Dominique Waldrup, a 23-year-old college graduate from Houston, TX, became the fourth girl eliminated from America's Next Top Model's sixteenth season during Wednesday night's broadcast on The CW.
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"I have a great personality and it just didn't show! I am going to continue to pursue modeling. This was my first time ever trying to do such a thing and I feel that I will be a great asset to this industry," Dominique said following her ouster.
Dominique was eliminated from the third episode of America's Next Top Model's sixteenth season after Top Model's judges reviewed the photos the season's 11 remaining finalists -- who had received individual high fashion makeovers -- had taken at their third photo shoot challenge, which required them to pose in groups and compete against each other to shine in the photographs while wearing Couture fashions.
Dominique ended up in the bottom two alongside Sara, an 18-year-old student and part-time worker from Rio Grand Valley, TX who currently resides in Edinburg, TX. Both girls had failed to impress Top Model photo shoot director Jay Manuel during the shoot, which featured the girls in glamorous dresses and designer outfits modeling outside for fashion photographer Pamela Hanson.
"They don't know what to do with one another, that's the problem, at all," Jay said regarding Sara's photo shoot with Mikaela.
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Jay then said Sara had to stop analyzing the situation because he could tell she was attempting to think too much, and afterward, he said he believed Dominique lacked inspiration behind her modeling.
"The only problem with the three-shot was it was really just a two-shot. If I were to print that photo, I would just crop Dominique out," Jay said.
"Dominique, I'm not going to lie, [Jaclyn and Dalya] are having a moment. What are you thinking in your head?" Jay asked Dominique.
"I have no thoughts," Dominique replied.
"Well, that's the problem. You know what the worse thing a model could not have? Inspiration," Jay said.
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Dominique then broke down in tears as she believed there were many things in her life that inspired her, and she was unsure of why that was coming across to Jay during the photo shoot.
"I just feel like I'm giving it my all, but Jay don't see it... I don't know what to do anymore. According to Jay, I don't have anything that I'm inspired by, but I'm inspired by a lot of stuff," Dominique cried.
The next day the girls arrived for the sixteenth season's third elimination panel -- where they were met by Top Model judges Tyra Banks, Nigel Barker and Andre Leon Talley as well as guest judge and stylist Lori Goldstein.
The judges criticized both girls' photos during their panel critiques.
"Dominique, it's unusual. You look like you don't necessarily fit in with the other two," Nigel told Dominique.
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"Dominique, I know that there was a struggle happening with you. You felt lost. I feel like you felt like an outsider, and I could see you losing yourself. It's almost like this shrinking violet," Lori added.
"What happened? Because in your film it looked like your mind -- your spirit -- was gone," Tyra asked Dominique.
"Honestly, I don't know what it was. Jay asked me, he said, 'Dominique, what is it that you're thinking about?' And on the spot, I was like, 'I don't have no thoughts.' It made me feel like you're messing up," Dominique replied.
"It's your moment to start thinking about something. Look, don't let anything bring you down. When people are giving you a little bit of a critique, it's often to pick you up. So take it and use it," Nigel said.
Sara's photo was then reviewed.
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"Sara, this is the moment. It looks like she just got caught on camera at the party," Andre said.
"It's okay for me. It's not brilliant. I've lost your cool sheekness, you difference... this shot just doesn't work," Nigel added.
"There is something about the planes of your face and owning what you have," Tyra noted.
Tyra revealed the girls in order of the best photo to the worst of the week. Alexandria, an unemployed 21-year-old from Newport Beach, CA who currently resides in Huntington Beach, CA, received the first photo. Following Alexandria, Tyra then revealed Molly, Brittani, Kasia, Jaclyn, Hannah, Monique, Dalya, and Mikaela had also advanced to the competition's next round -- leaving Dominique and Sara in the bottom two.
Tyra then recapped both girls' issues before revealing which one would get to remain in the competition.
"Sara, the judges think you have such potential, but you lack the confidence and we're not sure if you believe in yourself that you can be amazing," Tyra said.
"Dominiqe, again, another interesting and odd beauty, but freckles don't make the model. It comes from the inside out."
Tyra then revealed Sara's photo, resulting in Dominique's elimination.
"So, you've kind of walked away from the competition a little bit. Do you think you're going to walk out of these doors and give up and do something else?" Tyra asked her.
"I want to go to every agency that I can think of," Dominique replied.
"You need to bring the fabulous fashion to them not the, 'I don't know, I don't have an inspiration in my head.' So, practice in that mirror first before you step into any modeling agency okay?" Tyra requested.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski