabo or popping bottles, Stop putting Diddy as the Daddy. He is not there to show them how to survive in show business. Did they think this day would never come? This is Diddyland , and he is king there, so you have to fall in line or get cut...as with Aubrey and D.Woods.

So what do we think is in store for the girls of Danity Kane?

Shannon, the married sweetheart, will just ride it out to till the wheels fall off and Diddy shuts down the DK brand
Aundrea, will probably leave the group or also get dropped by Diddy, as he alluded to on the episode as her being the problem child as well...
Dawn, the golden girl, who can do no wrong, will most likely get signed to a solo deal by Diddy as she is the vocals behind the group.

D.Woods, the other half of Ebony & Ivory, will probably ride out her last 5 minutes of fame, but fade into nothingness

And last but not least

Aubrey, the "Problem Child" as coined by Diddy, has the best chance of seeing her star rise, with a clothing line already out , her successful run on Broadway's "Hairspray" and her knack for saying and doing outrageous things, she has the opportunity to surpass the DK Brand. Lets just hope that she goes up instead of the way of Bobby Brown!

It's very clear, that the little bit of fame that Aubrey has gotten, has changed her. she does look different that she did when she first started


But I think she was always like this, Diddy just didn't see it, because he doesn't spend time with his acts (by his own admission), even though it looks like on the show he spends all this time with them. I think she found her opportunity to be her "True Self" and took it...I think that the real problem is that she hasn't fallen in line as Diddy wanted, she doesn't conduct herself as he wants therefore, she had to go. And at the end of the day, who ever controls the purse strings, controls you. Even at the live taping, he had nothing but bad things to say to her, telling her to grow up and humble herself on national television, inciting Boos' from the audience........
I don't think this is the last we will see of her and I think that she will end up on top..........

Also ...someone sent me the Team Aubrey & I Heart Aubrey T-Shirts, go by and check it out, ...they also have team Diddy as well as others !

DO YOU THINK THAT DAY 26 WILL BREAK UP AS WELL?

WILL THEY EVEN MAKE A SECOND ALBUM?

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON..DIDDY OR AUBREY?

With the Season 11 of America's Next Top Model winding down to the last few girls, one starts to wonder ...Where are some of the most notable Model Alums?

Adrianne Curry , Season 1 winner way back in 2003 ( seems so long ago doesn't it?), went on to become a regular reality t.v start whore, married a "controlling" Brady and got herself a t.v show on VH1.

She now lives in California with her husband Christopher Knight a.k.a Peter Brady and rumor has it , is about to do another season of "My Fair Brady".....uh, can't wait for that ( I am being sarcastic!)

Shannon Stewart, second runner up in Season 1 and self proclaimed VIRGIN, has actually had a decent career, not spectacular, but consistently working.


She has modeled in Bridal spreads as well as done a little runway for Richard Tyler and Alice and Olivia... she signed to Elite Models and is married ( to another male model) and living in Chicago..We are proud to also announce she is no longer a virgin!lol

Elyse Sewell, another first season alum, and the resident moral authority also has had a consist ant career.


Having a very big career in China, this pic above was taken in Hong Kong , she is one of the more well traveled model alums. This is one of her ad campaigns also taken in Asia.



Sewell has modeled in Milan, NYC, China, Tokyo as well as Dior and done commercials for Sony. Due to her look, she does really well in Asian market, spending the majority of her working career there. She was most recently in the news because she dated Martin Crandall of The Shins until January 2008, when he allegedly assaulted her in a Sacramento hotel] Both Crandall and Sewell were charged with felony domestic assault, though their cases were later dismissed. Previously, Elyse told the Singapore Straits Times in an interview that she had dumped her boyfriend because he cheated on her while she was working in Japan, though they reconciled shortly afterwards. Sewell's first book, based in part on her blog, was published in Hong Kong in 2006. She appeared in multiple book signings across Hong Kong.

Yoanna House, the season 2 (2004) winner, started off well made her debut as a runway model at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2004.



But like so many other alums, she has become a lost in the t.v show host vacuum.She became the host of "The Look for Less" in 2005, replacing Elisabeth Hassleback, when she left to look like a ignorant dumb ass on "The View" and most recently hosted The N networks teeny bopper show "Queen Bees" where the mean girls are reformed so that they can win a cash prize!


Yea, this totally looks like High Fashion to me!.......

Mercedes Yvette Scelba-Shorte, the second runner up in season 2 and who should have been the winner in my opinion, has done well for herself and gained commercial success.
Having been in several different nation commercials , Applebee's, Chili's, Sear's and Payless to name a few, she became an official spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation, having publicly come out on her season as having the disease . She is currently the face of Mandy Moore's new clothing line "Mblem"

Camille McDonald, season 2 contestant and the first Original Top Model Diva is currently the model for her own line of Jamaican inspired swimwear.



In addition to modeling for her own line, she has also tapped a couple of other Top Model Alums to model for her line as well.

Shandi Sullivan , season 2 contestant and resident whore, who lost her mind when had sex on t.v with those hot Italian boys .


Shandi had the best transformation in Top Model history, turning from an "Ugly Duckling into a Swan", then came the conversation with her creepy boyfriend, when she told him that she cheated... good t.v. She is now a receptionist at a Hair Salon in NYC and has cut off her hair and gone the way of the punk rocker.


Eva (Pigford)Marcille season 3 (2004) winner and resident diva, has gone the way of second rate actress...and I use the word actress loosely!


After doing a few magazine covers and a couple of shows, she left her managers Benny Medina and Tyra Banks in 2006 and her new management promptly dropped her last name "Pigford" and went with her middle name" Marcille" She was in the Taye Diggs drama "Kevin Hill" on UPN and made a brief appearances on "Smallville" and "Everyone Hates Chris" as well as "Tyler Perry's House of Pain" where she met and is still dating one of her co-stars Lance Gross

This was taken most recently at the academy awards. She has also recently joined the cast of "The Young and the Restless" as a single mother named "Tyra Hamilton" named by the writers as an in joke of Top Model.

Ann Markley, season 3 BFF to Eva , has had a consistent modeling and t.v career, most recently, having made a brief appearance on last weeks "Gossip Girl"





Yaya DaCosta , the runner up for Season 3 and the Bad Skin, Know It All from Harlem has also gotten the acting bug.


After having an alright run in modeling, she was recently cast in "All My Children" as as Cassandra Foster, daughter of Angie Hubbard, played by soap opera legend Debbi Morgan.And yes, just in case you are wondering... she is still just as annoying playing a fictional character, as she is playing herself.

Amanda Swafford , 3rd runner up in season 3, with the gorgeous eyes due to a degenerative eye condition that will leave her completely blind by age 30. Had some calling foul when she was voted off, even having resident bitchress Janice Dickinson saying, "I love you!" to Swafford when she was eliminated.


After modeling in a few campaigns in Moscow and Eastern Europe ( her look does well there) she has darkened her hair and chopped it off and has now faded into Top Model Nothingness!

April Wilkner , season 3 contestant and resident Asian Beauty, most known for her flirtatious chemistry with fashion photog Hottie Nigel Barker


She has a a consistent modeling career, and has been photographed by Nigel Barker as well,....with his wife doing the makeup ( his wife is a makeup artist)

Toccara Jones , contestant from Season 3 and considered to be the most successful Top Model Alum, having just graced the Cover of Italian Vogue and receiving more pages than any other supermodel in the issue!


After being voted off Top Model, she did several campaigns for a couple of Plus Size Clothing lines, and then after dropping out of the limelight for awhile, she was on VH1's popular show "Celebrity Fit Club " for two seasons, which lead her to land a game show on BET. After being selected in 2007 for Rocawear's " I will not Loose" campaign , representing the plus size division, she was tapped for the famous Italian Vogue shoot with other notable models.
Currently this issue of Vogue is the highest selling issue in history and is currently on its 3rd reprint.

Naima Mora , winner of Season 4 (2005) and mixed up , mohawk wearing identical twin, is the vocalist for the band "Chewing Pics" who are thus far unsigned.


What a waste of time and a t.v viewing season...don't cha think?

Kahlen Rondot , season 4 runner up, is currently no longer modeling.




Despite being considered as a stand-out in her cycle, Rondot struggled to get signed,which many say is because of her resemblance to Carmen Kass.

Carmen Kass

This had led her to leave the industry, although she has done some ANTM related work here.With a couple of showings on magazines and runway, she decided to call it quits and is no longer modeling .Ironically enough, although she has not won ANTM, her promotional picture is used as the shadowed "top model" on the Germany's Next Topmodel's logo. She now works as a bartender in NYC and has plans to open up her own bar......(you can't make this stuff up people!)

Keenyah Hill, season 4 contestant, and one of the first most annoying contestants , has also fallen into Model Nothingness


She is currently living in Manhattan and does "D" list work here and there.

Brittany Brower , season 4 contestant and Keenyah BFF, then frienemy, has gone the way of the pin-up!


After being told constantly,that she was too sexy, to sexy, to sexy, I guess she decided that she could at least make money off of it, instead of becoming a broke has been. After being voted off Top Model, Britney has posed in several men's magazines, most notable Maxim.

Nicole Linkletter , Season 5 Winner, and accused Granola Bar Bandit ,did the standard, Teen Magazine spreads, and She is also currently modeling for the Christian Audigier "Crystal Rock" collection.






Nik Pace, season 5 runner up, and known for being the "reserved" and somewhat "standoff-ish" contestant has done a couple of magazine ads, but nothing spectacular or any runway.






Lisa D'Amato , Season 5 contestant, also known for her odd behavior, ( talking to a shrub she called "Cousin It"



She is still as crazy as ever! After being voted off and doing the standard Top Model rounds, she criticised the producers of Top Model for betraying her trust regarding personal details of the contestant's relationship with her mother. D'Amato alleges that when she was eliminated the producers enticed her by asking what her mother would think. In addition, D'Amato said that, apart from being recognised by the general public, she has gained little from her time on the show, particularly concerning modelling work.Lisa has begun pursuing a career in music, particularly rap and hip hop. On October 8, 2007, the music video for her song "Ace of Spades" was put on YouTube.According to her Myspace, Lisa's debut album is due out in Summer 2009.

Brittany "Bre" Scullark, Season 5 contestant and Granola Bar Thief Accuser, has had a consistent modelling career.



After being told that she was weaker than her other contestants when she was voted off in the finally 3 episode, she has gone on to do several print ads as well as commercials for Pantene and Target and is doing better than the other two "stronger" contestants ( Nik Pace and Nicole Linkletter)

Kim Stolz, season 5 contestant and resident lesbian has had a good careers since being voted off.



Since Top Model, she has gone on to model in the genre that she is best known for...preppy chic. She has done campaigns for Ruehl 21, Abercrombie & Fitch to name a few and continues to have a steady career.

Danielle "Dani" Evans , winner of Season 6, and resident gap tooth model, has changed her name to "Dani" by the agency and has a consistent career since winning.



She has modeled for several other campaigns before becoming the spokesmodel for Akademiks clothing line. She also has received a showcard from her agency, Click Model Management, for NY Fashion Week.She is one of only 4 girls given showcard of all 143 ANTM alumni. (The others being Jaslene Gonzalez, Megg Morales of Cycle 7 and Lisa Jackson of Cycle 9.Evans is apparently good friends with model Chanel Iman.

Joanie Dodds, Season 6 Runner Up and most notably known for have several weeks worth of teeth surgery in a matter of hours!




After modeling for GQ, Elle Girl and etc, the only time we have seen Joanie is on the Tyra Banks show when Tyra brings her back on to talk about her teeth...WE GET IT, your teeth were bad!

Nnenna Agba , season 6 contestant, and known for being the rude African contestant.




With her gorgeous face, she hasn't had a hard time finding work after the show, walking for Heatherette as well as several other designers.

Furonda Brasfield , season 6 contestant and known for giving out "Rules when dealing with me" to her fellow contestants



She has walked for some designers on fashion week as well as done some print ads, but much like the majority of Top Model Alums, that is the extent of her achievements!

CariDee Jenasia English , Season 7 Winner and known for telling Nigel to take the "stick" out of his butt has been one of the few models to come close to "Top Model" Status



In addition to making an appearance on "One Tree Hill" & "Gossip Girl" She has modelled for Wedding Style,JC Penney, and other. English is also part of the "Heart On My Sleeves" clothing campaign by Aubrey O'Day of Danity Kane.

Mel Rose, season 7 runner up and known for being extremely conceited, has kind of fallen from the modeling scene



At the end of Melrose's Top Model run, she announced that she would help design clothes for former Lost cast member Michelle Rodriguez's fledgling clothing line, Ishkidada.Mel Rose has also done advertisements for Scoop NYC, Jack Rabbit Belts, and Beau Soleil Fall 2007 Collection, as well as walked the runways at London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2008 for designer Aminika Wilmot

Jaslene Gonzalez , Season 8 Winner and our Favorite Top Model of all Seasons has had a good career since Top Model.



In addition to consistantly walking year after year for several designers as well as being in various print campaigns Gonzalez strutted on the catwalk of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009 for designers Jose Duran, Indashio, Farah Angsana and Custo Barcelona. Jaslene is featured on Ryan Leslie music video "Addiction". And on the pages of YRB Magazine.She was also on the cover of Imagen Magazine in addition to being a role model for the Puerto Rican Community.

Natasha Galkina , Season 8 Runner- Up and accused Mail Order Russian Bride , has had a career overseas rather than here in the states



She has modeled in Athens, Greece and Milan, Italy, having shot fashion editorials for the magazines Cosmopolitan, Lucky, Elle, and the Greek magazine, Madame Figaro.
On a personal note, she did the best Tyra Banks Impression on her season, that I have ever seen!

Jael Strauss, Season 8 contestant and best remember for being pushed in the pool at a party by 50 Cent after she insulted him.



Living in California and doing very small print ads, she is just as crazy as always, and her career peaked on the show!

Saleisha Stowers, Season 9 Winner and one of the very few contestants that had a chance to be a true "Top Model".



There has been controversy regarding her eligibility to appear on the show. The show's rules state that a contestant must not have appeared as a model in a national advertising campaign during the last five years. Stowers appeared in a 2006 commercial for Wendy's. There is debate among viewers of the show over whether the commercial for Wendy's could be considered an advertising campaign, which would make Stowers ineligible to compete in America's Next Top Model. The CW said in a statement that Stowers did disclose her participation in the Wendy's spot, and "after reviewing the commercial, it was determined that her appearance did not amount to "modeling" experience, and therefore did not exclude her from participating in the show". Several blogs and news outlets have speculated that her past relationship with Banks (her participation in Banks' T-Zone camp and her past appearances on Tyra's television shows and her appearance as a model on The Tyra Banks Show and Cycle 6 of America's Next Top Model), may have influenced the selection of the winner.
Stowers continues to be a fixture during fashion weeks, consistantly walking for different designers during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks.

Whitney Thompson, Season 10 Winner and also toted as the winner that will bring ANTM to the end with the crowing of her as the winner.



With Thompson being crowned as the first "Plus Size" Top Model , alot of people and critics alike have questioned the validity of ANTM and Tyra Banks. This was the point that Top Model solidified itself as being a reality show instead of a legitimate Modeling competition. She has gone the Catalog route by having print ads for plus size retailer "Silhouettes" as well as making an appreance recently on Tyra Banks Show modeling Fall Outfits ( and didn't get that big of an applause when introduced, mind you)

Anya Rozova, Season 10 Runner Up and who many believe should have won the show, having had better photos, has done alright for herself after the show



Anya has done work for the clothing lines Tibi and Habitual. She also walked for Nuj Novakhett and Julian Louie at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009.

So what have we learned from thei Top Model Alum Recap? That Top Model is a vehicle for mediocrity and not for modeling. Also out of the 150 + contestants, only about 5 of them have gotten close to the "Top Model " moniker.

Maybe it's time for Tyra to hang it up! According to an insider, when asked recently whether she was stopping the show, she replied " I thought about it, but No, I am not"...so we can look forward to more reality star has beens...

WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHOULD THIS SEASON BE THE LAST SEASON OF "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL"?