This week finds Jayla and Nicole still recuperating from Tyra’s super psych-out in the last episode. Tyra let them both think they were being eliminated before announcing that they were ALL going to London.  Tyra tells us, “The trip to London gives the models a reprieve to look fierce another day!”

Lisa approaches this new development with her typical modesty, “I’m going to London because I earned it!”

The girls are busying packing their suitcases when they receive a new Tyra Mail, telling them that they will “Meet someone whose modeling career has been based on individuality and self-awareness.”

It’s Jenny Shimizu—lesbo supermodel extraordinaire!  (Jenny’s publicist is really working for her lately—I just saw her on the Logo channel in the program Power Lesbians, and she seduced host Rebecca Loos right there on camera!)

The girls gather around the campfire as spinster Aunt Jenny tells them the beautiful story of her rise to fame. She says that she didn’t plan on being a model. “I got fortunate enough to meet Calvin Klein and Kelly Klein on my motorcycle.”  Before she knew it, she was on the cover of Vogue. Swimming pools, movie stars.

Jenny lists all the reasons why the odds were stacked against her. “I’m a minority. I’m 5’7, I have a lot of tattoos, and I’m a gay model. I’ve always been a tomboy.” If she can make it, then they can too. She encourages them to just be themselves. 

Kim is tickled pink to have a non-conformist role model in the house. She asks Jenny about what must be the most painful, challenging and controversial aspect of her work: wearing “really feminine” clothing on the runway.  Kim asks, “How do you make it look beautiful?” Jenny’s approach is that a girly frock “is a piece of art that I’m going to wear. There’s always room for someone who’s going to add flare to fashion.” Kim compares Jenny’s struggle to her own. It gives her hope that she will advance in the competition.

After Jenny leaves, Nicole and Kim get the hot tub and Kim is once again driving the gossip train. “She’s like the most jealous person in the world,” she says of Lisa, when Lisa has just barely stumbled out of the room.

Bre has picked up on all of the catty chatter.  “Kim speaks badly about everybody as soon as they leave the room.  I think we should leave the B.S. right here and not take it with us to London.”  Fat chance, Bre.

The models are then carted off in their limo to a studio where Entertainment Tonight correspondent Kevin Frazier is waiting for them. He covers celebrities at premieres and on the red carpet, and he’s going to teach them a thing or two about dealing with the paparazzi.  He warns them that the next top model will be a big celebrity and will be followed everywhere they go.

I don’t know about that, Kevin.  When was the last time we saw a Star Magazine exclusive on Yoanna House? 

Then Kevin gets really nasty.  He shows the girls one of the ultimate horrors of celebrity life: candid photographs! Kevin tells them that if they’re going on a trip and representing Tyra and Top Model, they need to be hyper-aware of their appearance. 

Kevin reminds the girls that photographers have been taking pictures of them since they’ve been on the show. Cut to a picture of Bre with her eyes closed, and then another of her making a grumpy face.   Kevin asks, “Are you always angry?” Oh come on, Kevin!  

But then we see the worst violations: pictures of models eating and drinking!

Kevin is simply appalled. “You can never, ever, ever let your guard down.” I’m sure he’s just trying to prevent any inadvertent nose-picking shots, but he’s making the girls paranoid.

Then we see some weird pictures of Jayla and Kim. Kim is so busted because she is seen imitating Tyra in the picture. She claims it was “with affection,” but then later admits, “I guess I should be more careful.”  

I wonder if this little meeting with Kevin is really aimed at Kim—like when Tyra gave them a lecture about “vices” that was really just an opportunity to confront Lisa about her drinking.