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Quote:

Originally posted by lostnfound117
She's so timid and has the personality of a sponge (and I don't mean Bob...).

ETA: I 'bout fell out when I saw Miss Jay sitting all spread eagle in that "Miss Celie" skirt and them run over shoes. PRICELESS!

LMAO!!

:cool:

PICTURE THIS: Poise, grace and that edgy mohawk have made Detroiter Naima a fan favorite on 'America's Next Top Model'
BY JULIE HINDS
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

May 11, 2005

GERDA GENIS/UPN

Naima, 20, a Detroit waitress, poses as a wild animal on a recent episode of "America's Next Top Model." She is one of four remaining contestants.

From watching UPN's "America's Next Top Model," viewers know Naima as a 20-year-old coffee-shop waitress from Detroit who's an intriguing mix of beauty and shyness.

She posed in an open grave for one photo challenge and impersonated a cheetah for another. With her soft grace and punky Mohawk haircut, she has become the clear fan favorite. But the show's judges often wish she'd show more personality. Tonight, she'll battle Brittany, Kahlen and Keenyah -- the three other remaining contestants -- for a place in next week's final episode.

Because of contractual obligations, Naima can't talk to the press while she's still in the running, and neither can her close relatives. The show's spokesperson won't even reveal her last name.

But the buzz in Detroit is that she's Naima Mora, a former Cass Technical High School student who excels in dance and comes from a family that's well-known in art and music circles.

Although "Top Model" hasn't played it up, sources say some of Naima's relatives are stars in their own right. Her father is Francisco Mora, a jazz percussionist with an impressive career who has worked with Sun Ra and Max Roach.

And friends also mention that her grandmother is Elizabeth Catlett, an acclaimed African-American sculptor, painter and printmaker whose works are in the permanent collections of museums across the country.

The whole Mora clan is a creative group, say those who know them.

For the past few months, the celebrity spotlight has been squarely on Naima, who has emerged as a calm, appealing figure on the fiery fourth season of "Top Model."

Although the show hasn't gotten as much media attention as "American Idol" or "Survivor," it performs solidly in the ratings, particularly with women in the 18-to-34 demographic, a group advertisers are eager to reach.

'Top Model' is a Cinderella story for the fashion crowd. Each week, a group of aspiring young women compete against each other in photo shoots and fashion challenges. Last week, for instance, they were in South Africa for an outdoor shoot that required them to accessorize with objects found in nature. Mud and leaves were popular wardrobe choices.

So far, the show's dramatic highlight was the screaming fit thrown by the host, supermodel Tyra Banks, when a departing contestant, Tiffany, didn't take her defeat seriously enough.

Through it all, Naima has maintained her poise, impressing photographers with her physical grace and showing a knack for acting. She has won the viewer's choice Cover Girl contest for eight straight weeks. On the show's Web site (www.upn.com), nearly 40 percent of online voters have chosen her as their favorite contestant. Just over 50 percent believe she's going to win.

So do Naima's acquaintances from the Motor City, who say talent is something the Mora family has in abundance.

A childhood pal, Mialana Dominguez, 26, remembers Naima and her twin sister, Nia, as quiet, reserved children, the youngest of four sisters. "We would have singing parties," says Dominguez, who was a friend of Naima's older sister, Ife. "The twins would be our dancers."

At Cass Tech, Naima was a "top-notch" student, according to her former dance teacher, Tony Smith, who instructed her in modern dance and ballet.

Smith remembers her "as a very prolific artist" who was eager to learn choreography and a member of the Cass Tech Dance Workshop, a student company that travels extensively to perform.

Even as a freshman, "there was something very artsy about her," Smith recalls. "Where other students might do it for fun, she was very serious about it."

Cass Tech's current dance students are watching "Top Model" and rooting for Naima, says Smith, who considers the show's portrayal of her a little misleading. "She's not shy, she's not guarded. She's a quiet spirit. She's not an outrageous person, but she's not bashful at all."

After high school, Naima moved to New York, where she studied with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Her twin sister, Nia, also lives there and is pursuing a career in photography. Last year, Nia's work was part of an exhibit at Detroit's 4731 Gallery.

Although Naima has been praised by "Top Model" judges and photographers, not everything has gone her way. She has been criticized for not revealing more of her emotions, and she has endured a few envious remarks from the competition after winning prizes like a tennis racket signed by Serena Williams.

On last week's episode, Naima opened up about her personal life, explaining, "I was very angry growing up. My parents divorced. So I totally got into the party scene for a long time, and just, like, going crazy and getting drunk and feeling really lost." As she talked, viewers saw pictures of her as a teen with rebellious-looking flaming red hair.

But friends say the family is proud of Naima's success.

Her father, Francisco Mora, is "a percussionist with a lot of musical depth and a tremendous amount of knowledge of music in general," says Jim Gallert, co-author of "Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit, 1920-60." Colleagues in the jazz world describe Mora (who has also recorded under the name Francisco Mora Catlett) as a cultural force who was deeply involved in the Detroit community before moving to New York a few years ago.

Naima's grandmother, Elizabeth Catlett, has been called a leading African-American artist of her generation. "I think a lot of women artists regard her as a pioneer," says Valerie Mercer, curator of the Detroit Institute of Arts' General Motors Center for African-American Art.

The daughter of public-school teachers and the granddaughter of slaves, Catlett went to Howard University and got her master of fine arts degree from the University of Iowa, where she studied with Grant Wood of "American Gothic" fame. She married a noted Mexican painter, the elder Francisco Mora, who died a few years ago.

One of Catlett's sculptures is a black marble bust called "Naima." In an interview for Sculpture magazine, Catlett described it: "We have twin granddaughters who came to stay with us one summer, they were studying Spanish. I kept looking at one of them, who has a very dynamic personality. ... She has a little bump in her nose that I wanted to put in."

Will Naima become famous as a "Top Model" winner? It's tough to say, because reality shows often create suspense with tricky editing.

Because Naima is being portrayed as the front-runner, does that mean someone else will emerge victorious?

Metro Detroiters who know the modeling industry say Naima has something special.

"She has that little bit androgynous, edgy look, like she could be on the London punk scene. It makes her very chameleon-like and versatile," says Joe Fitrzyk, a creative director at Solomon Friedman Advertising in Bloomfield Hills. "She seems to be about what's next, rather than what we've already seen."

On a video clip posted at the show's Web site, Naima talks about her trip to South Africa and what the show has meant to her.

"This experience, it makes me very humble," she says. "I'm surrounded by mountains and plateaus. It makes me feel very small and it reminds me a lot that I'm part of all this, and this is becoming part of me as well."

Spoken like a true artist, or a reality-show contestant.

In case you all did not get the hints, Elizabeth Catlett is a Soror!!

YAY, Naima made it into the finals!

Keenyah just KNEW she was going to be the second finalist!

Quote:

Originally posted by 1browngirl
YAY, Naima made it into the finals!

Dayum, it could go either way as far as Keenyah and Kahlen.

I think Keenyah is going home and Kahlen is going to win.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neosoulchild
I think Keenyah is going home and Kahlen is going to win.

I think so as well but we'll see.:) :cool:

WTH does Jay have on?:confused: :confused: :confused:

oh lawd now Miss Jay has on some isht too. :confused:

They both did well on the runway tonight!!!

:eek: :eek: :eek:

I am shocked. I just knew they loved Kahlen, and she was going to win. I'm glad Naima won. :D

YES Naima won! :)

I was so glad when Keenyah got the boot....the look on her face was classic

And Miss Jay....what was up with that hair and that neckerchief he had on :confused:

I'M SO GLAD THE SPOILER WAS WRONG!!! It had said Kahlen would win. I was sick!

Good for Naimah!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by lostnfound117
I'M SO GLAD THE SPOILER WAS WRONG!!! It had said Kahlen would win. I was sick!

Good for Naimah!!!

Which is why we should not listen to spoilers.

Yeah and I asked for the spoiler's prediction..I'm watching the show like yep it's Kahlen (esp. when they were talking about the great semester but didn't do good on the final) I'm thinking they didn't care but what a surprise..I remember saying Naima in the beginning..(even though she started turning me off for some reason towards the end).

Is it just me or was Keenyah really pretty..I really thought she looks great!! Her confidence was really border line though but I did like her no matter what you guys said...However, there was one shot (and thanks to DVR/TiVo) where she looked funny it was a full shot during the commercial where her edges looked ruff and her teeth looked gap..but when she turned that head she looked MUCH better..I still love her though

Quote:

Originally posted by Missam05
Yeah and I asked for the spoiler's prediction..I'm watching the show like yep it's Kahlen (esp. when they were talking about the great semester but didn't do good on the final) I'm thinking they didn't care but what a surprise..I remember saying Naima in the beginning..(even though she started turning me off for some reason towards the end).

Is it just me or was Keenyah really pretty..I really thought she looks great!! Her confidence was really border line though but I did like her no matter what you guys said...However, there was one shot (and thanks to DVR/TiVo) where she looked funny it was a full shot during the commercial where her edges looked ruff and her teeth looked gap..but when she turned that head she looked MUCH better..I still love her though

I saw that -- gap and rough edges. She's pretty but she looks different from shot to shot.:confused:

NAIMA ROCK THE RUN AWAY!!!!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Which is why we should not listen to spoilers.

Hehehehehehe...yup Soror, you're right. I learned my lesson!!

First of all, that was one of the best runway endings I've seen on this show. The ladies being in the water and having to end the show dancing in the "shower" was so creative to me, I loved it!

Congrats to Naima, sista ROCKED that runway! I loved when she would turn around all dramatic like "WHAT WHAT WHAT?" I was yelling the whole time.

I especially loved the ending where she acknowledged her heritage and how important that is. Yes you are a black woman, say that ish Naima! :D

I can't lie though, I really did like Kahlen. She wasn't much in person, but she did a fantastic job on the runway, she just didn't have enough personality to go over the top, IMO.

Regardless, they aren't Eva the Diva, but good finale nonetheless.:p :D

I am an absolute TOP MODEL Addict, but this season was way too predictable. I always knew Niama would win, because she is best of both worlds. She can be transformed to look like anything. She really did not have any competition, in my opinion. She is super tall which is great for couture (excuse the spelling) She has beautiful bone structure, and very graceful. But guess what: SHE IS STILL NOT EVA!!!!!! (But she is still great, though).

Janice LOVEDED Kahlen.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neosoulchild
:eek: :eek: :eek:

I am shocked. I just knew they loved Kahlen, and she was going to win. I'm glad Naima won. :D

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
WTH does Jay have on?:confused: :confused: :confused:

oh lawd now Miss Jay has on some isht too. :confused:

Miss Jay looked like a cross between the fruit of the loom guys and the Chiquita Banana Lady....

Naima really broke out of her shell and worked it out last night. Hopefully the will shave them side burns down before she grows a beard!:rolleyes: :o

http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/review/2...9/antm_finale/

Quote:

The emperor has no couture
"America's Next Top Model" crowns a winner, but stumbles on the runway.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Heather Havrilesky
May 19, 2005 | Last night, the fourth season of "America's Next Top Model" drew to a close, and all of the crucial elements were in place: Tyra Banks wore her "talk to me" makeup. The three remaining models insulted each other. There was a big fashion show. Butt cheeks were hanging out. The two remaining models cried and resolved to never feel "not good enough" again. The judges bickered. Janice Dickinson's jugs were on full display. Finally, the winner's face flashed on the screen.

Yeah, no big surprise there, either. So why did it all feel so anticlimactic?
Die-hard fans have been asking themselves that question all season long, or at least since Tyra angrily attacked contestant Tiffany for laughing and joking around after she was dismissed. The tyrannical Ty-rade seemed to signal that Tyra –- and the show –- were both beginning to get a little too big for their britches. Sadly, instead of redeeming the whole process with a so-called fierce finale, Tyra and her vicious panel of judges played their parts without conviction, and uttered lines that sounded less campy and audacious than downright silly and pathetic.

But Tyra's weekly routine has become almost intolerable, alternating as it does between giggling and glowering. Each episode, she squeals onto the scene adorably, bright orange extensions and lip gloss gleaming. Then she gets all serious, encouraging the girls to weep openly, while offering them wide-eyed, egocentric advice. Next, she sneaks out, only to reappear later in leather ass-pants with her panel of judges, where she encourages everyone to make serious fools of themselves. Once they do, she shakes her head and tells each girl how disappointing she was, possibly throwing in a few harsh words about what the girl revealed to her during that very vulnerable moment earlier in the show. The other judges hiss that the girl is truly sad, and then Tyra sanctimoniously announces who will stay and who must leave "immediately." (Contestant Tiffany coped with the faux-solemnity of the situation by laughing, thereby incurring Tyra's wrath. "Is this a joke to you?!!" she bellowed.)

But Tyra was only the tip of the iceberg this season. The most obvious problem, among many, was casting: For the first time, the girls were boring and self-conscious and not all that smart. Casting sharp, interesting girls has always been the show's saving grace; yes, it's about models, but it's also about complicated, confused, witty young women figuring out who they are. And -- oh yeah -- insulting each other. But when the girls are dumb, not that witty, and have nothing to say? That's when you realize the emperor has no couture. "Oh my god! I'm watching a show about models! What is wrong with me?"

In fact, none of the women were remotely sharp -- except for Tiffany, who was not only strikingly beautiful and photographed well but had more character and personality than all of the other girls combined. But Tiffany was dismissed essentially for blowing off a particularly annoying and pointless challenge involving a teleprompter.

Which brings us to our third major problem this season: The challenges felt idiotic and arbitrary. From the "imitate a wild animal while wearing a poncho in the rain" challenge to the "learn a funny accent" challenge, it all felt poorly thought-out and amateurish.

Worst of all, though, the fashion shoots this year had been thoroughly "Apprentice"-ized, featuring products (Caress Body Wash, Cover Girl Makeup) that were not only boring and safe, but totally eliminated the possibility of flaming trapezes, massive fish tanks filled with sharks, heavy native headdresses, gender-bending frolicking in vats of lard, and other masochistic high-fashion challenges Tyra once led us to believe were essential experiences for any aspiring model. This season, the screen tests and shoots were so bad, when I try to remember them, I keep conjuring up scenes from "The Starlet" instead. That's right: "The Starlet," a show that once strained to touch the hem of "ANTM," now is almost indistinguishable from it. That's how far the mighty have fallen.

Given all these factors, the suspense feels falsely pumped-up from the first few minutes of last night's finale. As the show begins, Sensitive Mommy Tyra has her soft "make me cry" makeup on. She sits, Indian-style, facing each girl and asks her what her deepest, darkest secrets and insecurities are, perhaps so Mean Judge Tyra might throw them in her face later. But the girls are on to Tyra. They saw how she chewed out Tiffany, just for being a human being! So, like a robot, Kahlen reports that she just wants to win, real bad. Naima says this cutthroat, shallow competition has made her even happier with herself than she was before. Hurray! Even Tyra isn't buying that. (Naima is easily the most full-of-crap contestant this show has ever seen. I keep expecting her to shout "Respeito!" out of nowhere.) Finally, Keenyah says she really likes to eat. At least she's being honest. Tyra tells her she'd better eat less, because only Tyra gets to have an @ss as big as Tyra's and still be as fierce and as famous as Tyra.

Next, the girls shoot a commercial, which is all about promoting Cover Girl Makeup. Naima talks in this soft-spoken, pretentious voice like she's got a mouth full of bubble gum. Keenyah thinks she's hot sh*t, but it's clear she isn't. Kahlen fumbles all her lines, which makes her seem sympathetic, but sort of wilted nonetheless.

The judges confer. Keenyah is eliminated. No one cares all that much, except for Keenyah. "I'm gonna take all the judges' advice, as if I'm still gonna be the winner at the end of the day," says Keenyah, and we have to agree: Denial is probably the best coping strategy available to an arrogant overeater who wants to be a fashion model. But then, she adds, "Nothing's gonna hold me back –- unless I get fatter," and out of the blue, it's hard not to wish she weren't leaving.

Next comes the big fashion show. Kahlen says nice things about Naima, but Naima is focused on sounding focused –- or "concentrated" as she would call it. She says she wants to put her past as a party girl behind her. Snore! Who doesn't? Let's hear back from you once you've snorted high-grade cocaine off some male model's rock-hard abs backstage at the Dolce and Gabbana show.

The fashion show goes pretty well, which is also sort of disappointing somehow. Both girls can walk the walk. Unfortunately, neither has much to say, so the run-up to the final judging session is dull. The judges are left to make their decision, and they seem pretty split, but it's obvious who they'll choose. That's part of what makes the show worse now than it was during the first season: Naima has a much more memorable look, which is far better for promoting the show in the future. Plus, she's been an obvious favorite among the show's viewers from the first week.

So Naima's is the face that appears on the screen. Naima screams happily, and it might just be the least infectious scream of joy ever.

Oblivious as ever to the deep insignificance and anticlimactic blahness hanging over the room, Tyra waxes philosophic: "You guys have proved that models aren't shells, that they're true people with feelings and emotions and pasts and insecurities." You can almost hear the bugles blaring in the distance. Yes, you girls truly have done a great service to models everywhere. Now, everyone will know that models are not merely shells, they're real humans, filled with empty, unoriginal thoughts and big, useless brains!

The girls are, of course, more than happy to take Tyra's cue and overstate the importance of it all. "I feel like modeling is kind of my way of expressing my emotions," Kahlen tells us. Um, OK. Gotcha. And what happens when you reach the ripe old age of 23? You turn to the bottle?

Naima is even worse. Gushing, through tears, she tells the camera: "It's taken so much to get here. It's taken so much!" OK, Scarlett O'Hara. We all partied when we were younger, and it was never as dramatic as fainting and falling down the stairs at Tara -- even when we fainted and fell down the stairs.

Then, as if we haven't grasped quite yet that Naima is now a product (see also: shell) and not a human being, Tyra gives us a handy jingle that we can use to sum up our emotions about her whenever we spot her peddling body wash on the pages of some mediocre women's magazine:

"Uniquely versatile, undeniably edgy," Tyra breathes in her best spokesmodel voice. "Naima: The spunky Detroit girl embodies a true Cover Girl!"

Spunky? Spunky?! "Spunky" is about the least edgy word in the entire dictionary. Are we talking supermodel here, or are we talking "Blossom"?

Thus, as the U2-alike exit music plays, we find ourselves wondering how a spectacle that once seemed so spirited and unpredictable could suddenly feel all awkward and stale. Bloated egos? A new casting director? A false sense among the producers that the show would be good no matter what?

So here's my tough-love " talk to me" moment for Tyra Banks: You take some responsibility for yourself, and fix it! Be quiet, Tyra! Stop it! I have never in my life yelled at a supermodel like this! I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you! How dare you! You had the best reality show on television, and you screwed it up! Learn something from this! Do you hear me? This is no joke! This time next year, I'd better be watching beautiful, neurotic misfits bungee-jumping into a Piranha-filled river ...

I agree with a lot of Heather's points, but my favorite is the final paragraph. :D

Nasty attitude and pot belly aside, Keenyah should have been the winner. :p

That threw me for a loop, when Tyra went on and on about Keenyah, then picked Kahlen, but I sort of saw it coming. When she built up Keenyah, flipped the picture, then they went to commercial break, I knew a twist was coming. I'm surprised Kahlen made it as far as she did, but when it was her against Naima, I knew my girl would win, it was no contest after that.

And it was obvious Janice was not a fan of Naima. She did not hide it at all. If you catch a replay, watch her body language during the runway show.

I know it's become her trademark, but it might be time for Naima to shave the mohawk.
http://img283.echo.cx/img283/6581/naima0qk.jpg
http://img283.echo.cx/img283/4633/brandy29jk.jpg http://img283.echo.cx/img283/6829/kahlen4qy.jpg

Is it just me, or does Keenyah remind you of a darker Essence Atkins?
http://img283.echo.cx/img283/7628/keenyah0ku.jpg
Po' Brittany, she looks like she should be out begging for spare change. :(
http://img283.echo.cx/img283/4384/brit9ri.jpg

**CLAPPING** Kahlen got rid of the tracks!! :D

I don't think Michelle brushed her teeth before coming out the house. :eek:
http://img168.echo.cx/img168/3263/3557306ca.jpg

Tiffany looks like she could pass as a Williams sister.
http://img226.echo.cx/img226/7484/3557206cv.jpg
Christina looks.....ummmm...wellll, she looks uhhhhh....the colors in her blouse are pretty. :o
http://img187.echo.cx/img187/9395/3557293rd.jpg

Gross @ Michelle!! Her teeth look like a sunshiny day. :eek:

Tiffany looks rather pretty. I wonder if Tiff and Ty hugged.

Tyra isn't lookin' too Victoria Secret-like in the pix...airbrushing does do wonders:p
as for Naima, that 70s Sid and Nancy-look is out. she needs to keep up w/the memos;)

Quote:

Originally posted by ladylike
Tiffany looks like she could pass as a Williams sister.
http://img226.echo.cx/img226/7484/3557206cv.jpg

She reminds me of Trina the Rapper in this particular photo IMO.

Quote:

Originally posted by UrbanizdSkillz
She reminds me of Trina the Rapper in this particular photo IMO.

It's the weave and them colored contacts.

Quote:

Originally posted by ladylike
[B]Tiffany looks like she could pass as a Williams sister.
http://img226.echo.cx/img226/7484/3557206cv.jpg

LOL... Y'all are crazy.

None of these girls, including the winner, look like a model to me.

I know, but when you think about it, none of them are models. All the girls who lost can't be considered models and Naima's just starting, if she's started yet. I know after the show's finished taping, they have to just go back to their regular lives until the show's finished airing, then they get to tell everybody and fly to NY.

Quote:

Originally posted by ladylike
[B]I don't think Michelle brushed her teeth before coming out the house. :eek:
http://img168.echo.cx/img168/3263/3557306ca.jpg

Oooh..she needs to be ashamed..Crest Dental Whitner please!

Changes for Cycle 5

Janice Out, Twiggy In

ANTM Changes

I saw Boomerang the other night. If Grace Jones could be as wild as Strange', I'd suggest bringing her to the show. :D

Twiggy? :confused: I dunno about her 'in the mix'. LOL

J. and Grace... WHAT A COMBO! LOL

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
I saw Boomerang the other night. If Grace Jones could be as wild as Strange', I'd suggest bringing her to the show. :D

Twiggy? :confused: I dunno about her 'in the mix'. LOL

J. and Grace... WHAT A COMBO! LOL

OMG, I can't imagine J and Grace. Wait, yes I can. That would definitely turn ANTM into Must-See TV.