Britain's Next Top Model: The One Where There's An Actual Top Model

So Britain's Next Top Model starts with some kind of weird film trailer type effort with platitudes from such press luminaries as The Telegraph, OK! and Grazia which I'm pretty sure were used to describe ANTM and not BNTM but still, it's all POW! POW! POW! ELLE!

In case you were under any illusion that the pretenders to HHPOF! Miz Tyra's crown were mere also-rans, think again. Elle Macpherson's introduction (complete with Executive Producer credit) shows that it may well have taken 5 seasons to get here but now they're really actually rather ready to find a top model. Obviously though in that grand tradition of Top Model antics from around the world (a top model from any of them? Anyone?)

In case you weren't sure which version you were watching, the 25 girls that are to be further whittled are in The Countryside, waiting at a bus stop curiously emblazoned with a TfL logo. I didn't know Zone 40 existed. First sob story - Kadian. Not only a single mum but run over! With a metal plate in her arm! And a scar! She's a SURVIVOR!

Charley Speed and Grace Woodward are introduced as new judges - good call. Grace is pretty aces at her job and we can now look at Charley instead of Jonathan Phang.
As per their contracts, there's a lot of shrieking at every statement and then even more for - lo! - there is Elle! An actual freaking supermodel!

(I'm just putting this out there now but Elle MacPherson has squiffy eyes. How has this never been noticed???)

First task to whittle the girls down was a head shot with Grace. We already get our first reference to smiling with your eyes though clearly this girl hasn't learnt properly from HHPOF! or she'd know it's just SMIZING now.

And because we're all about diversity (except when it comes to anyone over a size 8) look! A lesbian! Who reminds me of Lluvy from Season 4 of ANTM.

Joy is the current one who thinks she knows it all, complete with "Whatever bizatches" attitude.

Obviously next we have walking. And why for the love of god can none of them walk properly!?!??!!??! Will they never learn?!?!?!?!?? It's not just a case of Pow! Strut Pow! Only Amba admitted to having practised walking. Except for cute but useless Hannah. Oh bless her. She couldn't walk in heels, she couldn't walk out of them. I love her. She's a klutz, not a model.
Simone (token plus size?) had a Naomi fall but got up and got on with it which was the right thing to do.

The new format is a lot closer to ANTM now with the swimwear interview with the panel and all the talk of wanting it more than air/life/water/food/a kitten.

Bwahahaha! Julien Macdonald, Fashion Designer! New judge! Didn't appreciate his comments about plus size models but he was fab on Project Catwalk - he's kinda like a woodenly scripted Janice. Only less fabulous.

Time for a photoshoot and the obligatory group them together to make it easier to weed out the ones who don't 'pop'.

Joy has a hissy fit about her outfit. Oh my.... apparently they'd styled her like that on purpose. Uh-huh.

So then it got down to the nitty gritty of the final 13. And I have to say I'm surprised. Oh but twistaroo! A 14th! Oh my!
So, after 90 minutes of being assaulted by all the newness, these are my current top three:
Joy
She may be a whiny bitch but she takes a good picture and quite frankly, what more do you want?

Tiffany

Sultry and kooky and hella cute.

AmbaMy current tip to win. Which means now she probably won't.

If you need more BNTM goodness, and quite frankly who doesn't, then check out their website at www.bntm.tv

Kid's Prove That Age Doesn't Matter When Helping Others

Students at Long Valley Middle School in Long Valley, New Jersey have collected over 1,500 pairs of shoes in the past year.  Awesome!  That is 1,500 people  who might avoid contracting deadly diseases, who might have the possibility of getting a job, who might now be able to attend school, and whose lives might now be saved.  

Our Guide to the Best 4th of July Weekend

The Soles4Souls guide to having a great 4th of July weekend:

           

Shop: Remember that you can donate $1 when you shop at Finish Line and receive 30% off at Puma when you take in a pair of shoes to donate to Soles4Souls.

Be Outdoors:  Play a game of flag football with the family.  Or horseshoes.  And 4 Square is always a fun playground favorite to play with the little ones. 

Snap Photos: If your outside digging your toes in the sand or running your feet through the grass, snap a photo.  We love seeing our fans go barefoot to honor those who don't have shoes. 

Eat Delicious Food:  Get creative when grilling out this weekend.  Serve your hamburger like this:

designed by Olle Hemmendorff of Sweden

 or if you want to go for something a tad more simple, how about foot long hot dogs. And every burger needs to be complimented with fries, so how about these Shoe-String Fries.  And for dessert test out this recipe for Shoestring Potato Cookies

1 (12-ounce) package butterscotch flavored chips

3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 

4 ounces shoestring potatoes (approximately 1/2 of a 9-ounce can) 

1 cup raisins

 1.  Melt butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a medium saucepan over low heat.

2.  Meanwhile place shoestring potatoes in a mixing bowl. Pour butterscotch chip mixture over shoestring potatoes. Add raisins. Mix gently until combined. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto wax paper. Chill until firm. Makes 20 cookies.

Turn Up the Music: Purchase AJ Jansens' single, Bars, Scars, and Old Guitars.  All proceeds go to Soles4Souls.  Check out the song Erasable by The Carter Twins, as they are huge supporters of Soles4Souls.  

Relax:  Everyone should take great care of their feet.  Treat yourself to a foot massage.

And most importantly, follow @WayneElsey on Twitter

USA Today Releases Feature Story on Soles4Souls

For one of their June 2010 feature stories, USA Today was inspired by Soles4Souls and released an 8 page feature entitled, "Steps to Take for Healthy Feet." With tips on how to care for your feet in order to live a healthy and active life as well as how to choose the proper footwear, the most compelling story is seen in the article written about Soles4Souls. Sharing the harsh reality that, "every 15 seconds, a child dies from some disease that can be prevented with proper shoes," the article poses the question, "what if every American donated one pair of shoes?" There are millions of pairs of shoes sitting in American's closets when instead, they could be on the feet of someone who needs them to survive. Do your part in helping others by simply donating one pair of shoes. See pdf of article: here.

Courtesy of Media Planet (http://doc.mediaplanet.com/all_projects/5088.pdf)

A Birthday for Kevin. #175?

As the story goes...when the executive team is craving cake, that means Kevin will be having a birthday. And so the tradition continues...

Sweet Sixteen Donation

Some people envision their sweet sixteen birthday and think of presents, a big party, a huge cake, and lots of friends. But Phoebe did something much bigger than all of this; she helped to improve people’s live in more ways than one could ever imagine. For her sixteenth birthday she collected shoes from all of her friends and donated them to Soles4Souls. So, when people ask her what she got for her birthday, she can say that she got shoes… but gave them away, ultimately receiving the gift of becoming an even better person.

Photos of the Week

Soles4Souls around the U.S.: photos from the week.
Proof that you can make a difference in the lives of others no matter how old you are or where you live. Find a Soles4Souls donation location near you today!

Alexandria, VA
A 5th grader at Burgundy Farm County Day School collected over 50 pairs of shoes from her classmates and donated them to Soles4Souls at the Comfort One Shoes location in her town. This just goes to show that you can make a big impact, no matter how old you are.

Noblesville, IN
Motivated to collect shoes for Vacation Bible School, it only took this small group of people a couple of hours to collect 106 pairs of shoes!

West Chester, OH
Back in October, this group stood outside in the wind and bitter cold and still managed to raise 1,300 pairs of shoes for Soles4Souls. Not even a year later, they have collected 7,000 pairs of shoes and are getting ready to ship them.