| The Girl Who Is A Lady Kat... Reow! | |
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| Cycle 4, Episode 1 | |
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| Air Date: | March 2, 2005 |
| Viewers: | 5.08 Million |
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"The Girl Who Is A Lady Kat... Reow!" is the first episode of Cycle 4 of America's Next Top Model. It first aired on March 2, 2005 and garnered 5.08 million viewers.[1]
Episode[]
A new cycle begins with a fresh batch of girls flown to Los Angeles as semi-finalists to audition in person for a final spot in the competition. 35 girls must conduct interviews, walk in lingerie, and take a Polaroid shot in a photo booth to be considered for one of 14 spots in the finals.
Tyra begins with a motivational message saying that hard work and dedication allows anyone to follow their dreams. It wasn’t easy for the three winners so far and there’s much more in store for next Top Model hopefuls. Noelle arrives at the airport first, bringing lots of excitement. Kahlen arrives next and, being a small town girl, she’s a bit intimidated by a city like L.A. Brittany brings the confidence and says that she will do whatever it takes to win. Brandy finds herself in L.A. after her first airplane ride in her life. Lluvy (you-vee) gets in the airport van with these girls and introduces herself as from Mexico, but now she’s just a regular California girl.
Another batch of girls arrive at the airport, among whom is Tiffany. She’s excited for a second chance because during the Cycle 3 auditions she started a fight at a bar. She has taken the time to become a better person. Mary is another girl who auditioned previously; as a plus-size girl she reckoned that there’s only room for one and she’s determined to get that spot this time.
All of the hopefuls convene at the Westin Century Plaza Hotel. Jay Manuel, beloved art director of photoshoots, and Michelle Mock-Falcon, Top Model casting director, welcome them to Los Angeles. Jay asks the girls what they think Tyra is looking for in a top model, and after the girls shout out some suggestions, Tyra herself appears behind the group to tell them; she’s greeted with applause. She calls out a girl whose audition tape explained that she was a cat reborn as a woman (“...is a Lady Kat… Reow!”). She bids them good luck, and the first round of interviews begin.
The audition panel consists of Tyra, Miss J. Alexander, and Mr. Jay. The girls are brought in for an interview as well as walk for the judges in lingerie. Rebecca comes in first. She’s on her way towards marriage and family, but wants to have a little fun before that happens. She’s praised for having an All-American look, but Tyra wants to see if she can do more. Keenyah, a college student, is bought in next. Keenyah wants to show the world that a girl from Compton can be a high achiever. Kahlen is a small town girl who has never even seen America’s Next Top Model. She’s a bit behind the curve as far as knowledge goes, but when she leaves the panel they express shock at how good her walk is. Lindsey comes from a Mormon family but is leaving that part of her life behind to pursue modeling. Tyra instantly connects with Jennifer when she sees that they have similar sized foreheads. Brittany walks into the panel flamboyantly and speaks loudly and campy to greet the judges. She’s always like that–likes to be loud and the center of attention, and in another would be a drag queen. Tiffany gets her second chance in front of the judges and expresses regret for past behavior and details how she’s grown and how the help and support of loved ones can go a long way.
The girls hang out together at the hotel pool later in the evening. They have fun and get a little rowdy–water splashes and tops come off. They are taken out for an evening in the town. The girls who are 21 or older are going to clubs and the underage ones are told they have a surprise: a bowling alley.
Next are more interviews. Jessika starts this round and she is the self-proclaimed Lady Kat cause she has long nails and a cat-like face. She gets down on all fours and shows the judges her “cat walk.” Sarah is here to prove all of her haters wrong, and the judges respond positively to her demeanor. Lluvy comes in very nervously; Tyra immediately asks her if the dress she’s wearing belongs to her and she correctly assumes that it doesn’t. She’s asked to change and return to the panel in something she’s more comfortable in. She came back much more confidently, until her past experience in a gang is brought up, and she expresses remorse for the past. Michelle, a member of a wrestling federation, and she tells the judges about her interest and desire to be a model. Highlights of subsequent interviews show girls singing, stuttering, tripping, laughing, and dancing. Naima comes in sporting a mohawk, which represents her freedom from her past. Brandy is complimented on her hair, which she reveals to be a weave, and her walk is a bit uninspired. Tatiana left high school in Hawai’i to pursue her dreams. Estela is there to make a new life for her and her daughter after her husband put them out on the street.
Later in the hotel, there is a birthday gathering with cake for two of the girls. Ms. Lady Kat is loud and fights with several girls and gets a side-eye from Tiffany, who saw her former self in that behavior. They are brought to Griffith Park to hang out too.
Mary has her second chance in front of the judges. She did not feel good after her last experience and wants things to go differently this time. Rachel is a happy-go-lucky type, representing plus-size girls, and ready to go. Alexandria needs confidence because of a speech impediment. The judges wonder whether Christina's attitude is just confidence or diva-like. Brita is a child of Latvian immigrants with a well-to-do upbringing but after an injury she’s been taking care of herself. Noelle is a new mother which is her source of confidence. After individual interviews conclude, Tyra and the judges want to see the girls side-by-side in a lingerie walk-off. They walk together in groups of five or so while the judges watch. Mr. Jay tells them afterwards that the first big elimination is coming up the next morning. Many girls are nervous to the point of tears.
There are 35 semi-finalists in Los Angeles. The first round of eliminations will cut the group down to 20 girls. There’s a table in a conference room with 20 portfolios on it, each containing a photo of a girl who will continue on in the competition. Naturally there’s disappointment and elation at the reveal. There still remains another round of auditions and eliminations before the final 14 girls are chosen to move on as finalists.
The top 20 are brought to a photo booth in the hotel. They’re tasked with showing their personality; they enter individually to take their photos and deliver them to the judges. Tyra, Mr. Jay and Ms. Jay all talk about the photos in front of them as well as review impressions of their earlier interviewees. Each girl has a few strengths and weaknesses. Should they consider their backstory or just the photo at hand? They try to identify potential in each of the prospective top models.
The final elimination begins to reveal the top 14 contestants who get to be in the running towards becoming "America’s Next Top Model."
Call-Out Order[]
| Call-out | Model |
|---|---|
| 1st | Rebecca |
| 2nd | Christina |
| 3rd | Keenyah |
| 4th | Brita |
| 5th | Naima |
| 6th | Noelle |
| 7th | Michelle |
| 8th | Sarah |
| 9th | Brandy |
| 10th | Brittany |
| 11th | Kahlen |
| 12th | Tatiana |
| 13th | Lluvy |
| 14th | Tiffany |
Gallery[]
Semi-finalists[]
As not every contestant is featured in the episode and no official lists are released by production, the names of the semi-finalists are not exhaustive.
Top 20[]
Top 35[]
- Melissa Vogt
- Rachel Hargrove
- Alexandria Waters
- Shaunita Randolph
- Jennifer George
- Bashirrah Creswell
- Dawnielle Brown
- Latasha Cleveland
- Lacey Williams
- Kristin Danielik
- Ebony Jointer
- Lacy Kirtisine
- Seema Srivastava
- Christina Atherall
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