[Recap] Asia's Next Top Model Cycle 1 (2012) Episode 2 : 2 (+1) SURPRISES !

After receiving some feedbacks, I decide to edit this post. I want to aplogize for my rude words and bias statements. I promise I will try to be as neutral as possible starting from this new recap. If you have anything in mind regarding my post, just leave comment. Thanks :)

*UPDATED WITH OFFICIAL LINK VIDEO*

The girls are back to their house. Helena is very happy getting the best photo. Bei Si is not surprised with Helena's winning. Melissa is so scared that she is in the bottom two and she feels like ... poop. Nadya Mail ! It gives a clue for ... RUNWAY (again). I feel they are not too creative about the challenge. Two runway challenges in a row is just MEH. Melissa who used to be confident with her walk, now doubts it. Most of them worry about runway. Most of them also positive about Trang. Monica says that Trang's walk is so different and she is a mama model for them. She gives advice to the girls. Sofia is given advice by Trang and Trang thinks that her body position is too forward. Trang is happy that the girls accept their advice, but Sofia looks unhappy with her advice.

The girls are having breakfast and knock ! knock ! There are Joey Mead King and a guy, Adam William who helps teaching runway in Australia's Next Top Model. It is good to know that they can 'import' fashion workers to train those girls. Adam William teaches Catwalk 101. He shows the right way to walk and he shows what Sofia does. It means Sofia gets it right and Trang is very shocked about that ! Joey and Adam ask them to show their walk in group. They say that Helena is too sexy, but Helena is so proud of her sexiness. She says that she can not hide her boobs and hips. Helena's personality might help her to be more memorable and more appearance, especially because she gets the very first best photo. Adam like Sofia and she becomes more confident. Based on how they edit this episode, I think Sofia will be in the Top 5 at least for this week's call-out.

Challenge time ! They will walk in a private fashion show in Joel Robuchon for Thomas Wee's collection. Trang is so confident with her walk. She might win it again because none of the girls impress the judges in last runway. They also will walk with Joey Mead King and Junita Simon. Never heard of Junita Simon. Sophia 'opens' the show after Joey and Junita. Her walk is quite elegant. She potrays a celebrity in red carpet look. The judges feel her improvement. Adam really likes Trang and he also states that he wants to be on her team. Monica is not confident with her walk. Her walk is quite a mess, but she is really adorable when she says that her walk is not elegant YET. The rest of the girls are not exposed :(

It's time to announce the winner. The winner will get a private consultation with Thomas Wee and he will design dress just for the winner and she is Trang (AGAIN). Trang predicts it because she knows that her walk is her strength. She picks Aastha and Stephanie to go for dinner in Joel Robuchon. Helena is very disappointed with Trang because that day is her birthday. She thinks Trang will choose her. Poor Helena.

The rest of the girls wear lipstick and give lip mark in paper and their body and they kiss Helena to surprise her and they succeed. Trang with two other girls are having a great dinner. Trang wants to take all of them, but she can not. She also feels sorry for Helena because she does not invite her. The girls in the house have their own party. They cook spaghetti ... for Helena. AWKWARD MOMENT when Trang, Aastha and Stephanie go home.

Aastha says thank you to Trang. She feels very close with Trang because she is not judgemental. Yes, Aastha is true ! The other girls are gossiping about Trang. Trang has seven thousand fans in facebook and they think that she has so much experience. Helena says that thing makes Trang is not serious about the competition, while Monica, who I adore so much, says Trang is above all of them. The funniest one is Filantropi's statement. She says that Trang is a Vietnam version of Channel Iman. I think it is too much, Filan. I do not think that Trang is not that great yet. Stephanie is more positive than the other girls, while the other girls think it is not fair for them. She fulfills the terms and conditionds, so she deserves to be here. Trang is asked to read the Tyra Mail, slowly, but not sure. Her english is bad. I think it will reduce her chance to win this competition. The clue is group shot !

Photoshoot :

The photoshoot takes place in former Tanjong Pagar train station. They also have special guest, Kenneth Goh, Harper's Bazaar's fashion director who photographs Janet Jackson, Cindy Crowford and many more. They also will wear fall runway collection from Prada. Last, but not least, the winning group picture will be featured in Harper's Bazaar as editorial. The theme is Prada Virtual Princesses. It is HUGE. They need to impress because this is very important photoshoot. Monica, Filantropi, Kate and Helena are in Group 1. Monica feels grateful with the group because she is with her favorite people in the house. Aastha, Sofia, Trang and Bei Si are in Group 2. Stephanie, Melissa, Jessica, Jee and Rachel are in Group 3.

Group 1 : Monica is the star of the photo. Daniel says that shes wears it right and it does not look like that she borrows it from her mom. Kenneth loves Helena, while Daniel thinks Kate improves so much. Filan destroys the group photos. Kenneth always yells to her because she always looks same. Kenneth needs her to give personality in the photo. Helena says that she will be pissed if their photo is not featured on Harper's Bazaar just because of Filan.

Group 2 : Trang is too similar and static. She gets too much direction and she does not improve. They stop the photoshoot because Trang's shoes hurt her. She does not talk or excuse about it until the photographer realizes there is something wrong with her. It is not her fault, she tries to wear it, but the final decision is getting rid of her shoes and hiding her feet behind the box. Helena says that Trang is unprofessional, compares to ... her. Sofia is amazing and she improves a lot. I predict that she will get the best photo. They love this team and Aastha thinks that they get a chance to win.

Group 3 : Melissa looks confident. Stephanie gets lots direction to relax and elongate her neck. Not a good week for Stephanie. They love Rachel's bone structure, while they think Jee is a disappointment.

They are back to the house. BAD NEWS, Monica gets a call from her home and her father is sick. She really wants to go home. She cries while packing her things. Kate is devastated because she and Monica are so close. Monica gives her last message in Thai to Jessica to win this for Thailand. Bei Si is shocked. She just hope that everything is okay. Monica gives a very last message to Filan not to give up. I am totally disappointed with her decision. It is too early to go home :(

Judging Panel :

The guest judges are Kenneth Goh and Adam William.

Helena looks fierce and masculine, but her lip does not look good.

Rachel's group shot looks like a family shot. She looks like a princess and the most important person in that photo.

Bei Si looks strong and confident, but her look is too typical Chinese classic girl.

Melissa is fierce. Kenneth praises her for being good as ASIA'S ... NEXT ...  TOP ... PR ! I laugh at this. I love Kenneth's comment to the girls. He gives hilarious comment and good feedback.

Aastha's picture is incredible. Adam says that she looks like a X-Box princess. I do not understand what he means with that comment.

Next is Filan, but Rachel collapses and she is taken by ambulance. Another elimination maybe ? Nadya announces that her health needs to be checked.

Filan is asked by Kenneth to pronounce her name. Kenneth hears "CATASTROPHE" instead. This guy is soooo funny. She needs not to overthink, she needs to bring heart and soul in the next photoshoot ... if she still survives.

Jee does not know how to pose and it shows in her face.

Trang does not impress Kenneth. Adam says that her action forces them to take the shoes from the magazine. IT IS TRUE ! However, it is a decision from whoever includes in this photo session, not only her. It is just not a good week her. She is not as strong as in previous week.

Jessica is Prada virtual princess in Kenneth's opinion. Go Jessica !

Kate looks scared. Kenneth says to the judges that she flirts with him during make up and photoshoot. She needs to flirt with the camera instead of with him. I love Kenneth's comment. Can he be the judge again in the next episodes ?

Stephanie looks too robotic and Kenneth calls her name in robotic way. What a good sarcasm ! She also looks panic. It is not good week for her.

Sofia looks scary-but-strong. She takes the brief and Kenneth thinks that she deserves to be in Harper's Bazaar.

Just in case you miss Monica and want to see her last picture ;)

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Nadya's Call Out :

Best group picture goes to ... Group 2 ! Congrats Aastha, Bei Si, Sofia and Trang. However, they will be judged individually.

Best picture goes to ... Aastha.

WHAT ? I thought it will be Sofia's turn. If Sofia does not get second call-out, the judges must be crazy.

2. Sofia

3. Jessica

4. Helena

5. Kate

6. Trang (Nadya speaks to her slowly. It sounds like how Trang talks. There are two possibilities with what she does. First, she tries to explain slowy or she is sarcastic.)

7. Bei Si

8. Melissa

9. Filantropi

The bottom two are Stephanie, the girl with the high expectation from the judges, and Jee, who almost ruins the group shoot. This week, Monica went home and ... there will be no elimination this week.

10. Jee (Nadya says that needs to work harder.)

11. Stephanie (She needs to do well because her photo this week is one of the worst.)

Next Week : Make Over ! Aastha does not like her new look ! Can Jee survive with her new red hair ? Stephanie reveals something that surprises the girls !

This week I do not make my own call-out because almost all of them look similar, but I will tell you my favorite photos. Those are Monica, Jessica and Sofia. I think Group 2 is the best and followed by Group 1. What about yours ?

Wait ! Why Rachel is not called at all ? Does it mean that she is eliminated or she gets a free pass to stay one week longer ? I think the second one makes more sense. See you next week ! I will post the complete photos as soon as possible after the offical photos are published. Stay tuned !

You can watch it here. Better watch it as soon as possible :)

For the official link just click here ! Happy watching :)