We have our very first contributor to JustJared.com!  Please give a warm welcome to the darling SHIHRAH :: PRINCESS OF POWERTUBING. (She watches TV for days.) Shihrah will be giving weekly recaps of the remaining episodes for America’s Next Top Model :: Cycle 6 (since I’ve been failing to do so as of late). Drum roll please!!!!!! [cue recap]

We open with a truly heartwarming and inspiring scene: Jade The Undiscovered Supermodel in absolute floods of tears. She starts blubbering about being in the bottom two at elimination (again) and my recently-warmed heart quickly freezes over with all-too-familiar hatred and irritation.  

From Jade’s heartbreaking anguish, we quickly move to sweet, so-wrong-she’s-right (talk about the back-handed compliment) Brooke, who’s busily bad-mouthing Nnenna.  Seems like Brooke is slightly less than pleased with the way Nnenna almost fell over laughing when they showed Brooke’s Cover Girl commercial at last week’s judging.  ANTM producers kindly provide visual reminder of this little incident by flashing back to last week’s footage, where Nnenna is laughing indecently hard – though in her defense, I laughed pretty hard at Brooke’s commercial too (but I was sensitive enough to do it in the privacy of my own home).  In addition to the mocking laughter, Brooke is also pissed that Nnenna is on the phone all the time with wussy boyfriend John, preventing all the other girls in the house from using the one phoneline. In fact, lots of the girls seem to be slightly peeved with Nnenna and her phone-hogging, challenge-winning, good-picture-taking ways.  (Continue reading after the jump, pictures in the gallery)

(Continued from before the jump) Next day, out pops Miss J., who announces that s/he is there to teach the girls how to walk using accessories – jackets, gloves, and other such tricky little sartorial items. Brooke doesn’t have an easy time of it and when she clumsily drops the clutch, the camera quickly cuts over to Nnenna, who is cracking up again.  Miss J. then teaches the girls how to twirl and swirl.  Jade does her usual drag queen/Undiscovered Supermodel thing, Danielle redeems herself from the last runway tripping embarrassment, and Sara walks and turns like she is on glass stilts.  All this is done to the accompaniment of Miss J. in the background saying inspiring things like “make that skirt do the dance of the seven veils”.  Oh, Miss J. – how many of these models do you think are die-hard fans of Oscar Wilde the way you are?

The girls are hustled to another location, where they meet “the swirlers” Richard and Ron Harris, who, frankly, look exactly like Tweedledee and Tweedledum in weird orange and black capes, or rather, as Joanie describes them, “Count Dracula meets a hairdresser.” Famous runway coaches Richard and Ron show off their skills to the girls in a demonstration I like to think of as “swirling in tandem”.  The lesson yields about the same results as the earlier twirling lesson taught by Miss J.

Back at the house, tensions continue to rise between Nnenna and the rest of the girls over access to the phone.  While complaining to one of the other girls about Nnenna, Brooke falls back on tried-and-true racist insult: “Go back to Africa if it’s so damn great.”  Ah … the old go-back-where-you-came-from attack … brings back fond memories of the schoolyard for me.  Brooke, that was so wrong, it’s just wrong.  Tension culminates with Brooke calling Nnenna a b****, and then immediately regretting it.

Tension breaker: Tyra Mail reads “Sashay Chantay.”  Huh?  Leslie worries over her “duck booty” walk (so-called by Miss J. during her casting session), and Sara stresses over navigating the lean, mean 6’1” length of her body down the catwalk gracefully.

Next morning, the girls show up at a church.  Upon entering, Jade blesses herself with Holy Water and I’m pretty sure I heard a hissing sound when the water touched her skin. Hissssssssssss. The girls meet Roy Campbell, a fashion and special events producer, who tells the girls that they are about to participate in a church fashion show, where they will be expected to show off the best of their swirling and twirling abilities.  The best walker and winner, who will be determined by judges Lloyd Klein (fashion designer) and Sol Rafael (jewelry designer), takes home a $25,000 diamond ring.  Personally, I think that Joanie totally rocked it with her attitude and great turning, but Jade, who was really working her black cape like a diva grim reaper, ended up winning.  She then chose Furonda to get the second prize of a $10,000 diamond ring, and Furonda picked Nnenna to receive the third prize $8000 ring.   

Second Tyra Mail mentions having “stomach krumps”, and for a moment I think that ANTM producers can’t seem to spell any better than Jade (remember the whole ANTM does not stand for America’s Next Top Best Friend incident?).  Next day, however, my faith is restored when we learn that the girls are shooting ads for Payless Shoes and will be working with Tommy the Clown and his krumpers.  Jay Manuel helpfully explains to the girls (and us) that krumping is a new form of movement, a high energy dance much like break dancing. Ok …..  After hearing about the latest challenge, Jade is immediately happy and confident, telling us, “Jade can dance”.  Oh, Jade, how your humility shines through at every juncture ….

Jay tells Furonda that “if you don’t bring it, your black sisters are going to shame you.”  Judging by her dancing in the clips, I would guess that Furonda has quite a bit of shaming awaiting her when she goes home.  Then, despite Danielle’s modest claim that her friends call her a white girl back home, she ends up doing very well and impressing Jay with her moves.  According to photographer Trevor, Brooke “has a killer body but she went off into stripper poses.”  You say that like it’s a bad thing Speaking of stripper moves, Jade gets on set and really starts getting down.  She grabs a water bottle and starts splashing the water over her chest while dancing.  Wet t-shirt contest, anybody?

JUDGING! In the final challenge, Tyra has the girls show off a signature walk and do a smooth, balanced turntable turn on the way back up the runway, both of which Tyra demonstrates with admirable aplomb.  The girls do slightly less well with the walking and turning.  Nnenna, surprisingly, probably had the worst turn of all.  Or maybe Sara.  Or Leslie.  Actually its kind of a toss-up since everyone was so bad.

CRITIQUES! Miss J. tells Jade that she doesn’t look like she’s krumping in her Payless photo shoot – she looks like she’s humping.  Yikes!  Nigel tells Sara that she looks like a tank coming down the runway.  He then tells Furonda that she definitely has a signature walk, whether you like that walk or not.  Brooke is told that she has a bad walk, though she did manage to take a good picture, big jaw and all.  Joanie gets the highest praises from the judges, with Tyra telling her that she has a totally soulful signature walk and a great pic to boot.  Leslie is told to stick her head out like a turtle to counteract her duck booty problem – although personally I think that could go either way, it could counteract the duck booty or just make her end up with duck booty and turtle neck.

DELIBERATION! Sara and Leslie are in the bottom two, both for bad runway walks.  Sara is tall but awkward, and Leslie lacks both posture and presence.  In the end, Sara stays, and Leslie goes home with seven girls remaining. Still wish it were Jade going home this week, though. Better luck next week.

THE GIRL WITH TWO BAD TAKES (Episode 606) :: The models learn improvisation at legendary LA comedy workshop The Groundlings, then have their skills put to the test by Nick Cannon. One model’s attempts at comedy stir controversy. One model is selected to film a role on Veronica Mars, and some models appear in a public service announcement about HIV prevention. The girls are also challenged to successfully deliver a mostly-improvised CoverGirl commercial in only two takes. Commercial director Mike Rosenthal serves as guest judge, and special guests include improv coach Jeremy Rowley and HIV/AIDS educator Marvelyn Brown.

Jade takes things too far at an improv hosted by Nick Cannon in tonight’s episode of America’s Next Top Model. OUCH! She raps, "My name is Jade.  The Ace of Spades. Furonda, my dear. I know is your skin is bumpy but my skin is flawless.  And you look really lumpy."  Ooooohhhhh.   Joanie comments, ‘But no one else took it there. No one else was like, "Yo Jade, you look like an 85-year-old woman.’ "  Ha ha ha.  Watch American’s Next Top Model :: Cycle 6 tomorrow night at 8PM ET/PT on UPN.  Many more screen caps in the gallery!

SPOILER :: Word around town is that Ferocious Furonda will win this season’s guest spot on UPN’s Veronica Mars.

Mollie Sue rags on Nnenna rapping, "Your walk is good, you might not
 fall.  But your head’s as shiny like a big rubber ball."  Be sure to watch
 Joanie git down wit it, definitely one of the highlights of the episode.

Sara serves up a drink alongside her Covergirl makeup while
Brooke has a little panic attack before her first shoot.

Interview Snippet :: As she anxiously struggled to get through her very first scene on her very first day on the set of her very first movie, Take the Lead, Yaya DaCosta was taken aside by the film’s ever-smoldering star, Antonio Banderas, who, in his native Spanish, offered words of encouragement. "He said, ‘You know, every actress who’s ever had her first scene with me has gone on to become very, very successful,’" recalls the 23-year-old Harlem native.

From losing a contest on the catwalk to finding her footing with the foxtrot, she’s bringing the heat to ballroom dancing’s latest big-screen twirl.  Interview Magazine spotlights  actress/model Yaya DaCosta (runner-up from Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model) in their latest April 2006 issue.  Full resolution image in the gallery and entire article after the jump!

Yaya DaCosta

As she anxiously struggled to get through her very first scene on her very first day on the set of her very first movie, Take the Lead, Yaya DaCosta was taken aside by the film’s ever-smoldering star, Antonio Banderas, who, in his native Spanish, offered words of encouragement. "He said, ‘You know, every actress who’s ever had her first scene with me has gone on to become very, very successful,’" recalls the 23-year-old Harlem native.

Despite the fact she was standing across from one of Spain’s most celebrated exports, it’s still easy to understand DaCosta’s anxiety. Growing up in upper Manhattan, she had wanted to be an actress her whole life and nurtured the kernel of that dream since the age of 4, attending various neighborhood after-school programs, where she learned to sing, dance, and perform. She was eventually accepted by the prestigious La-Guardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts (the Fame School) but instead opted for the family business: education (her mother was the founder of the Central Harlem Montessori School, and her father, a college professor). DaCosta followed her two older siblings to boarding school in New England before attending Brown University. "I had always intended on acting at Brown," says DaCosta. "But between classes and having a job, it just didn’t work out." Instead, she studied languages, increasing the number she speaks to four (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French), majored in international relations and African studies, and developed a plan: "I figured I would graduate and head to New York or L.A. and give acting a real shot. If for some reason I didn’t make it, then I’d have my degree to fall back on."

Things didn’t exactly work out that way. DaCosta was persuaded by her sister and college roommates to try out for Tyra Banks’s reality show, America’s Next Top Model, was accepted, and ended up finishing the third season as runner-up. Soon after, she was signed by the Ford Modeling Agency and did her first bit of onscreen performing in a short film by Isaac Mizrahi called Supermodel Hero before landing a part in Take the Lead. The film, which also marks the feature debut of music-video director Liz Friedlander (R.E.M., Gwen Stefani, Counting Crows), is based on the life of Pierre Dulaine and tells the story of a former professional ballroom dancer (brought to life by an almost effortlessly smooth Banderas) who volunteers to teach a ragtag group of kids at a rough New York City public school—including one particularly fleet-footed 17-year-old girl from New York, played by Da-Costa. Given the actress’s own background, it’s no wonder that she feels like she was born for the part. As for whether she’ll ever have to fall back on that degree: "I don’t know," she says. "I’m not counting on having to use it—I’ve been blessed by Antonio Banderas."

"The Girl Who Kissed The Roach" Synopsis :: Runway trainer J. Alexander critiques the models on their catwalk abilities, then unconventional fashion designer Jared Gold puts the girls to the test on their ability to handle the outrageous things the fashion industry can throw at a top model. As the competitors walk in his spring collection, they’ve got some wild accessories–live, giant Madagascar hissing cockroaches. While one model has a meltdown, another competitor demonstrates her runway confidence by kissing her roach. At the photo shoot, the models are made up as fairy tale characters, then are challenged to nail a perfect pose while falling in mid-air. Jared Gold serves as guest judge, and special guests include photographer Tracy Bayne.

Here’s your exclusive sneak peek at tonight’s episode with pictures aplenty from the Jared Gold runway show.  Lots of freaky looks from all the contestants.  America’s Next Top Model episode "The Girl Who Kissed The Roach"  airs tonight @ 8PM ET/PT on UPN. Many more pictures in the gallery!

Gina, Nnenna,  Furonda and Mollie Sue model Jared Gold‘s
Spring 2006 collection on the runway in tonight’s episode.

Danielle falls flat on her face (twice!) during the runway walk
 challenge at judging.  She crawls out of the room crying
 "Ow, ow, ow."  Gina freaks out when she finds out she
 must model with a cockroach.  EEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jay Manuel directs the girls in a fairy tale themed photo
 shoot with Kari as "Goldilocks," Furonda as "Rupunzel,"
 Mollie Sue as "Little Boy Blue," and Sara as "Gretel."

Talk about milestones: Recent America’s Next Top Model winner Nicole Linketter‘s first trip to France coincided with her first shoot for ELLE and also her first time wearing couture.  Hardly one to let a few successes go to her head, Linkletter, 20, took breaks from the ELLE photo session to go be a small-town girl seeing the sights of Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre — "all the touristy stuff," as she puts it.  Back on the set, she loved trying on the beautiful couture clothing, especially Chanel’s pale pink gwn and Dior Haute Couture by John Galliano’s outrageous pantsuit. ¶  The North Fork, North Dakota, native has been on the fast track ever since waiting in line outside the Mall of America for "hours" last April to try out for America’s Next Top Model.  She made the show and had a wonderful time on it, although she wishes more people would understand that "reality television is not reality."  For instance, she admits that hte drama gets amped up by the video cameras, like when she had a fight with her younger sister on the telephone.  There’s clearly something about relaity TV that makes people more emotional, though she wouldn’t define it as acting per se.  "You are still yourself," she says, "but you’re in a situation you would never be in in actual life."  ¶  Having survived living in a house with 12 other aspiriing models and "being videotaped even when sleeping," Linkletter is now ready to concentrate on her career.  In the future, the buddind star hopes to have the oportunity to be like one of her industry heroes, Tyra Banks — who she describes as "not just a model, but a role model."  We wish her all the luck.

Here is America’s Next Top Model :: Cycle 5 winner Nicole Linkletter in her winning ELLE magazine photo shoot from the April 2006 issue.  My two favorite outfits (pictured above) are the Christian Lacroix Haute Couture paillette-embroidered tulle and chiffon gown and the Dior Haute Couture embroidered linen jacket, hand-painted leather trousers by John Galliano. More ANTM‘s Nicole Linkletter pictures in the gallery!

The premiere of last night’s premiere episode of America’s Next Top Model : Cycle 6 certainly didn’t disappoint.  This episode had the ladies pose for beauty shots while wearing bald caps and having their skin bejeweled.  Rounding out my top picks of the week were Sara, Danielle (even though her personality is off-putting) and Brooke (even though the judges didn’t like her shot). Eliminated this week?  Southern girl Kathy who’s seen as a "hillbilly with a philosophy…[that she] can win this competition by being sweet, southern and a bit different." When it came down to it, Kathy just didn’t have enough of a model’s face to win the competition. All the portfolio pictures and episode stills in the gallery!  What were your thoughts on this episode and who are your favorites?

"The Girls Go Bald" — After 32 aspiring models arrive in Pasadena, Calif., to face host Tyra Banks, the field quickly narrows to 13 finalists, however, the finalists are given little time to settle into their posh new mansion in Los Angeles before Jay Manuel reveals in a jaw-dropping announcement that they will be bald for their first photo shoot.

At the latest ANTM press conference, Nigel Barker (Fashion Photographer and Judge) Jay Manuel (Art Director of Photo Shoots) and Ken Mok (Executive Producer) wouldn’t reveal much about the upcoming season of ANTM but they did confirm everyone’s suspicions that Cycle 5′s Jayla was the guilty party in stealing Bre‘s granola bars.  Dun dun dun.  They also mentioned the uncertainty of future releases of subsequent seasons of ANTM on DVD because of poor Season 1 sales. Gah!  The sixth-cycle, two-hour premiere of America’s Next Top Model airs this Wednesday, March 8 (8PM ET/PT) on UPN.  More pictures in the gallery!