TASKS:

1.) Carly's Challenge - The Look of Music
"Each semifinalist is to produce a HIGH FASHION shot. This shot, however, MUST connect with a music video of the semifinalist's choice. That means each model will post a high fashion shot, a music video and an explanation."

2.) Garrett's Challenge - Place of Origin
For this task, which is probably my favorite one - you need to represent the whole nation. Each of you are to represent your own country. What is your country made of? What are they known of? What is the essence of your home country? Showcase it with your photo

3.) Marlon's Challenge - Free
"This is time to show why you deserve a spot in the finals, no frills, no rules I just wanna see what you do and why you need to be in the finals."

4.) Sui's Challenge - Motion Video
We all know you do good in photos, but in motion? We'll see that in this challenge. For your task, you will show us how good you can perform in motion through presenting a video.

5.) Jerard's Challenge - Advocacy
Fighting for what.... is the theme for my challenge, what I want you to do is to present a photo that shows your advocacy (e.g. equal rights, lgbtq+, etc.) your photo must convey a message. And ofcourse explanation will save you in this round.

48 hours for all of that. Late submissions would mean deduction of points. Thank you and goodluck! x

Carly: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAiW2tMW0AUDnq_.jpg

I am doing We Cant Stop by Miley Cyrus. This photo is representative of the freedom Miley has and she was able to go crazy and be wild and true to herself.

Garrett: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DcUL4D-X0AAPK_K.jpg

I am from The U.S. and I am choosing to portray a very controversial figure. No it’s not Donald Trump...It’s Melania.

Marlon: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e3/a7/24/e3a7248725d7db7b55933f41830e5e62.jpg

For this photo. I am breaking the rules and I’m showing both a masculine and feminine side of myself. This shows my androgynous side and makes me well rounded as a model.

Sui: https://youtu.be/8SUjo0KhmPE

Jerard: https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/06/3d-printed-mask-rupauls-drag-race-3D-printed-mask-kevin-freitas-conlin-design-fashion_dezeen_2364_col_0-852x1278.jpg

I am fighting for anti fur. The mistreatment of animals is outrageous when they are necessary for the environment. Us humans take advantage of animals for manufactured companies. In this photo I am giving you the intensity with the animal print styling.

semifinals - yoonyoung

i. the look of music (judge carly)
https://i.imgur.com/eJVnCFE.png
inspired by 'bombastic' by bonnie mckee (2015) - https://youtu.be/LYgHiwTxe94
i took the fitness film trends of the 80s, both through the fashion and common concepts incorporated into the video.

ii. place of origin (garrett neff)
https://i.imgur.com/Y941EUh.png
coming from south korea, i decided to portray the traditionalism that can still be seen in current day. this is seen through common mannerisms, family life, and though not often anymore, fashion! for this photo, i am wearing a hanbok dress that is commonly worn up to this day for various events and holidays.

iii. free (marlon teixeira)
https://i.imgur.com/61FxG2Y.png

iv. motion video (sui he)
https://youtu.be/hR9MUEVDh6s

v. advocacy (jerard)
https://i.imgur.com/P1V0UXB.png
advocating for deforestation prevention is very important for me. crucial elements to our ecosystem are being torn down for profit and in turn, are providing a less productive home for both people (especially indigenous people who live in these forests) and animals alike.

BRYCE THOMPSON
1 THE LOOK OF MUSIC (Carly)
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ab/17/8a/ab178a2cccfed10fd060859ebbd29a82.jpg
The song that I chose is “trey songz can’t help but wait”. And yeah I know your thinking how does a hip hop song compare to a high fashion gentlemen shot ? Well music knows no boundaries and that’s why I chose this song because  its about wishing and wanting to be with someone however sometimes you can’t do anything about it except for waiting and in my shot I’m seeing a couple that’s not right for each other , someone I can love and provide for but this person needs to first learn from their mistakes so “I can’t help but wait” so instead Doing a safe music video I wanted to do something left side

2- PLACE OF ORIGIN (Garrett)
https://imgur.com/v8Spxrb
Cape Town (where I’m from) is the gay capital of South Africa and it’s why many gay people come to Cape Town because it’s very inviting to the gay community. we also celebrate PRIDE late summer and it’s a massive celebration, my phots emphasizes that as gays we don’t just take it 20% or 50% we take it to the max and we sassy while we at It. The sailors hat signifies the beaches we have and the dog well he’s just too cute to leave out,.so next time u want to come traveling and you gay ? Take a trip to Cape Town....satisfaction guaranteed ❤️

3 FREE (marlon)
http://www.kult.co.za/model/Bryce_Thompson/images_m/kult_model_Bryce_Thompson_6147.jpg
This photo I believe is the most unique and different shot that I’ve done to date and I chose this because. Just felt that I’m gonna be myself and show that I’m not a model that can’t be molded, I can adapt and do something different

4-MOTION VIDEO (sui he)
https://vimeo.com/61344308?ref=em-share
I chose this video because of one word , SIMPLICITY. there is no frills no action to to steal the attention off of me...it’s just a simplistic video and it’s refreshing and more importantly it’s real and no gimmicks

5-ADVOCACY (Jerard)
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
http://www.kult.co.za/model/Bryce_Thompson/images_m/kult_model_Bryce_Thompson_6162.jpg
ny shot shows a model whose mouth is sealed, whose words can’t come out, whose been shielded and I’m fighting against what my pic shows. Freedom of speech is one of the most important rights we as humans can have and I believe had we had this right way before , many wars and conflicts would’ve been sorted because each one would’ve gotten a chance to hear the other one and listen to the other one if WE JUST GAVE EACH OTHER THE RESPECT TO HEAR EACH OTHER OUT !!

) Carly's Challenge - The Look of Music
Michael Jackson- Smooth Criminal

I chose a high fashion editorial shot. It showcases movement and dance, highlighting Shaun's ability as a model and a dancer.
https://images.app.goo.gl/w4dgjQCPdr1xNemB6

2.) Garrett's Challenge - Place of Origin
Shaun was born and raised in the Bronx. I wanted to mix his natural urban style with the backdrop of his hometown, highlighting where he is from and where he is going.
https://images.app.goo.gl/hgcwKBCVo65mwPgz5

3.) Marlon's Challenge - Free
I chose this photo to showcase Shaun's editorial edge in this competition alongside his natural androgynous styling. He is unique and I believe that this photo shows that to the extreme.
https://images.app.goo.gl/mfohwhpuZGonq7vF9

4.) Sui's Challenge - Motion Video
I chose this photo to highlight Shaun's multi-talented ability as a model and actor. He dances, raps and sings all whilst still looking flawless an important act for a model.
https://youtu.be/6fZgXUompY4

5.) Jerard's Challenge - Advocacy
Shaun is a proud gay man. The pride campaign is very important to him and creating a voice for the LGBT+ community is vital is fighting mundane issues. He openly fights for the rights of many and opposes political agendas that fight against trans and gay rights.
https://images.app.goo.gl/xUBcboiBfnJnfR6R7

XXCLOSEDXX

The judges will be commenting soon.

Assigned judge for each task:

The Look of Music - Carly, Jerard, Marlon
Place of Origin - , Carly, Garrett, Sui
Free - Garrett, Jerard, Marlon
Motion Video - Carly, Marlon, Sui
Advocacy - Jerard, Garrett, Sui

The Look of Music
Aquaria: Honestly the photo feels very tame but i cant say it doesnt fit the theme either
Yoonyoung: I really like how you themed this, the shots really nothing special though
Bryce: This was an interesting choice and i really see what your describing in the expression, good job
Shaun: Im not usually a fan of shots that cover the face but this utilises that really well and is exactly what you expect from tge song you gave, definetly one of my faves ever

Free
Aquaria: this is obviously a classic shot for you and really highlights what you are all about well, i have grievances about details like the background not fitting but its an excellent highlight of your talents
Yoonyoung: This to me doesnt really highlight what makes you so good so im quite disappointed, this was yiur chance to really put your best foot forward abd while its a good shot it doesnt stand out
Bryce: Im not sure what your trying to do here at all, the photo is overedited and it really doesnt show me what makes you special
Shaun: Theres... 2 pics here, the first is a great highlight of who you are, the second... not so much, it doesnt take much to crop out the image you want, this is a hard ine to gauge

Motion Video
Aquaria: You are restricted in that this was never meant to be a modelling video but it does show your able to move well
Yoonyoung: Weirdly for me this shows off your excellent facial expressions really well, you move well though theres a lot of jumps
Bryce: The video is very much no frills, good thing your a model and not an actor
Shaun: Those skills are great and all but not really relevant, nost of this video is you lying on the floor while othe4 people pose or you being obscured by the lights then you dancing, it really feels out of place with the task

Place of Origin: For this task, which is probably my favorite one - you need to represent the WHOLE NATION. Each of you is to represent your own country. What is your country made of? What are they known of? What is the essence of your home country? Showcase it with your photo


* Aquaria Palandrani (Ajathekween)
I think it's very interesting that you chose to impersonate Melania Trump, She is indeed a controversial figure in the United States but I do not think she is a representation of what the United States is known for. 


* Bryce Thompson (Wade)
This was very different from what we have seen from you up to this point. I can see the femininity which is heavily celebrated in the city of Cape Town. Pride isn’t a global representation of South Africa, you could have done something with the island or do something that looked like you were imprisoned and connected it to Nelson Mandela there’s so much I think you could have done.


* Shaun Ross (hazbez94)
I like this photo but at some time, it looks a little lazy to me. I like that you are showcasing The Bronx in the background but at first glance, I wouldn’t have known this was the Bronx. The Bronx is a borough of the nationally known city New York so I think in terms of representing the nation as a whole New York would have worked better than doing a neighborhood of the city itself. 


* Bae Yoon Young (KingGeek)
I think this is a very nice photo, I can see the fashion cultural aspect of it all. I, however, wish you would have not had the veil over your face but overall this is a great connection and great photo. 



Advocacy: Fighting for what.... is the theme for my challenge, what I want you to do is to present a photo that shows your advocacy (e.g. equal rights, lgbtq+, etc.) your photo must convey a message. And of course, explanation will save you in this round.


* Aquaria Palandrani (Ajathekween)
I agree with the mistreatment of animals and fur jackets aren’t morally right. I don’t even think this is a fur coat, this is an animal printed jacket. This photo to me although I see the animal print and get what your trying to portray this photo isn’t the best I think there were other ways to represent PETA to me this was average. 

* Bryce Thompson (Wade)
Freedom of Speech is a major issue in the world today, I think this was a really good photo from you. I like that you symbolized freedom of speech in the opposite light which is you covering your mouth. 


* Shaun Ross (hazbez94)
I’m not really a fan of this photo and I’m going to tell you why I think there were so many other things that you could have done to symbolize the LGBT+ community but you have on a PRIDE shirt, I just think there are so many more thing you could have done to stand out and to present what your advocating for a little more. 


* Bae Yoon Young (KingGeek)
This probably was one of my favorites if not my favorite from you this entire season. I am very happy to see you do something very different from what we have seen you do in the past. Deforestation is ruining tons of animal habitats.

Hi all, this has been an extremely busy week so I will only be sending my scores in. I’m sorry for no comments this week! < 3

COMMENTS:

PLACE OF ORIGIN (Garrett's Task)

Aquaria Palandrani (USA) - I would have liked it more if you had elaborated how the photo represents the entire nation due to the fact that "Melania" can be interpreted in so many ways. The photo is okay with you looking very beautiful. There's no WOW factor in this one.

Bryce Thompson (South Africa) - You didn't follow the instruction. The drill is to represent your home country - the whole nation. What you did was representing a part of your country. This is a miss.

Shaun Ross (USA) - Late submission. Another photo which doesn't follow the rule.

Bae Yoon Young (South Korea) - Asian represent! I like how delicate and elegant you look in the photo. You've worn a traditional dress in a very fashionable manner. You look beautiful from head to toe. This is what I'm waiting for from you, Yoon Young.

COMMENTS:

ADVOCACY (Jerard's Task)

Aquaria Palandrani (Anti Fur) - I'm a fan of your advocacy because there are lots of animal mistreatment happening around us. They need "voices" that will make their pleas and cries be possible to be heard. I love your intense facial expression and your solid pose. I can see this one in a campaign ad.

Bryce Thompson (Freedom of Speech) - Perfect! Simple but very impactful! There are lots of people who don't take advantage of their right to speak and to stand up for themselves. The photo doesn't need an explanation because it can speak for itself. The black-and-white filter does help the shot to give off a very serious vibe.

Shaun Ross (Pride) - I'm very supportive of the LGBTQ+ community so I admire your strength and will to be their voice. Lots of human being are suffering from bullying and gender inequality because of close-minded people. The advocacy is great, but the photo is very weak. It looks very amateurish considering this week is Semi-Finals.

Bae Yoon Young (Deforestation Prevention) - I believe in eveything that you have said in your advocacy. What I don't like is the photo itself. The shot doesn't focus on your advocacy which is the point of this task. It's more like showing a harmonious relationship between human and animal. Plus the photo is too simple for my liking.

COMMENTS:

MOTION VIDEO (My Task)

I'm so glad that all of you did a good job on the task I've given to you. You don't know how proud I am of each one of you.

Aquaria, you made history in this series by being the first model who booked five out of five agencies. That's hard to accomplish but you did it. I know some of your competitors are not in favor of you returning back into the game after quitting from the competition, but, hey, you proved to us since Week 9 that you are in it to win it. Once again we've seen your passion and motivation to clinch the title.

Bryce, I think this is the first time a male African model has come this far in this series. Looking back at your performance during the first week, I never imagined you would make it this far. But you've proven me wrong. You've received first call out twice, been in second place in call out order four times, and now you're on top of the overall ranking. What I love about you is that you always keep your feet on the ground.

Shaun, I admit that you and Valentina are my personal faves this cycle. You have this unique facial features that I'm sure will be marketable in modeling and fashion industry. You always impress me with your unique take in every photo shoot. You have your own unique style and I admire you for that. I'm happy to be the one who gave you that fifth challenge win, putting you on the ranks of models who won five challenges in this series.

Yoon Young, I'm very glad that another Asian model has made it this far. As an Asian model, I've always wanted to see an Asian beauty rocking this competition and you didn't disappoint. There's been ups and downs but it's all part of the competition. The most important thing is that you always stand up every time you fall. You never stop striving to be at the top of your game. You are a star in your own way.

Those are the things I've seen in your video. That's how I interpreted your motion video.

All the best, semi-finalists.