'Top Model: British Invasion' sees British model Louise Watts quit

Top Model's British Invasion's judging panel proved to be too critical for British model Louise Watts to bare.


Louise, a 5' 9" 25-year-old from Essex, England, became the third girl eliminated from America's Next Top Model: British Invasion after she decided to quit the competition due to the fact she felt insulted by Top Model judges Tyra Banks, Kelly Cutrone, Nigel Barker, and guest judge Cat Deeley during Wednesday night's broadcast on The CW.

"For me to walk off and walk away from something is a big deal. To stand in front of someone and have them break me down, that's not me. I'm really proud of my decision. I get to go home and see my mom, and like I said, everyone who knows me will just say, 'Look, you did it and you stayed true to yourself,'" Louise said after storming out of panel critiques and removing herself from the reality franchise's eighteenth edition in which seven amateur American hopefuls battle seven all-stars and former Britain's Next Top Model contestants for the grand prize.

Louise, one of the Brits, was eliminated from the third episode of America's Next Top Model: British Invasion after the show's judges reviewed the photos the season's remaining 12 finalists had taken at their third photo shoot challenge, which required them to envision and create a "love and luxury" ad campaign for Kelly Cutrone's client very.com -- a top-tier online British retailer -- which included the tasks of determining a leader, casting, wardrobe and hair styling, and providing props and make-up.

The models were divided into two teams, the British girls versus American models, but they were all required to shoot individually for the ad campaign after assigning themselves distinct roles to portray. The U.S. girls came up with a concept of "punk love," while the U.K. models wanted to create a "60s British mod" scene.


All the contestants worked under Kelly's mentorship throughout the entire planning and executing process, while they shot under the guidance of Top Model photo shoot director Jay Manuel. Each girl portrayed a super-hero persona during the photo shoot which Tyra had labeled them earlier in the episode to highlight their strengths as models.

Although Annaliese took on the leadership role for the U.K. girls, Louise felt as if she was leading everyone and had most of the responsibility upon her shoulders before and during the photo shoot. As a result, she was hustling and running around to get the job done in a small amount of time while her team members were taking turns being photographed. 

"I see Louise go dashing across the set, flying running. And when you see people running around, it creates total chaos," said Kelly, who then told Louise she shouldn't run and must watch her energy.

"I think my energy's fine," Louise mumbled under her breath.

"It just got a bit much when I'm the one running around and then I get in trouble for it. It's just making me angry, but the best thing I can do is shut up," Louise said afterwards.


"Louise has one of the worst attitudes that I've ever seen for a young woman who's in the middle of a competition," Kelly told the cameras.

However, once it became time for Louise to be photographed, Jay thought her anger and adrenaline forced her into a place where she appeared to be very confident and ready to prove herself. Jay believed she wasn't even thinking about how she looked or what her body was doing, but she still came across as a "hot supermodel."

The next day, the girls arrived for the eighteenth season's third elimination panel where they were met by the Top Model judges.

The judges attempted to criticize Louise's photo during panel critiques, but they didn't get a chance to because the focus was on her personality and attitude -- which Kelly, especially, felt needed to be addressed.

"For me, you look strong, you look tough, but you're very mean," Nigel said.


"Mean?" Louise asked in disagreeance.

"Mean," Nigel confirmed.

"Pshhh," Louise said while rolling her eyes in disbelief. "I can't win."

"I think you need to put some gratitude in your attitude girl," Kelly told her.

"I know you shake your head a lot, you disagree a lot, but it is potentially good when you are being critiqued to take it in with charm," Nigel suggested.


"My experience with you on the set was you were very condescending and rude to me, which I don't really care about," Kelly said.

"No, no, no. You were rude to me," Louise insisted.

"Okay, I'm done talking to you," Kelly said, shutting down the conversation.

"Fine," Louise said in frustration.

"You just have a problem with authority," Tyra interjected.


"I don't do well with rude people," Louise said.

"You are a model. [Kelly] is a publicist. Do you understand? There is a rank. I'm giving you a very tough lesson in how to get your career to the next level," Tyra explained.

"I think it's so important Louise. It's one of the best things you could possibly do -- She's shaking her head no!" Cat, the host of So You Think You Can Dance, said in annoyance to her fellow judges.

Louise then ran off with tears streaming down her face. She yelled at everyone to get out of her way and exited the building.

"I need to go! I need to get my f-cking stuff and I need to go home! I'm not standing here taking f-cking [insults] from them! And that f-cking Kelly Cutrone! I swear to God if she was on this street, I'd knock her out!" Louise screamed in what clearly seemed to be an emotional breakdown. "I need to go home! I want to go home!"

Once things settled down and the judges had time to deliberate on who deserved to stay in the competition and who should be eliminated based on photos, personality and potential, Tyra called the girls back into panel and explained Louise's situation.


"Louise has decided to leave the competition. On America's Next Top Model, we'd like to think that our criticism is constructive, although tough, but it's not for everyone," Tyra said.

Tyra then revealed the girls in order of the best photo to the worst of the week. AzMarie, a 5' 9 3/4" 24-year-old from Milwaukee, WI, received the first call-out.

Following AzMarie, Tyra announced the names of Sophie, Laura, Kyle, Catherine, Seymone, and Annaliese.

Tyra then revealed Louise would have received the next call-out had she not quit the competition and then surprisingly asked the remaining four girls -- Ashley, Eboni, Candace, and Alisha -- to come forward rather than having a typical bottom-two scenario.

"The client decided that your four photos are not worthy of their company. I have one photo in my hands. All four of you are still in the running towards becoming America's Next Top Model. One thing that you all four represent is being able to take critique. Another thing that the judges see is potential in the four of you. So ladies, congratulations," Tyra explained.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski