Ice Baby Ice - Aired: May 26, 2009

After an overwhelming response from the cross-country audition tour, 20 finalists gathered in Toronto in hopes of becoming Canada’s Next Top Model. The girls arrived at Polson Pier and anxiously waited for the competition to begin. Host Jay Manuel arrived in a sleek black helicopter and informed the finalists he only had room for half of them and the other half would be going home right away. He called forward nine girls and said he was done. But much to everyone’s shock, he revealed the women he had picked were real models – and the other 11 were actually in the competition.

In the wild with Nigel Barker: The girls met creative director Nolé Marin and were told their first photo shoot would begin right away. Their partners for the 80s glamour-inspired shoot would be wild animals.During hair and makeup, the girls got their first real look at one other and found out they would be working with famous fashion photographer Nigel Barker. Jill was the first one up and admitted she was nervous to pose with a snake. Nigel told her she needed to concentrate. Nolé thought she looked a little “hoochie.

”Maryam, who never got a chance to model in her home country of Iran, was next. Posing like the vulture she was in the photo with, Nigel thought she did a good job but took the concept a little too far. Meaghan was next up with a black wolf. Nolé thought she did awesome; considering it was her first ever photo shoot. Nigel agreed but said she needed to work on ignoring her braces and giving more mouth movement. Nikita wrapped her partner – a snake – around her neck without hesitation. Nigel thought she was a beautiful girl but didn’t quite know what to do as a model yet.Tara also posed with a snake and Nigel didn’t think she was in touch with her entire body yet. Nolé agreed.

Tiffany, who said she has a son back home, posed next with a hawk. Nigel thought she was boring and had no energy but took direction well. Heather posed with a bobcat and did an extraordinary job, according to Nigel. Alexandra was worried the wolf would bite her and this nervousness gave Nigel little to work with. Rebeccah posed with a hawk and Nigel thought she looked like a mannequin and needed to become more versatile. Linsay also had the hawk and Nolé thought she was quite composed. Ebonie had the bobcat and Nolé thought she fell flat. Nigel thought the bobcat became the star of the photograph.

Immediately following the photo shoot, Alexandra announced she was leaving the competition – she claimed to be in a lot of pain from a recent car accident. Heather was the challenge winner and won another photo shoot with Nigel on the ice floes off of Eastern Canada. She chose Nikita and Jill to accompany her.

Moving into the loft: The remaining seven girls moved into their new home – a three-storey loft at the Soho Metropolitan. The girls were treated to gift baskets and personalized bathrobes.

Charlottetown, P.E.I.: After being flown over 100 km offshore onto the ice floes by helicopter, Heather, Nikita and Jill got to get up close and personal with white coat seals. They also got to do a fashion shoot and shot a video to send to the girls back home. Nigel gave them keys to a special room in the loft.Living it up in the loft Back at the loft, the other girls started to bond and wondered what it would be like when “Nigel’s Girls” returned. They received their first ‘Jay Mail’ – Jay encouraged them to practice their poses and runway walks. The girls partied it up in the hot tub while Nikita, Jill and Heather arrived at the loft. They opened the door to their private room with plenty of free gifts on their beds. A divide started to develop between the two groups. The next ‘Jay Mail’ announced the first elimination would be the following day.

First elimination: Jay introduced the judges – Mike Ruiz, Yasmin Warsame, Jeanne Beker and guest judge Nigel Barker. He called the girls up individually to discuss their best shots. The judges asked what Nikita was trying to do with her body and she said she didn’t know. They said it showed. Rebeccah said she was trying to channel abandonment and anger in her photo and Jeanne said it’s a fine line between having a strong focus and allowing yourself to be malleable. Heather was told that while her outfit wasn’t appropriate for judging, she was hands down the best model in the shoot, according to Nolé. Tara was told she was so long and tall but didn’t really know what to do with it so had to try to show the best of her body. Tiffany was told by Jay she was the most reserved and was asked if she really wanted to be Canada’s Next Top Model. Nigel said her photo lacked confidence and Nolé said she just didn’t get it. Meaghan was told she did a good job for her first photo shoot but had to work on her mouth movement. Linsay was told she did an amazing job but that her hip was too square to the camera.The judges said Ebonie was very photogenic but Nigel wanted to see more of her personality on set. Maryam was told she had a dynamic image but wasn’t showing enough of the dress she was wearing.Jill was told by Nigel her outfit was hideous but she was charming and fun.

The judges deliberated and Jill and Tiffany landed in the Bottom 2. In the end, it was Tiffany who was sent home.

The contestants are:

* Jill, 19, Vancouver, British Columbia, Student
* Maryam, 18, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Student
* Linsay, 22, Edmonton, Alberta, Student
* Nikita, 20, Calgary, Alberta, Sales Representative
* Meaghan, 19, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Retail
* Rebeccah, 19, Ottawa, Ontario, Retail Sales Associate
* Tara, 19, Chateauguay, Quebec, Student
* Ebonie, 21, Repentigny, Quebec, Receptionist
* Heather, 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Student

* Alexandra, 22, Penticton, British Columbia, Sales Employee (quit in episode 1)
* Tiffany, 23, Toronto, Ontario, Receptionist (eliminated in episode 1)

Join the Canada’s Next Top Model yahoo group here

All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License