By Michelle Lerner

The “Go-See” episode on AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is always one of the tensest. The girls are put in a challenge situation that actually matters; too many appointments, too little time. And to see five designers in five hours or so, all over Shanghai, well, I feel for them. There’s almost no way they can make it in time. It’s not like they can look at a sign to figure out where they are!

Every year at least one girl gets disqualified from the challenge for being late. This year of the five remaining models, a whopping three are eliminated; Jenah (who made it too all the designers I think,) Chantal, and sadly Heather (who got frightfully lost and only saw one designer.) Bianca and Saleisha were the only ones to make it back in time.

Bianca continued to step up her game this week, for the most part. Confidence-wise, she has really inserted herself in first place. I don’t think I’ve ever heard any girl at this stage declare so forcefully that she is going to win. Melrose said it a lot, but she didn’t act like she already has the crown. Bianca does. Her only misstep was her face in her picture from the shoot with Nigel. She looked like it was week one.

Saliesha is nip nip nipping at Bianca’s heels like the silly puppy she is. In a very Bianca move tonight, when Bianca asks Saleisha how far the next “go-see” is, Saleisha shrugs and says “I don’t know.” Meanwhile she knows full well that the designer is just upstairs. You go girl! Way to play strategically. I guess. She was Nigel’s favorite model to work with. Personally I find her incredibly fake; she’s a brat in a Tutti wig, all smiles upfront and backbiting behind.

Much of the story focused on Jenah, and her “bad” attitude. The producers seem to have forgotten about Jenah until this episode; she takes strong pictures, but she’s not at story worthy as say Heather or Saleisha. Jenah is very New England (she’s from Connecticut,) which is to say she is dry and somewhat reserved. She’s sarcastic and awkward too, as demonstrated when Nigel comes to give her some advice about shooting with him and she kind of sasses him the way I used to try to kid with the really hot kid in my grade in high school- by making a really nonsensical joke at his expense, like “oh yeah, your so fine.” Huh? Nigel does not like it. It was almost worse then when Caridee told him to pull the pole out of his butt a couple of seasons ago. Jenah, of all the girls left, is truly the most model-y. Her nonchalance hides a little bit of steel. That’s a good thing. She just needs to grow up a little, and learn to keep her mouth shut.

Chantal simpers her way through the episode. She acts like she still can’t believe she’s there. There’s something about her I really want to root for, but as one of the judges said, she’s also kind of empty.

Heather is still the girl with the most heart. But it’s the end of the road for her tonight. Between getting lost and missing her “go-see’s” and second-guessing herself at the shoot, she has a bad week again. It’s too bad because the girls left don’t have what she has; they are scrappers, and Heather rises above it. Her speech upon being eliminated was a very sincere statement about being lucky to make the journey and what she had learned along the way. She was so dignified, it was impressive. Even though Tyra insisted on making her the poster girl for Aspbergers, Heather managed to come off like a normal person trying to learn something, not just win.

Now the story will revolve around the brewing battle between frontrunners Saliesha and Bianca, which is a much more one-dimensional plot. Unlike seasons past, I’m just not rooting for anyone anymore.