Amiciness is live blogging again for the 3rd episode of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3. Tonight is makeover time for the girls! And that means one of my faves Lourd Ramos is back to give our girls new looks. Watch with me starting 8:45 P.M. (PH time) on STAR World and find out. You could also follow me on Twitter @amiciness for more updates.
Last time, I asked you which of the AsNTM K-pop group photos you liked best… and the results are in. The Wolf Pack, composed of Melissa, Gani, and Celine, has gobbled up the competition and emerged as the poll winners this week.
Wolf Pack’s unofficial 1st mini-album art (I made this LOL)
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. LIVE BLOG IN PROGRESS. Photos added at the end of this post.
On Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 this week, the photo shoot theme is K-pop. Plus, the girls are in group photos. This week is all about coordination and working with your other models, much like a real K-pop group. Some groups successfully displayed their teamwork while others foundered because they didn’t work as a unit. If I were to rank the groups, this is how they would fare:
1. Loup (Wolf, 루) — Melissa, Gani, Celine
I commend the girls on their total transformation. They all really looked androgynous here. Gani is easily the strongest. Strong face, strong stance. Both Melissa and Celine improved a lot from last week. I do however feel that Melissa overdid the masculine thing with her legs-spread-far-apart pose. Celine’s face looks a bit angry. You can be androgynous but still keeping the pretty, which is what Gani successfully did.
They named their group referring to their favorite move, the hair flip. Did they really have to be in all pink, and in office attire even? The styling could have been less coordinated. Franchesca is really the star of this group. To borrow what Nadya said from last cycle, there’s a spring in her step, and air in her hair if there ever is such a thing. My OCD is kicking in a bit because Monika’s hair flip is going the opposite direction. (Nope, I won’t do it. I won’t put in a Zayn/One Direction joke here.) Amanda’s face looks awkward in the photo, aside from that blinking issue.
The other two groups are tied for last:
3. 4s (Force, 포스) — KB, Rani, Tahlia, Kiana
They were given the sexy-sporty theme, but not everybody embodied that in this picture. Tahlia is the saving grace of this photo. Her face is everything. I can’t believe the judges didn’t point out that KB is a no-neck monster here. Mother Tyra will be enraged. Rani is better this week than the last, but I’m still not seeing it yet. I agree with the judges that Kiana wasn’t even present in this photo.
3. 자매 (Sisters) — Loretta, Barbara, Aimee
Sisters they are definitely not. They look like they weren’t even at the same shoot. The clothes and the hair are all over the place. Barbara is giving me BoA realness here. If this was Barbara’s solo photo, this would’ve been really great. Loretta looked lost. I was waiting for more from Aimee in this photo, based on her excellent dancing skills from earlier in the challenge. Plus she seems to be the biggest K-pop fan among the girls.
If I were to rank the girls individually, this would be my ranking:
Gani
Tahlia
Franchesca
Barbara
Melissa
Celine
Monika
Loretta
Aimee
KB
Rani
Amanda
Kiana
The photo shoot could have been better if each group were given a specific K-pop group as an inspiration. They could’ve let the groups watch K-pop music videos beforehand. Instead of the “street” brief, they could’ve assigned the group to emulate 2NE1 or f(x). Or the “girly girl” group with Girls Generation circa “Gee” or “Genie” as inspiration. Or they could have used a different set of “concepts” that K-pop groups actually use: retro (e.g. Wondergirls), quirky (e.g. Orange Caramel), military/strong, and of course cutesy.
Also, this would’ve been better post-makeover. K-pop artists are known for having hairstyles that are ahead of their time, in terms of color and cut. Right now, all of them have almost the same hair — long and straight — which makes for photos that are not so interesting when viewed side by side. Or they could’ve probably given them wigs?
On the execution of this shoot: disappointing. The photos looked overly saturated. The framing (or is it cropping?) is wonky. We can’t even see the shoes in full in two of the photos. Those LED screen backgrounds didn’t help either. What were they even supposed to display? Again, disappointing overall.
Which #AsNTM3 K-pop group had the best photo this week? Vote for your favorite in the poll. Poll closes an hour before the next episode premieres.
Don’t forget to catch Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 on STAR World Asia, with new episodes every Wednesday at 8:45 P.M. (PH time).
I’m live-blogging again for the second episode of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3.UPDATE: Live blog done. Photos added.
Watch the show along with us, on STAR World Asia right now as we update you with the latest, of course with my own (sometimes snark-filled) comments. 😉
Amiciness is live-blogging the pilot episode of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3.UPDATE: Live blog done. Photos added! Full episode now available online.
Watch the show along with us, on STAR World Asia at 8:45 PM, as we update you with the latest, of course with our own (sometimes snark-filled) comments. 😉
We are only a few days away from the premiere of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3. Now that we know more about the upcoming season, let’s meet the models from all over Asia in the running to become Asia’s. Next. Top. Model.
But first let’s talk about that poster. What is up with Georgina Wilson‘s styling there? Everything is a bit too intense.
Now, on to the girls (in alphabetical order):
(Left to right) Aimee (SG), Amanda (PH), Barbara (JP)
Aimee (Singapore)
She may not be related to Carrie Bradshaw but Aimee Rose Cheng-Bradshaw is as fashionable, having been in the fashion industry modelling starting at the young age of 13. After finishing her education, she pursued modelling, and moved overseas, away from her family.
Amanda (Philippines)
Amanda Bianca Chan is the youngest contestant this cycle. She is from Australia and of Filipino and Chinese background. She originally auditioned for the Australian franchise (where Alex Perry also served as judge) but now she’s bringing her youthful charms (she is super adorable, and that accent!) to Asia’s Next Top Model.
Barbara (Japan)
On the opposite end of the age spectrum, half-Japanese half-Brazilian Barbara Akemi Katsuki is one of the oldest this cycle. She was born in Brazil but moved to Japan at five. She started modelling at a young age in Japan, but today she works professionally in Taiwan. Boa sorte Barbara!
Duong Celine Thuy-Vi grew up in the fashion capital of the world: Paris, France. Being a world away from her heritage, she had to face childhood bullies and learn to embrace her uniqueness. She joined Elite Model Look Vietnam and has even walked the runway for Paris Fashion Week.
Franchesca (Philippines)
Franchesca Denise Lagua has been modelling for the past 5 years. She has walked the local runways, including Bench’s biennial underwear show, and Philippine Fashion Week. Side note: Her beau model Garrett Zebley is cute, and the two of them are cute together. Kainggit!
Gani (Indonesia)
Ayu Gani wasn’t initially interested in modelling with her being a fashion student. She changed her mind when she joined a local modelling competition and became an audience favorite. Since then, she has been working as a part-time model.
KB (Hong Kong)
Bringing sexy back is professional model Kirsteen Ching Wing MacGregor Barlow (yes, that is her real full name). She has done commercial work, including TV ads for FOX Channel Asia and FX Asia (both under FOX International Channels, parent company of STAR World Asia).
(Left to right) Kiana (TH), Lorretta (HK), Melissa (MY)
Kiana (Thailand)
Kiana Anora Guyon is of Thai and French descent. She is a full-time student, trained in the martial art of Muay Thai, and can sing. Side note: She looks a bit like Youtube star Kina Grannis, don’t you think?
Lorretta (Hong Kong)
The tallest of the bunch with legs for days is Lorretta Chow: an actress and singer in Hong Kong but born in Canada. She is also a pageant veteran, winning second runner-up in Miss Hong Kong a few years ago.
Melissa (Malaysia)
Not to be confused with the Malaysian representative from Cycle 1 also named Melissa, this cycle’s Melissa Tan Li Hsia is a woman of her own. Having dabbled in the opposite worlds of finance consultancy and modelling, she is now trying a full-time modelling career starting with her joining this cycle.
Marlena Monika Sta. Maria currently works as a fashion model locally. Self-proclaimed fitness freak, she played collegiate volleyball for De La Salle University (DLSU). Her athletic physique also paved her way to victory in Century Tuna Superbods competition in 2013. She originally auditioned for Cycle 2 but did not make the cut.
Rani (Indonesia)
Rani Ramadhany has quite the story: young self-taught drummer turned model. She has been uploading drum covers of popular songs on Youtube gaining millions of views, and her drumming is indeed impressive.
Shareeta (Malaysia)
Shareeta Selvaraj is trying out a modelling career after having been a candidate for Malaysia’s representative to the Miss Universe pageant. She is the perfect representative of beauty and brains as she has a law degree under her belt.
Tahlia (Indonesia)
Tahlia Raji grew up in a family of artists so naturally she went to acting and modelling to express her creative spirit.
These are the 14 girls in the running towards becoming Asia’s Next Top Model. Amiciness’ early favorites are Celine, Gani, and Monika.
Who is/are your favorite/s this cycle? Who will be on top? Vote in our poll and sound off in the comments below.
Don’t forget to catch the pilot episode of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 on March 25, Wednesday, 8:45 PM (Philippine time), on STAR World.
P.S. Did anyone else notice a lot of the girls did the same poses as last cycle (including Katarina’s first photo shoot, and Poojaa’s signature pose)? The AsNTM judges (or whoever picks their pictures) seem to really like these poses.
We are only a few days away from the premiere of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 3. 
