Asia’s Next Top Model is back for Cycle 5 tonight. Get ready to expect the unexpected! Before the Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Episode 1 premiere tonight, catch up on the 14 girls vying for the honor of becoming Asia’s Next Top Model:

Introducing the Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Contestants

---

Watch along with us live at 9 P.M. on STAR World for the Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 grand premiere, while we live blog the episode here on Amiciness.com.

UPDATE: Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Episode 1 is already available on the AsNTM Youtube channel! Watch the premiere episode here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuyg0iZBPyQ

IT STARTS NOW! I didn’t expect those opening titles. Love the street style! 😍

We’re meeting the girls one by one. Alicia, Veronika, Valerie, Jennica and Clara so far. The girls first meet model mentor Cara G. McIlroy. Then she introduces the model host Cindy Bishop.

We’re not just looking for a pretty face.

Welcome to Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5! Expect the Unexpected! And their first challenge starts immediately. Cindy calls out special guest Pia Wurtzbach with 6 shirtless male models. And of course I did a bit of research…

Their first challenge is a guerilla catwalk on the harbor, wearing lingerie… in public.

---

Challenge: Lingerie Catwalk

At the end of the runway the judges put up an action card that the girls have to do.

The judges comment that all of the girls have great walks this cycle. I kinda agree… so far. Layla trips at the end of her walk. Judges note that Alicia and Heidi has weaker walks than the others.

The girls have to run all the way back to the “backstage.” Tu says she has a heart condition which makes it difficult for her to breathe. And then she faints… DRAMA!

Good on Tu for standing back up! Maureen wants to prove to everyone she can do it. Valerie and Veronika want to show that they are their own model. Anjelica wants to win to help her family.

All 14 girls go back out on the runway to do their final walk. And… challenge over!

The girls ride their Subarus back to their model house. More like model villa! This is probably the best-looking model house yet! It’s like a really nice 5-star-rating AirBnB property. AirBnB heaven! 😍

Challenge Winner: Shikin (8.9)

Valerie is in second place with 8.5 beating her twin Veronika who she thought would kill it in runway. The 3 Filipina reps Maureen, Jennica and Anjelica round up the top 5. The Pia effect? Char! Anjelica, during her soundbite, says that she’s proud that all 3 Filipinas are at the top of the scoreboard, and that she plans to make the country proud. #foreshadowing.

Layla is at the bottom of the scoreboard with 6.2. Ouch! She needs to nail her photoshoot.

---

Photo shoot: Runaway Model

Joel Lim returns this cycle as the photographer for their photo shoot. Cindy describes the shoot as high fashion and high energy. The girls each have 10 minutes to shoot.

Pia gives a short pep talk before the first shoot. She gives the girls a group hug! Aww so sweet! But is that her last ever physical appearance on the show? Expect the unexpected! HAHA

Jennica is up first. She struggles with her awkward facial expressions. Clara nails the shoot immediately. Anjelica struggles a bit but gets it in the end. Heidi gets good feedback from the judges. Cindy doesn’t have much experience with photo shoots and she’s finding it hard to show “fierce” but she’s just too cute!

Layla is up next! But just after a few tries she falls flat… literally. She refuses to try again. Cara asks her, “Do you want to be in the competition?” UGH not this again! Layla refuses to answer yes or no. Is she going to quit. Tu gives her a bit of a pep talk, which convinces Layla to return. She has 3 minutes left! She’s performing much better! Good job Layla.

---

Deliberation

I like the almost all-white look of the deliberation room. But nah at that tacky neon light handwriting on the walls.

Harper’s Bazaar is no longer a sponsor, so instead the winner is getting a cover on Nylon Singapore.

The judges loved Clara’s photo, but kept calling her a spoiled bratty princess. WHAT?! Oh they meant the attitude in her photo. Or are they talking about Clara in real life. Confused!

While the other judges liked Dorothy’s photo, Pia noted how her pose looked so common.

The competition between Valerie and Veronika intensifies.

Call Out Order

1. Clara (44.7)
2. Valerie (41.5)
3. Maureen (38.7)
4. Veronika (36.0)
5. Shikin (35.9)
6. Heidi (35.6)
7. Dorothy (35.3)
8. Tu (35.0)
9. Jennica (34.9)
10. Cindy (34.6)
11. Alicia (34.3)
12. Layla (33.2)

Bottom 2: Anjelica & Nametha

Nametha (30.6)
Anjelica (29.8)

Eliminated: Anjelica (Philippines)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1730857480537840.1073741868.1445869792369945&type=3

---

Next Episode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwLeS-Fuyh0

The Philippines is already down 1 representative! Let the fan wars begin! 😂

---

Which girl had the best photo for the Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Episode 1 photo shoot? Vote in the poll below. Poll closes right before the start of the next episode. 🙂

---

Watch out for the next post for a more in-depth look at the girls’ photos and our own ranking for Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Episode 1. What did you think of the episode? Do you think the right girl went home? What was your favorite part of the episode? Sound off in the comments below.

UPDATE: Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Episode 1 is already available on the AsNTM Youtube channel! Watch the premiere episode here.