  Jaslene Gonzalez takes home a $100,000 Cover Girl contract after winning the latest season of America's Next Top Model. Anybody else feel like an ice-cream cone? |
Another year, another America's Next Top Model.
(For those not keeping track, this makes eight -- none of whom have gone on to become supermodels.)
After failing to make the show last year, Jaslene Gonzalez, the 20-year-old stunning brunette from Chicago, beat out Russian immigrant Natasha Galkina to win the $100,000 US Cover Girl contract.
"Every little girl has a dream to be something and to be here, I overcame so much," she said.
"I didn't make it the first time but, now, look at me ... That shows to all young women, if you have that drive, keep going. Second time around, and I'm America's Next Top Model."
Best described as Janice Dickinson's much, much, much younger clone, Jaslene was a fierce competitor from the start, producing some of the strongest photos on any ANTM cycle.
But it was young mom Renee Alway -- was tossed out on her skinny butt half-way through the finale -- who should have won.
By far the most talented competitor, Alway blew the other girls away during her final challenge -- taking part in a Cover Girl commercial and ad campaign.
Despite that, the judges sent her packing, using the excuse she looked much older than her 20 years.
While true, it makes no sense to, firstly, allow her in the competition, and, secondly, keep her in until the very end, all the while pretending the challenges matter.
As far as second-runner-up/ rumoured mail-ordered-bride Galkina, her fate may have also been sealed from the beginning.
Obviously aware of the fact many fans would feel it's unfair to have a girl from Russia in the running to become America's Next Top Model, the producers went to great lengths to address the issue.
During the finale, clips of Galkina and host Tyra Banks talking about what it means to be an American and how the U.S. is a fabulous melting pot of cultures were aired, leading many to incorrectly assume she was a shoe-in.
