Last week was one of the more interesting judging panels. Instead of Tyra, Janice, Nigel, and Nolé critiquing everybody's performance, each girl got to have their say about the others. Naima said it was one of the more difficult things she had to go through, but it was great because everybody really got a chance to see what people were thinking in this competition. At this time last week, everybody was eating with Tyra, Kahlen was crying, and Brittany was saying how great it was because all of them were actually friends.

That feel-good attitude didn't really last very long. Living with a person is difficult, especially when you don't have a choice in who your roommates are. The girls have had to deal with each other, and they have been pretty friendly. YaYa would have felt very good at how much "respeito"(respect) was shared among everybody, but such smooth sailing can only last so long. Keenya starts talking about how she wasn't going to hold back for anything, and when it came time to critique people, she couldn't think about who was her friend or not. Brittany tries to get a word in, but Keenya says a few words about interrupting. They get into a little fight about who interrupts who more, and who was rude to who and shit like that. We saw the rift between these two build last week, and perhaps it was inevitable because of how close they were, but if these two can't get along, there isn't much hope for the rest of them.

Although Keenya interrupts people, it is not her worst trait in this competition. I do have to say that interrupting people is probably my worst trait, and all of my friends have to develop a sort of a conversation Tivo if they are ever going to get a point across. But anyway, Keenya's biggest problem is the food. It's not that she just isn't eating right, the thought of food is all-consuming. When she and Kahlen discuss the latest Tyra mail, Keenya's mind can't go thirty seconds without thinking about the chocolate muffin that is in Kahlen's hand. Clearly Keenya has to start smoking cigarettes to sate her appetite or curb that oral fixation she has. I thought it was one of the first things you learned in Modeling 101.

The next day, everybody goes to the headquarters of G'Mbo Urban Ethnic Clothing and met the founders, who served as their guides through a South African township. While a township is nominally called a "ghetto", by an American definition it is more like a shantytown. Forgive me for my brief history lesson, but the townships were the way of life for most of South Africa's majority black population throughout all of apartheid. It's way too complex of an issue to discuss with any of the proper depth or expression here, but if you are interested in what it was like read Kaffir Boy, a non-fcition piece written by somebody who lived the life in the 1960s. And if you don't get the book, you ca read an excerpt at Amazon. I read it when I was 10 or 11, and it was difficult, but gave me an appreciation for how lucky my life really was.

Now that I am done with my little spiel, back to the show. The girls were taken to a community center in the township, where they were going to learn African dance with a personal instructor. This challenge was pretty much made for Naima. She studied ballet at the Dance Theater of Harlem. Naima mentions that she appreciates the synergy between dancing and modeling because they both give you a chance to realize your body as a whole. Her enthusiasm was not matched by Kahlen or Brittany. Kahlen looks as if she is almost completely devoid of rhythm, and the only reason why you would check out Brittany on the dance floor was if you were looking to see if her boob would pop out or her top. Keenya felt that she needed to bring it because she was among her people, but was having trouble because...her jeans were too tight. Forget the cigarettes, she is going to have to go on the Mary-Kate Olsen diet and fast.

Keenya complained that Brittany was the center of attention last week, but something sort of turned on inside of her. Being in South Africa and seeing the township was hard on everybody, but Keenya began to say how much she really appreciates it, because she is black. It wasn't that the other girls didn't appreciate it, but you know, it's not the same. The whole time she was saying this, Naima was right next to her. Naima doesn't have the darkest skin, but both of her parents are half-black, and that is who she identifies with. From what I have seen on the show, I don't think Keenya has much room to be calling out Naima in any sort of way. Maybe it's good that Keenya sort of realizes where her roots are, and is acting that way, because she didn't seem to want anything to do with Compton. Tiffany and Brandy must have nearly died when hearing her talk that way after she pretty much ignored them throughout their times on the show.

Posted by J-Unit on May 12, 2005 12:50 AM