Film Review: Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Posted on March 20, 2017 | Leave a comment

Director: Bill Condon
Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nathan Mack, Adrian Schiller, Hattie Morahan, Gerard Horan, Zoe Rainey, Henry Garrett, Harriet Jones

Beauty and the Beast in 3D is as magnificent as its grandiose  cast that includes Sir Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor, Luke Evans and its main stars Dan Stevens and Emma Watson among others.

I don’t think there’s even a doubt about Emma Watson’s star-power after the weekend success of the live-action remake of one of the most beloved Disney animations Beauty and the Beast where she played the iconic role of Belle – the provincial lass who felt too confined in her small-minded-small town who fell in love with a cursed prince.

The film just raked in $350M worlwide since its March 16 release despite controversies involving LeFou’s “gay” character (which is totally a non-issue to begin with so to you bigoted piece of shits – Disney doesn’t need your money – kbye!)

I’ve read a tweet last week that says, a new generation is going to forget Emma playing Hermionie because of Beauty and the Beast.

If I’m being quite honest,I think it’s going to be the exact opposite. Emma  has been immortalized by the Harry Potter franchise as the dorky, know-it-all  Hermionie and with Watson playing Belle and meeting every expecations, it solidifies her star-power that trandscends generation. So she’s gonna be remembered for sure playing the two equally iconic roles.

Kids and kids-alike will get a kick out of its fun, funny and endearing characters and songs that will remind them so much of their childhood. I was actually on the verge of tears when Mrs. Potts started singing the theme of the movie during Belle and the Beast’ romantic dance.

The lovely and well-detailed faithfulness of this adaptation from its original animation is what made the film even more special. The magic stayed with  Condon’s fresh new take and fresh new songs from Alan Menken and TIm Rice that includes  “How Does A Moment Last Forever,” heard at the beginning of the movie being sung/hum by Maurice (Kevin Kline), Belle’s father and during the end-credits belted by none other than, Celine Dion.

From the moment Watson appeared on screen, I just knew that it’s gonna be as epic as its trailer. Beauty and the Beast did not disappoint one bit. It was pleasing to the eye, lovely to the ears and just a full-on heartwarming movie that will make you believe in the power of true love – Disney style!

Rating: Perfect 10

movie poster via impawards

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Binibining Pilipinas 2017 First Hot Picks! The Power of Six!

Posted on March 16, 2017 | Leave a comment

I know it’s been a couple of weeks since the announcement of the official candidates of this year’s Binibining Pilipinas and so far, no one has been disqualified yet! *wink* Kidding aside, this is definitely a very strong batch with repeaters, crossovers and newbies battling for the six crowns at stake in this year’s edition!

Upon watching their web interviews, candid and official photos and other videos – I came up with my first hot picks of the season. They are definitely the frontrunners whom I’d like to call at this point the Power Six!

Six.  Gabriela Patricia Ortega

She may not be the most facially beautiful girl in the competition but this girl definitely has that regal bearing fit for a queen! She’s an articulate speaker and has very good bone structure! I’m waiting for her to shine even more but so far, she’s doing a wonderful job edging out the competition!

Fifth.  Sirene Sutton

This “independent” joiner from the Mercartor Models created a rather loud buzz during the final day of screening and you can see why in this picture. She’s statuesque, conventionally pretty (though she reminded me a bit of Miss Universe Malaysia 2011 Deborah Henry) and does seem to have the brains to back her looks so she’s probably the spoiler for the top frontrunner at this point.

Fourth. Rachel Peters

I loved Rachel during the Miss World Philippines 2014 until that final question and answer portion and I loved her aura even more now. I just hope that she’s going to take this more seriously now because she’s one of the Binibinis who has it all – beauty, personality and brains.

Third. Katarina Rodriguez

Asia’s Next Top Model runner-up turned beauty queen aspirant is an instant favorite the moment she decided to try out for the nationals and for good reasons. She’s vibrant, articulate and a face to die for. For now, she’s still giving me that “I’m a commercial model” vibe so she better step it up!

Second. Maria Angelica de Leon

Let’s face it – Mariel has one of the most beautiful faces in the competition and with an impressive pedigree to boot, she could very well topple my top pick for the Miss Universe Philippines at this stage of the competition. It’s going to be a tough job so she better be ready to shine ever brighter!

And the top goes to…

Numero Uno. The One to Beat.

Charmaine Elima.

After choking in the Q&A portion during the Golden Edition of this pageant, Maine took a break from the pageant scene to work as a flight attendant for the Philippines’ national carrier – the Philippine Airlines. Since then, it looks like her life experiences including her 2013 defeat made her an even stronger candidate making waves as she return this year with a bang! She is now handled by Aces & Queens transferring from its rival beauty camp – Kagandahang Flores. Do I think that it’s for the best? I think so. And it’s none of my business, anyway.

Charmaine looks and sound more confident now. She seems more articulate and she’s just glowing like a real queen! At this stage, there’s no denying that everything’s pointing to her succession of Maxine Medina’s title and if the stars will align this year in her favor, there’s a very big chance that she’d finally clinch that Miss Universe Philippines title!

photos courtesy of Bb.Pilipinas FB Page.

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Film Review: Sakaling Hindi Makarating (2017)

Posted on February 9, 2017 | Leave a comment

sakaling-di-makarating-posterAfter watching Ice Idanan’s Sakaling Di Makarating last weekend, I was on the fence about it being a rip-off of “That Thing Called Tadhana” or perhaps just ‘a way better storytelling’ ala-Before Sunrise trilogy which ‘Tadhana” obviously tried to emulate. What I didn’t consider is the message within the film. Sakaling Di Makarating in comparison to the profanity-laden “Tadhana” has a much deeper message and obviously is more aesthetically pleasing.

What initially enticed me to watch the film is that it features the diverse beauty of the Philippines. Its beautiful landscapes being one of the focal points of the story should be a fantastic watch for a traveler like myself yeah? Then I found out that Alessandra de Rossi will star in it and I was absolutely sold! I knew I have to see this on the big screen.

A series of mysterious hand-illustrated postcards take a young woman on a journey throughout the Philippines in search of its anonymous writer.

The film didn’t disappoint with its aesthetic value. It felt like you’re traveling with Cielo (de Rossi) here – discovering the beauty of this tropical country whilst accompanying Cielo on her search for M.

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Cielo’s journey is a way for her to alleviate her pain and find the answers to the many whys of her failed relationship. Cielo, for all her strength, is only human, though. She’s in the process of grieving and trying to decipher what her next move will be. Her journey to finding the postcard sender, M, is her journey to finding herself again. Some of us call it soul-searching, but more than anything else, I’d like to think that it’s finding a reason to live again. The places she’s been to, I’d like to think, have made her realize that there’s so much more to life.

The storyline, however, felt a bit disjointed for me. It’s like I’m watching a movie within a movie; rather, it felt like watching two films altogether. The connection between the first and latter parts of the film was startlingly obvious, but it felt forced. Good thing the kid who played Sol (Teri Malvar) is an absolute joy to watch! When the spotlight was focused on her, ‘girl, just kick some ass like no other.

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I have to be honest, though. I actually enjoyed the latter part of the film more. The beginning, which I find a bit mechanical, was too reminiscent of ‘That Thing Called Tadhana.’ The dialogue was a bit off, and Paul’s character was unnecessary in my opinion. The short affair involving Manuel (JC Santos) was a rather welcome distraction from the bleak narrative of the first half of the film. The parallelism of their scenes in connection to M in the latter part was just too clever! I just loved how apt it was. I’m not sure if it’s just me who thought of it, but if you think about it, there’s a rather eerie similarity.

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Overall, this film was able to deliver a solid ending. The story may or may not work for many, but I’d love for it to have a sequel! I want a storyline with more of Paul in it. Maybe I’m just not giving him a chance. The story could be everybody’s story about struggling not only with their love life but also with our daily struggles while looking for an escape. The film won’t fix your problems, but it will inspire you to go out there. Have the courage to search for what you’re looking for, and as corny as it may sound, you have to remember that you only live once.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars
Directed by Ice Idanan
Cast: Alessandra de Rossi, Teri Malvar, JC Santos, Pepe Herrera

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Film Review: La La Land (2016)

Posted on February 9, 2017 | Leave a comment

la-la-land-posterSo how do I even start with this one without spoiling it too much for you guys? I’ve been meaning to write a review after watching it last weekend but I’m still at that point where I’m trying to digest every scene, every moment of Mia and Sebastian together and everything that makes it one of the best films from last year.

Okay, so let’s start with the stars of the film.

emma-stoneEmma Stone here is flawless. There’s nothing I’d change about her in this film. It’s like watching a beauty pageant contestant on stage performing flawlessly for her audience to win the crown. Emma plays a ‘struggling’ actress here who knows that she’s destined to play A-lister roles for the camera and her struggles to make it into the city of stars is so transparent in her luminous depiction which I’m pretty sure will resonate with everyone of us dreaming – maybe not of the same thing – to be that something or someone.

Ryan Gosling meanwhile plays a passionate Jazz musician whose dream is to own a Jazz club in order to keep the musical genre alive. It all sounds very simple but in context it is a rather heartbreaking realization that indeed, jazz is dying and we need the likes of Sebastian in the real world to save it! Ryan played his role so
convincingly – playing the piano and dancing with vigor – that you’d fall in love with him all over again the way you fell for Noah in the Notebook. Ryan Gosling here without question cemented his status as a true ARTIST.

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As for the story, it reminded me a bit of Satine and Christian’s love affair in Moulin Rouge what with both of them chasing their dreams and having to sacrifice love in the process.

There’s nothing extraordinarily new in it but there’s that surprising element of the storyline’s effectiveness. The storytelling will affect you. It will make you contemplate about your abandoned dreams and will make you weep at some point. I know I did and I cannot really explain why it affected me so much. Isn’t that crazy?

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Perhaps, I was thinking of all the things we really have to let go in life in order for us to achieve something? I was asking myself tho, how worth is it to sacrifice one precious thing in exchange of similarly precious something? How do you weigh things out? I warned you that this may contain spoilers but there’s a lot of things to think about in this film – things that will make you stop, wander, and look back. Well, aside from the fantastic song and dance numbers, this film is just up there which will make you think that sometimes in life, we just have to keep dreaming. It’s free anyway!

Director: Damien Chazelle
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars!

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Pietro Boselli X BENCH/BODY

Posted on February 9, 2017 | Leave a comment

pietro-for-bench-2I wasn’t even aware of Pietro being recruited by BENCH to be their newest endorser so it’s such a wonderful surprise to see the “hottest maths teacher in the world” sporting what arguably the most popular clothing brand in the Philippines.

Here’s Pietro looking so cute…

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And here he is ready to heat up the Summer season even more!!!

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And he’s coming to Manila soon so be ready for this one!

See u Pietro!!!

photos courtesy of @benchbodyph

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My 65th Miss Universe Final Predictions!

Posted on January 30, 2017 | Leave a comment

This is going to be a bit tricky for me because I’ve never seen the interviews of each candidate and I’m basing my final choices based on the preliminary competition as well as the events they have participated in leading into this event.

(Also, I’m a bit late posting this because I’ve just been to Burias Island and have not slept at all – so I’m basically zombie-ish watching this one right now.)

So off to my final 13 (apparently, the 13th spot will be given to the girl voted by the public worldwide to go through)

So I’ve made a ranking based on the swimsuit and the evening gown competition from the prelims (again) and below is what I came up with. (tho not necessarily my final 13)

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13. Indonesia – this is supposed to be the girl with whom the public voted for and Miss Philippines has it in the bag but she’s not gonna be awarded this because she’s a shoo-in even without this. I am predicting that Indonesia will get the 13th spot! Also, I found her not that impressive during the prelims so she should thank her lucky stars!

12. Curacao – sash factor wise, she may not make it at all.

11. Brazil – She didn’t make my Top 12 from the prelims but she’s obviously very personable in person and the fans just loved her! I do think that she’d make the cut but during the Prelims, she’s just too much for me.

10. Great Britain – This girl has got a great personality. She’s also exceptionally pretty. She need better styling if she wanna go further than this.

9. China – What a dear surprise from China! She’s not as polished as Miss Universe China 2011 but she’s got this enchanting aura that may work in her favor…

8. Portugal – This girl for me aside from Belgium, France and Australia has one of the most beautiful faces in the competition and if I’m being honest, her face alone made me put her on my list

7. Spain – she was exceptional during the prelims but I’m not sure how exactly memorable she was when it comes to the eyes of the judging panel. I will still give her a chance tho. After all, her compatriot Amparo Munoz was crowned here during the second staging of the Miss Universe in 1974.

Top Six

6. Thailand – This girl won’t go unnoticed because she’s got a very interesting story to present to the judging panel. Aside from that, you can see that she’s studied so hard to be a perfect Thai delegate. She’s the one I’m suspecting to be the biggest spoiler of the night!

5. Venezuela – She’s my initial pick for the title of Miss Universe but I’ve seen some of her videos and I just have this feeling that she’s going to falter come Q and A portion.

4. Australia – this young fresh thing from Australia has all the making of Miss Universe. She’s gonna go higher, I can already tell but I don’t think she’s stronger than my pick for the final three.

2nd Runner-up: Argentina – I know that this is not a popular pick but I just loved her! She was spectacular during the prelims! She was mesmerizing and if the Q&A will work on her favor, she could make it. The only thing that’s preventing me from elevating her as my Miss Universe pick is her sash.

1st Runner-up: Philippines – This resilient, brave and very beautiful Philippine delegate will always be remembered as the first Miss Universe representative from the land of the orient sea to use an interpreter (as confirmed by the Philippine Tourism Secretary, although there’s a disclaimer that says, “In case”). From the divisive support from pageant fans Filipino and Non-Filipino alike, Maxine has rise to the occasion and delivered a spellbinding preliminary performance.

She still can accomplish a back to back but she needs to be perfect tonight to do such thing!

My Miss Universe 2016 is Miss FRANCE!

She was gliding like a queen during the preliminary. Her body’s to die for and clearly has the best face in the competition. I firmly believe that she should win the crown for these points alone and if she’s got the wit to back these area – then we will have the perfect successor of the confidently beautiful Pia Wurtzbach!

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My 65th Miss Universe Hot Picks #1 – Pre-Preliminary Competition

Posted on January 19, 2017 | Leave a comment

mariam-habach-no-1-for-paddylast-incs-first-hot-picksThe 65th Miss Universe fever is finally on full swing and the delegates from around the globe are trying  to out-stage each other while trying to play nice! Hah! Just this week, we’ve witnessed the Terno Fashion Show from some of the ladies who graced the beautiful historic Vigan to showcase the beautiful ternos created by Filipino designers. Then there’s was the Governor’s Ball, Their photoshoots from different historic sites in the metro as well as visits in the beautiful Boracay Island, Cebu and Batangas. With more press releases, videos and photos available for fans and pundits, let me present to you my first hot picks for this Manila edition of the Miss Universe beauty pageant!

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  1. Mariam Habach of Venezuela

At this stage of the competition, Miss Venezuela for me is the most ready to become the new queen – charisma and performance-wise. Her simplicity and unconventional beauty is refreshing from the usual brunette-filled Venezuelan delegates sent by their great national director Osmel Sousa to this pageant. Her posture and contagious smile is a thing of beauty that you can’t help but fall for her. Mariam came prepared to battle it out to the finish here in Manila!

  1. Maxine Medina of the Philippines

Admit it or not, Miss Philippines’ beauty is a beauty that is very hard to ignore. She exudes confidence and a hint of mystery whenever she struck a pose – until she opens her mouth that is, as per pageant pundits’ usual criticism. To be fair tho, I think we’re too critical of Maxine because we’re comparing her to Pia and whether or not she’ll be able to carry on the latter’s legacy. I still believe that there is a big fat chance for the host-nation to snag a back-to-back win equating Venezuela’s record back in 2008-2009. After all, Maxine has the hometown advantage and with a smooth performance, albeit, a most probably less than confident answers in the Q&A round – she could probably pull it off.

  1. Raissa Santana of Brazil

This Amazonian goddess is everywhere! Like literally every event! She’s such a stand out that you can’t help but be mesmerize by her modelesque bone structure and captivating smile! I’m only placing her as my third pick for the crown at this point because I’m still not sold with her overall presentation. It’s too finesse for me and I want her to be more vibrant and more natural!

  1. Kiran Jassal of Malaysia

Miss Malaysia may not be getting much hype compared to her ASEAN counterparts such as Thailand, Indonesia, and her roomie Miss Philippines but she’s definitely someone to watch out for. She’s a real stunner in pictures and in motion and it may look like she’s playing it under the radar for now but come preliminaries, I’ve a feeling that she’ll be in everyone’s list afterwards. I actually think that she’s way better than Deborah Henry – the most prominent Malaysian delegate in memories who got snubbed during the 2011 edition of the pageant. Like Deborah, she’s got an amazing personality, stunning looks (way better than Miss Henry, IMHO) and good communication skills to boot. Will her sash prevent her from entering the top 16? I hope not.

  1. Chalita Suansane of Thailand

Chalita is definitely a force to reckon with in the Manila edition of the pageant. She came prepared and ready to fight it out like Miss Venezuela and the other three in my top 5! She’s by far my ‘ultimate spoiler’ for the crown! She’s very polished, though not the prettiest candidate, she’s one scene-stealer that has a very likable personality to boot!

  1. Andrea Tovar of Colombia

Andrea Tovar is no Adriana Gutierrez. The latter is personable whilst Andrea has this superior air about her. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing to project but at times, it’s almost as if she’s already won the crown when in fact she hasn’t even step up her game performance-wise. I was expecting more from her and so far she’s giving me such lackluster performance that I’m relegating her to 6th place. Why is she still in the top 10 despite non-personable aura I’ve mentioned? Well, she’s Miss Colombia and Miss Universe loves their controversy. She’s a definite shoo-in for the semis plus her beauty is truly undeniable that truly separates her from others. Thing is, she really needs to work the crowd. After all, nobody wants a villain queen.

  1. Deshauna Barber of the USA

Facially, Deshauna Barber isn’t the most conventionally beautiful delegate in the bunch but her background as US military and her subpar communication skills matching her vibrant personality makes her the most interesting girl to talk and listen to which I think is a big plus for whoever will win the Miss Universe crown!

  1. Kezia Warouw of Indonesia

Indonesia is up for the country of the year in 2016 and a win here will cement their newfound status last year. It’s not an impossible feat because the reigning Indonesian queen is a breathtaking beauty that is both relatable and personable! I am still waiting for her spark to go full on but I’ve a feeling that she will deliver when it matters most.

  1. Hawa Kamara of Sierra Leone

This debuting lass from the West African nation of Sierra Leone is already endearing a lot of pageant fans around the world as she struts with her natural hair on flick, she’s definitely stealing the spotlight from the more hyped candidates. She’s also very dear to Filipino pageant fans as the OFW’s and local fans helped her preparation for the pageant which include her flight to Manila as well as her wardrobe for the duration of Miss Universe. And she didn’t disappoint so far as she is both luminous in pictures and in motion. I’m not sure if Miss Universe is ready to crown another African queen after Leila Lopes’ victory in Brazil but if Sierra Leone delivers the goods come finals night, I’m pretty sure that everyone will be celebrating with her win!

  1. Caris Tiivel of Australia

It’s very simple how Miss Australia landed as my 10th pick. She’s the prototype of the Miss Universe Australia in recent years and I can totally see her eclipsing some of the powerhouse Latinas to make it all the way into the top 5. She’s beautiful, a good communicator and very polished. Although I haven’t envisioned her winning just yet, I’ve a feeling that if she step it up in the prelims – there’s a big possibility of that happening.

Bubbling Up…

  1. Stephanie Geldhof of Belgium
  2. Kristal Silva of Mexico
  3. Sal Garcia of Dominican Republic
  4. Camila Barraza of Kosovo
  5. Jaime-Lee Faulkner of Great Britain
  6. Le Hang of Vietnam

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Sign The Petition Now! Say NO to Nickelodeon’s Underwater Theme Park in Coron, Palawan! #coronisnotbikinibottom

Posted on January 11, 2017 | Leave a comment

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We call on the Local Government of Palawan, Nickelodeon (Viacom International Media Networks), and Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc., to junk their plan to build a 400-hectare underwater theme park in Coron, Palawan.

Why is this important?

Contrary to the press statement that the underwater theme park would “advocate ocean protection,” it will accomplish the exact opposite. By building artificial structures, you will undeniably damage and disrupt Palawan’s marine ecosystems — our Last Frontier. If you are sincere and serious about marine conservation, the money allocated for the underwater theme park should be invested in marine protected areas, sustainable livelihoods for local communities, and environmental education programs.

For a channel that targets children, Nickelodeon is setting a terrible example to the younger generation by taking away their right to enjoy our natural resources. We don’t need an underwater theme park — our underwater life is fascinating, entertaining, and educational on its own.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PEITION!
https://www.bataris.org.ph/petitions/no-to-nickelodeon-s-underwater-theme-park-in-palawan

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The Ticket Prices for the 65th Miss Universe Live in Manila!

Posted on December 19, 2016 | Leave a comment

65th Miss Universe Ticket PricesThey finally released the ticket prices for next month’s beauty spectacle – the much awaited 2016 Miss Universe edition dubbed as the 65th Miss Universe – to be held in Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 30, 2017!

I think most of you guys will be happy to know that they lowered down the rates for the general admission and upper box tickets. The rest are too pricey already if I may say, tho, I am pretty sure that these prices won’t matter much because we Pinoy fans are crazy about the Miss Universe and I’m betting that once the tickets are available (they will be, on Dec. 20th), they will selling like pancakes!

Ready to fall in line on Tuesday or make sure that you’re glued on your devices to buy your tickets online via smtickets.com!

See ya next year in Manila!

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The Contestants of VH1’s America’s Next Top Model [Cycle 23]

Posted on December 8, 2016 | Leave a comment

Y’all know that America’s Next Top Model is coming back to the boobtube right? And it’s coming back to it’s original home – VH1. In less than a week – that is December 12, 2016 – 14 girls will be battling it out for the title of America’s Next Top Model. This time tho, Rita Ora will be spearheading the return of our favorite modeling show acting as host and one of the judges along with model Ashley Graham, Drew Elliot of Paper Magazine and celebrity stylist Law Roach. And don’t worry about Tyra not showing up at all – she’s actually serving as the show’s executive producer!

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via Entertainment Weekly

Let’s meet the contestants of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 23!

Obviously, the show is back to an all-girls cast (thank goodness!) and they are all relatively tall (hallelujah!) so I wonder how this would figure out over the next few weeks with the judges determining who should win! Are we going to see more outrageous ANTM-patented model stunts? Will the return of the show give us back the Cycle  1-3 modelseque epicness? We shall see next week…

[click picture to enlarge and read profile]

Who do you think has what it takes to win it all this early in the competition?

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