Confident, Tropical Rococo
September 25, 2008
Oh, Wisit. Not your best week on Top Design. Could you have said “rococo” any more—or been more wrong in using it? We sympathize that Jeffrey Sebelia is just as difficult as on Project Runway; still, he wanted “sleek and modern,” and you were hung up on “ornate and antique.”
After two episodes of winning the judges over with his pretty, dreamy aesthetic, Wisit hit a road block in this window dressing challenge. His soft-spoken, almost meek personality had marked him as someone hesitant to assert his own ideas, but when up against the notoriously opinionated Jeffrey, Wisit seemed uncharacteristically driven to make his voice heard.
It was probably the lack of Jeffrey’s presence and the accommodation of his teammate Kerry, but Wisit was fixated on his concept and wouldn’t let go. Yet the editing continued to characterize him as weak: in one case literally, when he was unable to hold up a large mirror. In the end, the design landed in the bottom, and Kerry was sent home, ostensibly for being a poor leader. Wisit now has the chance to redeem himself, but after the edit he got in this episode he’s not exactly buttoning his cardigan with confidence.
Speaking of confidence, Top Pop Group higher-ups think that the Khong sisters (who are Chinese, not Korean American, as I noted last week—sorry ladies) need more. Weird coincidence or an indication of how Asians are perceived? In her session with the group, Ashanti mentioned confidence three times, which judge Brian Friedman also referenced. Strange, considering that Jazmin, like the other groups on the show, does not seem to lack confidence, of all things.
At any rate, Jazmin garnered enough votes to stay out of danger, their performance of “Pocket Full of Sunshine” was as catchy as a pop song should be, and Mama and Papa Khong were adorable in the studio audience. I wish they had shed some light on their daughters’ mysterious allusion to losing the house they grew up in. A heart-wrenching tale of accidental fire or poker game gone awry was expected but never materialized.
Don’t worry though; that house was not, according to a tearful Celia, “the secret place” to which the song refers, because “what we have right here is the secret place.” Nadia said that their connection to the song “might be a little corny.” Well, yeah. But I’m sure MTV put you up to it.
My girl Sheena didn’t get much air time on America’s Next Top Model, though at least she escaped the makeover salon with only minor damage. I’ll take highlights over a red clown wig any day, though I was a little confused about what Tyra meant when she said Sheena looked “tropical.” Possible reference to Honolulu, Sheena’s hometown? The result of a small stroke had by a woman who thinks dressing up as a milk-eyed fairy godmother is apropos to anything?
And good for you, Sheena, on practicing smiling with your eyes. Tyra’s wisdom is everyone’s secret place.
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