Asia’s premiere modelling competition is back for Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Episode 9. Following the AsNTM tradition, the girls are battling to be the next Subaru Ambassador alongside Natalie (AsNTM2) and Jodilly (who is not in the episode), Monika (AsNTM3) and Tawan (AsNTM4). Read on for my Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Episode 9 review and how the girls fared in their shoot this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9BV0ELO8aI
So who among the girls were confident in motion? These are my thoughts on the girls’ photos this week…
Photos
Shikin
I agree with Yu Tsai who loved the movement in the photo. The lighting along with the pose makes it look like Shikin is plotting something sinister. And I absolutely love it! She’s bringing the fierce every week.
Tu
If the judges hadn’t pointed out the weird position of the foot I wouldn’t have noticed it. She still has to balance on the platform, right? Now I’m noticing all the other weird stuff, like how her hands are holding on to the poles. It’s in an angle that doesn’t look comfortable at all. Still a great addition to Tu’s already strong portfolio, but it would have been absolutely perfect with a great pose.
Clara
The biggest flaw here is the “dinosaur hand” the judges mentioned. Another (smaller) flaw is that the fabric looked like one big clump beside her. Aside from that, it’s a pretty daring (as in brave) pose. Her one foot is barely hanging on to the platform by her heel. I love how she found her light adding to the drama of the photo.
Maureen
This photo lacks movement. I agree that the top half is super gorgeous, but her energy stops midway. She’s not the tallest so she needed to point her legs more. I do love the way the trail floats in the air, and the power she exudes in her arms holding onto the pole.
Cindy
She looks like she’s in danger… literally. It looks like her big prom dress got stuck on a swing and she can’t get it unstuck. Instead of looking like an angel descending towards Earth, she looks like an unsuspecting Earthling being taken away by an alien spaceship. Yeah, I think I’ve said enough: I don’t like this photo. 😂
Episode 9 Review
This episode was pretty much a 1-hour TV promo spot for Subaru. Plus there’s the usual Bad Girls vs Good Girls “drama” in between. What saved the episode though is the shocking “twist” at the end. And probably Bobby Tonelli. 😍
Where is Jodilly?
If I remember correctly we last saw Jodilly as a guest on the show during Cycle 3. However, she was missing in Episode 9 when Cindy and Glenn introduced the girls to the past Subaru ambassadors. I hope she’s back soon. 😀
A Subaru Photoshoot Retrospective
Ever since the show started, Subaru has been a mainstay on Asia’s Next Top Model. They give the car away as a prize. And, since Cycle 2, the top performer on the Subaru episode gets to become the next Subaru ambassador. Because the show is its on fifth cycle, I think it’s fitting that we take a look back at the past Subaru shoots and see how the Cycle 5 shoot stacks up. Short answer: it’s not their best.
I still believe their best theme is from Cycle 2. The juxtaposition of flowery, Renaissance ballgowns with the busy machinery of the car factory was such a good theme that captured Subaru’s “Confidence in motion” tagline. And the photos we got from that shoot were just gorgeous. I also liked the creative theme for Cycle 3 where the girls had to wear body paint representing the Subaru XV’s different car colors.
Subaru’s film/video shoots, on the other hand, are the weaker themes. Cycle 3 had the girls portraying different kinds of career women going to work and home on their Subaru XVs, while Cycle 4 had the show’s first music video. Nothing memorable from both of those shoots. I don’t know if there will be an upcoming Subaru video shoot, but I hope it’s better than the past video shoots and this cycle’s photoshoot.
Subaru vs Photoshop
So where does this current cycle’s Subaru shoot rank against the others? It’s in my bottom three for sure. The theme is mostly a rehash of last cycle: racer drifts car to blow wind into girl’s long flowy gown. But this time there’s an added height challenge, with the girls standing on a suspended swing. However, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
Notice the car (and the driver) in the Cycle 5 shoot. That’s right: it looks the same in every photo. The only thing that changes is the girl on the swing. What was the point of Russ driving into frame every time when they ultimately put the girls in a template? A badly photoshopped one, at that. I know this was supposed to be a Subaru campaign, and I understand that the car should look perfect. But why the dodgy execution at the expense of the girls’ photos? It’s probably the reason for the non-elimination. 😒
Bobby, Be My Uber Driver
Bobby, be my uber driver #AsNTM5 #AsNTM
— amiciness (@amiciness) May 31, 2017
Booking my flight to Singapore in the off chance that I get to ride in an Uber with him. We can go to a drive-through for some ice cream, of course. 😂
Xiao Qing Who?
#ExpectTheUnexpected – please welcome XiaoQing #AsNTM5 pic.twitter.com/FeMnPnIA2O
— #AsNTM6 (@AsNTM) May 31, 2017
The aforementioned “twist” at the end of the episode is the arrival of a new girl named Xiao Qing. The details are unclear. Cindy just gave a monologue about how girls in the fashion industry can be replaced in an instant so they have to step up their game every time. Most people expected a comeback for the already-eliminated girls, but this is a different thing altogether.
Will she actually be added to the competition? My gut tells me no. It’s probably just a cruel prank to keep the girls on their toes. Xiao Qing is probably just a guest on the show. I don’t even know what to believe anymore. 😅
As per AsNTM tradition, it’s just going to be a recap episode for the next one. They usually do this when the girls are down to the Top 4, but they had the non-elimination last episode, so… 😒
What do you think of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Episode 9? Any particular thoughts on the episode? Any other conspiracy theories to add about the show? Sound off in the comments below.
The Girl Who Raised The Stakes: Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5 Episode 9 Recap
