Official ENTM-GD thread! 2.0

Today is the day - Images due by January 7th, 2016 @ 11:59 pm (EST)!

We’re back!

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and was able to spend it in wonderfully glorious ways. But alas, the holiday season is behind us...though fret not! For this also marks the continuation of Cycle 5 of Eorzea’s Next Top Model!

This week, our remaining nine models were given one of the most awful tasks we could come up with - we sent them back to Moghome to visit the Moogles. Their round challenge was written as follows!

We know you might have had enough - but it is time to go back to Moghome and hang out again. Show us how you really feel about them… be it love or hate - be honest about your feelings!

Click here to see the shots

Click here to vote!

Best of luck to all the models and thank you in advance for all your votes! Remember, be careful to only pick each model once. Voting will end at 11:59pm EST 02/12/16!

BUMP!

Amazing shots again from everyone, in one of the more difficult zones/areas to pull off.

Please vote!

I voted! Have YOU?

Friendly Reminder to all of the Fans~!

Voting Ends Tomorrow - January 11th, 2017 @ 11:59 pm (EST)



Friendly Reminder to the Models~!

Your next images are due - Thursday, January 14th, 2016 by 11:59 PM (EST)

Week 4 has now come and gone, and once again we must say goodbye to another wonderful model… As I always say (and it’s true), none of you are going home for a bad image – everyone is doing a wonderful job here and I am super proud of you all!

That said – here are the Judges Critiques!

Ciara:

Velora- I love the colors in this shot, you come out so clear and gorgeous! You manage to keep the shot busy but still manage to keep yourself the main focus and manage to pull it off without taking away from you as the focal point, I love that! The lighting is well done, soft and subtle but adding warm colors to a dark area, the flowers were a lovely touch. My only concern is like I said last rounds, I’m not sure I would see this picture grace the front of a magazine. My only advice is to when choosing a shot ask yourself if you would see this be worthy of being in a magazine, or on a poster♥

Kitori- This is a very pretty shot! Once again the lighting and colors are contrasting very well and I love your color matching to the kings. You look beautiful and I love that you and your friend took the time to do things like dress the part with your weapon and her costume.

Tress- Gorgeous shot, your lighting is amazing, the colors beautiful, you and Marik look amazing and who doesn't love to see Marik! Though I wasn't a fan of your expression in this shot the fact all three of you are looking towards the same thing and everything else in this shot made it a gorgeous shot to me. I also will add your chosen words for this shot changed my mind on my feelings of your expression. Keep in mind if you were modeling such a quote wouldn't normally be there to explain things however so try to make your shot express the story you're trying to tell without words. Great job Tress!

Stephen- Winner winner chicken dinner! You have really stepped your game up my friend! This shot is my winning shot this round. How can it not? I literally have nothing to say about this shot other than pure praise. I am extremely impressed with everything about it and can only ask that you continue to keep it up because at this rate I am so excited to see what you do for your next round! Amazing Stephen!

Kipih- Though you are a gorgeous model I feel that you had a hard time with this week’s choice. Don't feel discouraged as everyone has rounds that just don't seem to clique with them. God knows I had a few myself! I look forward to seeing what you bring to the table next week!

Eldaena- The hills certainly are alive with the sound of moogles! This shot was wonderfully done and you should be proud! your colors, scenery, outfit are all so well done~ I do wish perhaps we had a different angle of you in this shot but im still very impressed with what you have going on here. Beautiful work! I can't wait to see what you do next! Great job!

Katarh- I love the colors in this shot and how you chose to put yourself, the king, and the moogle guard. Your lighting is well done and soft, and it adds to really bringing out the gorgeousness that is you. As with Kitori the outfit and weapon choices do well to bring out your picture story. My only advice would be to be careful when a round comes to ask yourself if you think it's likely other models will also do the same thing. Also I’d like to see you smile more!

Annouille- Though you make a rather dashing man in this shot I can't say I’m really feeling this. Forgive me though part of it is that you’re the third shot of the same thing and I feel that's not so much your fault as just bad luck. As stated above try to ask yourself when you do your shot if you think it's likely others will also come to the same idea because though one could do it better it can hurt your chances on votes. Also once again I don't really feel the whole "Cover of a magazine" look that I look for when judging modeling shots. You've still done a great job and i commend you on the same things I did for Kitori and Katarh with outfit, lighting and weapon choices.

Rivienne- This is cute and it makes me smile. Your choice in minion combined with the weather effects, outfit and area were wonderfully thought out. I love that you took the chance and were bold in your choice of expressions! Beautiful shot Riv. The only real advice I have is once again to stress, try to be a model, and model in a way that would be on a billboard or shot somewhere as modeling is the name of the game here and not so much a screenshot story time. Looking forward to your next round!

Nozomi:

Velora Hunter - First off, Velora looks excellent here; your outfit and styling (hair, makeup, accessories) coordination is very well done. My biggest complaint is that it feels like the moogles should be facing the opposite direction. Right now it's like you're telling off the viewer, but if you had taken the shot with the moogle butts towards us it would have made much more sense with your description. The centering doesn't detract, in my opinion. Your outfit subtly matches up with the rest of the shot; golden yellow - dandelions, reds with gradients - moogle wings, ears, noses, and stems, blacks - the background. Your expression is alright for the concept. Overall not a stunning shot but not bad.

Kitori Orihara - Biggest complaints: The yellowy greenish white of your armor making you look like a sticker on an unrelated picture, and your strange position in the scene. Your hair matches the palette of the location you chose and your decision to dress in white and use a moogle themed weapon were good. The big empty dark spot doesn't read badly I think because of the lines of sight fill it nicely. If you're trying to not draw too much attention with your infiltration why would you stand directly in front of the King as his primary guard (I'm assuming from the location that you are serving as the primary guard)? The pose isn't bad and the expression is fine. Your friend kind of looks like a moogle sex slave that was just kidnapped and delivered to the King. Not a strong execution of your concept, pretty lackluster overall.

Tress Amell - I think this would have been better without Marik. Sorry Mar, but you really distract here with your pose, expression, and bright palette. I think this could have been a pretty amazing shot if you had cut him out; even though you're centered, with the moogle it feels like you're on either side of a thirds line. The empty space on the right would have been nicely occupied by stormy scenery which would have strengthened your description's impact and resonance with the shot. Your outfit is fine. While it doesn't really match anything in the shot, being a set it looks coordinated, obviously, and you are filling the role of adventurer so your distinct look makes sense. One complaint for your outfit is the mismatched red of the skirt. It's not immediately obvious because Marik has a lot of shades of red on his own outfit that keep the eye moving. The lighting was verging on being too bright but it doesn't bother me.

Stephen Fairbrook - A nice concept and not terribly executed except for some very awkward scenery positioning. Your choco's dandelion hat looks pretty cute, but the moogle's snot tears are mildly terrifying. You had the right idea here putting the moogles' backs to us and letting us still see your cute lala face. Good pose choice. Good outfit, mount, and hairstyle choice. Clever use of the light to disguise the differences in the colors of the dyes (why can't they just make that dang hat dyable?!). The all yellow lighting on you with mostly white lighting on the moogles is a bit odd. Would it have looked a little better if you had used the sun minion at a distance perhaps? Lowering the camera so that the shot is ever so slightly looking up at you may have looked good, but it could have thrown off the nice position of the moogles.

Kipih Lanbatal - Quite a few amateur mistakes here sadly. That barding adds nothing to the shot (but a ton of colors) and is mismatched with the chocobo and even itself since you're using pieces from two sets which really don't match. It might have still been alright but then you included the patch of glowing mushrooms which added a couple more colors that are nowhere else in the shot, plus with their brightness they draw the viewer's attention. Then your pose reinforces that by pointing right at them. This wouldn't be a problem but nothing in your description or shot tells me that they have anything to do with your concept. Then your pretty green outfit (I really love those greens with gold) brings in two more colors. The spot to the right is dead and the spot to the left is confusingly busy and eye-catching. Nothing in the shot shows me moogles or even that you're in Moghome. Your eyes aren't looking where you're pointing. You did manage to nicely coordinate your character with her outfit; those colors really look good with her cinnamon browns. Pointing to the left was good (keeps the viewer from sliding off the right side) but you should have been further to the right to give the eye somewhere to travel.

Eldaena Voxandria - The colors here are fantastic! Main distraction and detractor is the plume of smoke rising from your face. The blown out glove is a bit distracting but not too much. Although your body is facing out of the shot your limbs and gaze direct the viewer back into it. With so many colors going on around you, choosing the white and dark brown Allegan gear was smart. It coordinates with your character, but because of the checkerboard pattern the eye is drawn to it, plus the poof matches all the other white poofs in the background. The grass is pixelated but you can't really fix that, plus having grass close to the camera increases the depth of the shot. Pleasant expression and suitable pose. Even with his bright colors you managed to keep the musical moogle from stealing the spotlight. That dang smoke though.

Katarh Mest - A nice glamour for being in the Pomguard. Wish your eyes were pointing to the camera though; right now they're off just enough to make it look like you've got a crazy eye. You fell into the same trap as Kitori with the white you chose. Because of the lighting in there it comes across as a sickly greenish yellow, especially next to the pale violet of the King's poof and the paladin Moogle's deep cream. The off center was fine here. The positioning of the elements of the shot feel a bit sloppy and you have a lot of colors going on. Don't know if it was possible but it would have slightly improved if you had inched the camera a bit further to the left to even out the space between you and the King. That may have also made the sword tip land in a bit better spot.

Annouille Andouillant - Why are you facing away from the King? If you're threatening him, you should at least be turning your head towards him or something. The skill's orange light looks nicely like flames about to burn the throne. The moogle ax was unnecessary; your outfit isn't related to moogles. Your expression looks odd and the light wasn't flattering to the noodle-sausage's face. This shot would have been very improved by putting the camera over the king's shoulder with you facing him or even a daring back shot with the camera lowered to make you stand intimidatingly tall before him. The color of your armor matches the background. Centered works fine for a shot trying to convey power like this is.

Rivienne Cotrlaint - A nice concept, although the wording is a big awkward. A pleasant cool palette that looks good, even though it doesn't help with conveying warm fuzzies. Good expression and pose. Very good use of that minion. I really like that blue on that gear and I think it looks good for the shot. The crispness of you and the sharp contrasts in the shadows of your clothing could have pushed you out of the shot too much but the little moogle down front roped you in perfectly. Not necessary but perhaps just the tiniest bit of sun minion lighting on your face could have looked good.

Xev:

I shall preface this round by noting that the only good Moogle is a cooked Moogle, and have included some ways our lovely and glamour models can improve their shots this round with some tried and true home recipes.

Rivienne Cotrlain:
Moghome Moogle Gumbo
Ingredients-
Start with 3 cups stock of cerulean stormy skies
Toss in an assortment of musical moogle friends
Blend with a finely matched dress in pastel blue
Add a heaping cup of pure joy with an Elezen /chuckle emote

Stir all ingredients together in a pot and simmer with a soft /gpose and cook till joyous, browned perfection.

Eldaena Vonxandria:
Twice-Baked Moogle Risotto
Ingredients-
Bed of wild grass.
A rainbow swirl of dancing moogles
Generous helping of allagan gear
Two dollops of perfect lighting that works with the sunset.

This meal could feed the entire Pomguard with its warm hues cooked to perfection and great use of flouncy poses.

Katarh Mest:
Candied Moogle Cakes
Ingredients-
One heaping handful of Moogle Poms
3 parts of perfectly coordinated Moogle attire
One scalloped bowl of moogle dressing
Quick spritz of roots for seasoning
Pink tassels and glaze to finish.

These saccharin cakes might be too rich for the common palate. Mincing the moogle meat to a fine pulp might improve the general consistency.

Tress Amell:
Baked Marikian
Ingredients-
Start with sautéed reduction of stormy weather
2 scoops of contrasting red attire
Dump in a fully pommed Moogle
Liven with 1 full serving of Marik Destiel
Dash of /huh

Whisk ingredients until they reach a fine contrast in color. Bake under fine lighting and garnish with a superstar extra.

Stephen Fairbrook:
Sunny-Side up Moogles
Ingredients-
2 full dandelion stems
1 full rack of dark chocobo meat
2 bloated moogle dumplings
1 centered and tasty popoto friend
Spoonful of gold lighting

Beat moogle dumplings into a creamy batter. Fold in Dandlion stems, chocobo and popoto friend. Serve with a homemade glaze of golden light. Pairs nicely with a chilled glass of Moogle Tears.

Annouille Andouillant:
Pom-Pom Moogle Puffs
Ingredients-
One large, content moogle dumpling
A Freshly sharped moogle axe for dicing
A handful of mushrooms for flavor
10 pounds of cotton candy
Small jolt of lighting
Pink tassels to garnish

The only things that could spice up this dish any more would be a more flattering pose for our gorgeous main course, and perhaps a quick dash of moogle slaughter.

Velora Hunter:
Upside Down Dandelion Moogle Cake
Ingredients-
2 moogle dumplings
2 full stalks of dandelion
1 irritated adventurer
A pinch of finger waggling
2 glowing candy poms (Optional)

Frame your pan with the dandelion stalks and pour in the rest. Twirling the camera about to capture either night skies or foliage may enhance the overall piquancy of this dish. Pair with a nice vintage of Moogles blood for an optimal flavor profile.

Kitori Orihara:
Moogles and Cream Parfait
Ingredients-
1 cup drowsy Moogle King
An extra handful of Moogle extras
One battle hardened Miqo’te ready for a moogle massacre
One freshly sharpened moogle knife for quartering
A garnish of pink tassels

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and then whip to a froth. Pull the camera in tighter to mute any overly moogle aftertaste and finish with a fine dusting of lovely miqo’te.

Kipih Lanbatal:
Moogle Fried Steak
Ingredients-
1 part chocobo breast (Light meat)
2 parts chocobo thighs (dark meat!)
1 teaspoon of colorful mushrooms
An entire gallon of hopelessly lost Kipih Lanbatal.

Similar to the way chicken fried steak lacks any actual chicken, this Moogle Fried Steak lacks any actual moogles. Some may call ground up moogle beef an ‘acquired taste’. While I’d generally agree, this shot might retain some of that down home, Moghome flavor with a tiny smattering of Moogle on the side. Top it all off with a spritz of light from a sun minion and it’s read to serve.

Remember scoring is as follows:

For scoring, each model was awarded points based on their placement in vote order. So, if Model A was ranked 1st out of the 11 models, they gained 11 points. 2nd place gained 10 points and so on, until the 11th ranked model gains 1 point. We then tally the judge scores too, which get inflated to count for 75% of the total vote. Below are the total rankings, along with the public score count and judge total pre-inflation.
Overall Results:

Eldaena Vonxandria: (242 public, 24 judge)
Rivienne Cotrlaint: (209 public, 23 judge)
Stephen Fairbrook: (197 public, 21 judge)
Katarh Mest: (204 public, 18 judge)
Tress Amell: (200 public, 17 judge)
Annouille Andouillant: (190 public, 12 judge)
Velora Hunter: (222 public, 9 judge)
Kitori Orihara: (159 public, 8 judge)
Kipih Lanbatal: (141 public, 3 judge)

Congratulations to Eldaena for coming in first this week, it was moogle-rific! But will she be able to hold onto her rank next week, or will another model come and snatch that spot from her?! Come vote next week to find out!

As for darling Kipih, it was wonderful having you and all of us will miss your lovely shots! Myself, Ty and the Judges wish you the best and want to remind you – you are always part of the ENTM family! <3

http://i.imgur.com/Ci7rgs6.jpg

Last week we inflicted a great deal of pain upon our models by returning them to a place of great torment, kupo. So this week, we decided to allow them to blow off some steam and relax before resuming their torture modeling challenges. And what better place to do that than the glitz and glamour of the Gold Saucer! Of course, it wasn’t all rest, relaxation and getting your tenth junk cactpot in a row - they had to take some shots as well!

Here’s the challenge this week:

We all know that we need some time to play now and then. That is what the Gold Saucer is for, so show us what you find fun about this haven in the desert! Anything is allowed as long as it’s within the building (please no chocobo racing).

Eight models remain as we approach the halfway point of the contest - let’s see how their photographic gambles pay off!

Click here to see the shots

Click here for the voting form

Best of luck to all the models and thank you in advance for all your votes! Remember, be careful to only pick each model once. Voting will end at 11:59pm EST 01/19/16!

So many fun shots this round! The Gold Saucer is such a big place that it was fun to see which locations everyone chose x)
Outtakes this week: http://elfymcnoodlelimbs.tumblr.com/post/137361601615/

I keep forgetting to post, jeez...

When I first saw everyone else's Moghome shots, I kind of expected this. So yeah, thanks for having me, I had a lot of fun!! : D
Good luck to the remaining models!

Ah! Annouille! That Realm Reborn Red shot! I love that one! So festive! I like the one you submitted too, but the bottle one is just perfect!

Good Luck everyone! :)

Voting is still going and closes at 11:59pm EST tomorrow evening! See the link in my previous post.

Nice to see this still going :) I voted.

I voted too... thanks for organising this, it's a lot of fun!
I'd like to participate whenever there are openings for new amateur models ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Terrini

Ah! Annouille! That Realm Reborn Red shot! I love that one! So festive! I like the one you submitted too, but the bottle one is just perfect!

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Thanks Terrini! I liked the bottle one too; I wish it was centred a bit better or else I would've used it. (I also uh... ran out of Realm Reborn in my inventory to try any more shots, so next time I'll be more prepared!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Svoon

Thanks Terrini! I liked the bottle one too; I wish it was centred a bit better or else I would've used it. (I also uh... ran out of Realm Reborn in my inventory to try any more shots, so next time I'll be more prepared!)

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But in the case if that shot, I love it for not being centered. There's you on the side, the giant Cactuar in the middle and it just seems to say "this is just the start of the fun!"

For your submitted shot. I would have liked to have been able to see the Cactuar better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seisha

I voted too... thanks for organising this, it's a lot of fun!
I'd like to participate whenever there are openings for new amateur models ;)

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There will be more cycles of all the modeling fun! As Yoshi P says: Please look forward to it!!

I hope a lot of people will be interested and we would be happy for you to try out! :D

Week 5 has now come to an end, and once again we must crown a winner and also say goodbye to another amazing model!

This week we saw the models party away at the Golden Saucer… despite the rumors that a few of the judges might have snuck in there too – they were sober enough to get in the:

Judges Critiques!

Ciara:

Rivienne-
You sure do hit the theme this round! I would say you def look like you're having a lot of fun! You won the games, got the t-shirt, and basked in the moment. I wouldn't want to have to fight you for that title of the lady of the dance! lighting is on that nice note of not too bright or dim. The one thing I do wish I was seeing was more people dancing perhaps or a more festive background. Though you look beautiful your background makes the shot a bit blander. Still lovely!

Annouillant-
I think you picked a glorious background for this shot! You match the scene so well. The fact you matched yourself dancing the opposite step with the cactuar was well played sir! I’m definitely feeling the happy vibe from your shot this round and love it! way to go!

Katarh-
Lookin for some hot stuff baby tonigghhttt~ and boy did I find it! you make Foxy Cleopatra proud in this shot and glam it right up there with those foxy divas! I also especially love how you've transitioned from the angrier style to pure out pure fun. You are my poster girl of this week honey and let me tell you you've earned it! You go girl! Keep it up it's fantastic!

Eldaena-
Ooo who's that gorgeous lookin babe turning eyes? Its Eldaena! Gorgeous mixed with an elegant touch of gold and white you not only match the colors of the gold saucer but perfect them. I hate to be that gal but I’m not entirely sure your elegance really fits with the round however being that we want to see you having fun at the gold saucer. This more looks to me like your posing for a tourist then actually having any real fun! I’d have pulled in closer to the arcade or found picked a different location. I look forward to seeing what you do next run!


Kitori-
Looking at this shot brings the good old manderville song right back into my mind! The person and their minion do well to remind me of hildys sometimes obliviousness as if the bad guys running away as you show off your talents (and muscle) Very quiet but I think it could have been excited a bit better. This shot though cute as it is doesn't really do well to make you the focal point of the shot, perhaps closer in with your camera if you could. Still cute and humorous and I look forward to seeing your shot next week!

Tress-
*best mafia voice I can sum up* Tress baby you put me in a spot!
You look stunning girlfriend, but put me at odds with myself! In one hand I can't help but wonder why anyone would want to read a round as "Show us what you find fun about this haven in the desert" and turn it into a shot of them working. On the other hand, just because /I/ don't personally feel working is fun doesn't mean you might not enjoy the thought of working at your own personal casino! With that I’m holding back on some critique though will warn in a mind that some people might also feel work is not that much fun and it could cause you votes! Your shot however, is lovely, soft and colorful. You also manage to fill my prerequisite of making a shot look like it belongs on the cover of a magazine~ Looking lovely Tress!

Velora-
No whammy no whammy no whammy stop! Looking fabulous being the high roller of the casino this week, decked out in those gamblers glamour and working that lady luck!
Your spell effects are cute and your mood fits the bill! I do see where some might wish you were facing the lottery itself but appreciate how difficult it can be to put both the cactpot and yourself in the shot at the same time. Here's hoping you win big! If you do, share the wealth!

Stephen-
How can I not look at this shot as a chibi sized Jasmine after being asked, "Do you trust me?" You are handsome, charming and also manage to look like your about to take that mini jasmine or aerith on a fantastically good time in the big old GS. Will you share a kiss on the Ferris Wheel? Inquiring minds want to know! Love the shot Stephen!

Nozomi:

Rivienne Cotrlaint - I'm sorry if this comes across mean. Your face is fucking terrifying in this shot. Lackluster setting with a sad reminder of the low popularity of the Gold Saucer nowadays. Your description doesn't actually make sense to me for a variety of reasons but more importantly you seem to have missed the challenge; you guys were meant to show how you have fun at the GS but instead we get employee here. Your outfit is just the GS uniform so no points there from me. The blue hair and lipstick don't contribute to the shot or your overall look positively and the lipstick makes you scarier. Watch out that the sun minion doesn't wash out your face; the angle you have the light shining here makes your face come across very flat. If you can't convince people in the background to move out of your shot (afk or whatever) you should try to block them out with your body so that they don't become a distraction. Please try to give us a compelling story in the future - with your shot, not your description.

Annouille Andouillant - Although you didn't exactly follow the challenge you at least linked us some reasons for an emotional connection to the place. You look like you're having a great time here and your pose has a lot of energy keeping you from being overwhelmed by that very very busy background. That top hand has the potential to take away from the shot but because the lighting fell so nicely on your face and torso I actually didn't even notice it for a while. Dying your top one of the metallic colors that you can see in the mosaics behind you may have livened you up even more but this blue wasn't terrible. Because El Coloso was mentioned in your description he had the potential to steal some of your spotlight but you made sure any viewer looking for him in the shot would immediately be made to focus on you by blocking his body with your own. Next time please make your shot tell us a story - and let the description just be the title of the book.

Katarh Mest - Amazing use of the waymarks to create your own background without losing the Saucer! My one complaint is that there is no disco at the Saucer, but that is totally irrelevant, you made your own story with what you've given us. Great outfit choice that gives us a strong disco vibe without going too costumey/cliche; the gold accents all over fit perfectly. Those pants were a really good choice since they feel like cargo bellbottoms or something. Great choice with the eyeshadow and the aqua color you gave it; it is echoed in the waymark light. A lovely energetic pose and happy, excited face that really convinces me that you have an awesome time doing this. The centering works well here. Lovely job with the lighting; your skin looks completely amazing. Not sure I love your necklace but it isn't a big thing. I like that you aren't looking at the camera here. Thank you for coming up with a really unique concept!

Eldaena Vonxandria - A beautiful outfit but it doesn't work for the setting because we already have a context for bunny ears in the Saucer - the employees! You went for your usual serene energy but that just doesn't really match the GS. Although, saying that, you managed to find a great location to echo your serene vibe with the toned down lights and gentle glows. Buuuuut, my first thought on seeing this is that it's just like everything else you've submitted, not fresh. Off center wasn't a bad choice per se but your other shots have been off center as well which strengthens the 'seen it already' feeling. The lighting on Eldaena is lovely and echoes the background while the white keeps you the focus. The lower right is too empty. Framing the background, a bit differently would have been better. Like many others this round you missed the challenge theme; I have no idea how you have fun at the Gold Saucer from this shot. As a matter of fact, you could put pretty much any background behind you here and it would be the same story. No story. Not in the shot itself anyway. Please work on telling a story with your shots that could stand up without a written description; just let that be the arrow to point the viewer in the right direction.

Kitori Orihara - Overall this shot feels like it should have been in your first round discard pile. Aside from the awkward extra wobbling away in the background you have myriad other issues making this shot less than stellar. Starting with the background I suppose. Not sure how you managed it but you captured about the least flattering location in the building to show off the Gold Saucer. Not much interesting to the right (kinda reminds me of a parking garage or convention center) and a disappointing crop of the formation on the left (I really love this particular section of the GS). Then your pose, while vaguely making sense for the location, prevents us from seeing your expression and doesn't combine well with the Senor. Perhaps a cute wave would have matched nicer. Moving on to overall impression. Weirdly zoomed out for no reason that I can tell. It feels like your slightly off-center because of the placement of Senor Sabotender; not enough off to seem intentional, but enough that it feels uncomfortable to look at. Your suit color bugs me but I concede that it isn't truly wrong in any way and helps you to stand out. Also you missed the challenge; I can't gather from this shot what you do at the Saucer to have fun. Please be more selective with the shots you submit.

Tress Amell - Not a bad shot compositionally but not unique or exciting either. You didn't do the challenge at all; you were supposed to show how you have fun at the GS. No creativity shown with your outfit but the small styling details like the nails, gold eyeshadow, and overall tasteful makeup work nicely for the shot. Gpose really helps this shot look like an advert for the GS. Your lighting is pretty good; almost too bright on your bangs and the head-on direction has the potential to make your face too flat but it isn't quite bad. Your expression looks unenthusiastic but I think that's possibly just your character's face. The few distant extras are not detractors since their impact is diminished by the distance, lighting, and gpose blur. Please work on meeting the challenge guidelines and telling a unique story with your shot, not your description.

Velora hunter - Good job on your background but I'm sorry to say that's one of the few things I liked here. The biggest, most grating thing here for me is that you are facing the opposite direction of what you should be logically based on your description. Back shots are acceptable in this competition. Back shots are acceptable in this competition. You aren't the only one to have not taken this to heart this Cycle, but I'm tired of seeing it so I said it twice. If you're hoping for a win why would you not be facing the wheels??? Also this lighting and hairstyle combo isn't doing your face any favors in this shot. While your jacket isn't completely bad I don't like it here for the same reason I didn't like Eldaena's bunny ears; we already have a context for that piece of gear in the Gold Saucer - the wandering dude with the neat hair. You wearing it doesn't make sense. That stuff said, you chose a good skirt for it and your hair color coordinates well. Centered shot was a perfectly fine choice here. I think using a sun minion would have brought you more forward in the shots and reduced the unflattering yellowness of the light on your skin and clothes. Please pay attention to the challenge guidelines, you didn't follow them here.

Stephen Fairbrook - Unfortunately yours is the most washed out shot of the bunch and not even for any reason. Washed out in more than one way actually. A meh pose, dusty clothing palette, uninspiring concept. You didn't follow the round guidelines; I have no clue what you do at the Saucer for fun. The choice of centered worked for the idea you were going for. Using the sun minion would have brought you forward more which I'd have liked. Like your Ishgard shot you managed to capture the colors of your surroundings in your outfit. The green, the brown, the yellowy, and pops of red. Your jewelry matches the background even better. Lackluster concept and execution. Why would you even be welcoming the viewer to the Saucer? You could replace your background with anything, that's how little you interacted with your surroundings. Please work on coming up with a unique and interesting concept and then telling a story with your shot, not your description.

Xev:

Katarh Mest:
They say what happens in the saucer stays in the saucer. Until you take screenshots of it and share it with the universe. Either that or the local busy body finds you. You all know the guy; He’s the self-satisfied prick standing at the top of Mt. Corel mocking you every time you fall off the edge. Dude’s also right there with the unwanted commentary every time you fail to the Fungah. Luckily for us, this screenshot is everything the world needs to see and nothing they don't. Katarh seems to be channeling Beyonce while dancing under an array of fun colored lights. The color and composition here might even be so remarkably bright; it could potentially break the very fabric of the Saucer itself. Everything in this shot from the hair, the outfit, the gold accessories and blue eyeshadow are slaying me right now. This is possibly the best use of waymarks I’ve seen in a screenshot to date. May your reign be long and glorious as the Disco Queen, Katarh. You rock girl!

Annouille Andouillant:
My darling Annouille, when some people /dance, the whole world wants to /dance with them. You my dear, are one of these people. In fact, might I suggest you take your dancing skills to the next level and start your own Eorzean reality show. Collect all the stars from across the servers, including one exceptionally sparkly, blonde, Elezen screenshot judge *Wink wink, nudge nudge*, to compete on a journey to artistic dancing perfection! Annouille waltzes through this week's submission with mosaic glass, floating baubles and tops it all off with my favorite Gold Dance. I love it. Though, I will note that you and Stephen are wearing the same Thavnarian bodice. I’m afraid one of you are going to have to change or duke it out to the death. My money is totally on one of you!

Tress Amell:
A challenger has appeared! Rivaling Rivienne for Employee of the Month, Tress welcomes us to the saucer with outstretched arms and a beguiling smile. This shot is a veritable smorgasbord of everything I imagine when I think of the saucer; we’ve got a gilded cactuar, casino bankers, snazzy searchlights and a nice panorama of colored glass setting the stage. It’s wonderfully lit and showcases quintessential Saucerness. My only suggestion would be for Tress and Rivienne to wheel out a vat of mud to fight to the death Thunderdome style, for that elusive crown of Employee of the Month.

Velora Hunter:
Every now and then I’ll come down with a terrible case of the stupids and take my gullible arse on over to the Saucer to gamble all my MGP away. It generally starts with an innocent round of Triple Triad and ends in a week long bender through the Thanalans. Unlike me and my never-ending losing streak, Velora is playing hands and taking names. Dressed to kill in a coat that costs more MGP than I’ve ever seen, Velora breaks her poker face to show us fools what’s good; And what better way to flash that flash and get dat cash than to pose in front of the golden wheels of fortune themselves? All bling aside, I must admit the spell effect is both hypnotic and confusing in here. Sure it breaks up the color nicely, but why is it there? What does it mean?!? Perhaps the ghosts of losers past have finally come to exact their revenge on Velora for her frivolous gloating. You in danger girl! Best take those winnings and split.

Rivienne Cotrlaint:
Some folk will line up for hours in the Golden Saucer waiting for that special GATE: Any Way the Wind Blows. Is there truly a better way to spend one’s Saturday night than standing on a stage while a blubber demon hurls you off the saucer in a whirlwind snot storm? I guess you could always be that smug person that lucked out and lived to tell the tale: like our lovely Elezen Rivienne. Dressed like an employee of the month, (Maybe that’s the secret to FUNGAH?!) Rivienne is celebrating her victory with a triumphant cheer and winning smile. We are getting a lot of suspiciously green shapes on the floor in this shot however; doubly worrisome considering this is where the Fungah LIVES. Tilting the camera up to capture some background sparkle might have done more to enhance the jubilance of the moment while also setting our minds to rest about the work ethics of the local maintenance staff.

Stephen Fairbrook:
Previously on Stephen Fairbrook, we enjoyed a tasty plate of Sunny-Side Moogles in a rich hollandaise sauce. This week our token Popoto airs out his hammer pants out from the back of the closet, taking us on a magical journey through the Golden Saucer. With one hand outstretched to invite us in, who could resist wanting to frolic up and down the saucer with this fashionably scrumptious tater salad? The only thing that could improve things would be for someone to dump a literal bucket of colorful glitter overhead. Not only does glitter make all things better but a shiny pop of color or two might help to diffuse a bit of those overwhelmingly brown walls.

Eldaena Vonxandria:
The Golden Saucer has always been the go-to place when you need that extra dose of high class fab injected directly into your eyeballs. Dolled up like a Bugs Bunny Oscar statuette, Eldaena reinforces stereotypes that the Saucer is THE premiere place for the elite and well-dressed. The only problem with this shot is that there is an entire row of lonely Moogle’s Paw games going unplayed along the horizon. Sure those smug moogles will laugh in your face as they intentionally drop your plushy back into the pit, but I want to believe the lie that those events are fun damnit. Use that exquisite beauty to make the Saucer fun again. I believe in you!

Kitori Orihara:
It’s been a long running debate amongst the locals which icon fully embodies the very essence of the Golden Saucer: Godbert Manderville or Senor Sabotender. On one hand, Senor Sabotender is a staple around these parts; he works 168 hours a week to ensure every guest enjoys the Saucer to its fullest. On the other, there are legends that say Godbert Manderville built the entire saucer with his bare hands. More outlandish rumors say he did it all wearing nothing but some sandals and a thong. Kitori here is serving up some epic fan service to both Team Godbert and Team Sabotender by posing in traditional Manderville style with the Senor, himself. Dressed in a flashy crimson suit, she looks ready to rumble with the high rollers of the casino. The only reason this shot wouldn’t hang proudly over the casino walls might be the fact we see some random person’s crescent knickers in the backdrop. If we could pull the camera in away from the panties to focus on our stars, this would be a shot of Saucer legend.

Remember scoring is as follows:

For scoring, each model was awarded points based on their placement in vote order. So, if Model A was ranked 1st out of the 11 models, they gained 11 points. 2nd place gained 10 points and so on, until the 11th ranked model gains 1 point. We then tally the judge scores too, which get inflated to count for 75% of the total vote. Below are the total rankings, along with the public score count and judge total pre-inflation.
Overall Results:

Katarh Mest: (203 public, 24 judge)
Annouille Andouillant: (180 public, 18 judge)
Velora Hunter: (178 public, 18 judge)
Tress Amell: (157 public, 18 judge)
Rivienne Cotrlaint: (115 public, 11 judge)
Stephen Fairbrook: (150 public, 9 judge)
Eldaena Vonxandria: (164 public, 7 judge)
Kitori Orihara: (113 public, 3 judge)

Congratulations to Katarh for partying her way to first place! But will she be able to boogie her way back up next week? You’ll have to come vote to find out!

As for Kitori, you got it girl, so keep working it and flexing those muscles! From myself, Ty and the judges – we are sad to see you, and your great shots, go and always remember you are part of the ENTM family! <3

http://i.imgur.com/dtOnmHq.jpg

Sad to see you go Kitori, you were one of the ones I really like early on (Okay, it maybe that you look like my (former) Sakha Nefhri) Big hugs! Please come try again! I still want to see more from you!

Hello everyone - we have just been informed of a change in the program. One of the models who was continuing on has had something arise (nothing bad don't panic!) and will have to depart from our competition.

Therefore there will be no elimination this week. All of the listed models, minus the departing model, are still in the competition so get your pictures in!!


To clarify: Kitori Orihara will not be eliminated and will be staying.

I suspect catty shenanigans behind the scenes :p

You lucked out Kitori!!

Woot Kitori can stay!

I'm sorry that someone had to leave, I hope everything will be okay for you!

Thank you for letting me stay! (:

Normally, we’d be saying farewell to the model who fell so in love with the glitz, glamour and all around sparkly wonderfulness of the Gold Saucer that they chose to stay behind. However, Tress has unfortunately had to step down from the competition for personal reasons. Luckily for Kitori, this means that she’s still in the contest! So without further ado, let’s get on with round six!

This week, we’re taking off to the skies! The models were given the following challenge:

Show us something amazing, and bring out the beauty only flying can allow! Obviously this needs to be taken while flying, so jump on your favorite mount take to the skies and soar to the top!

Click here to see the shots


Click here for the voting form

Best of luck to all the models and thank you in advance for all your votes! Remember, be careful to only pick each model once. Voting will end at 11:59pm EST 01/26/16!

My vote has been cast!
Thanks for all the great pics everyone.

Two more days~! Get your votes in! :D

Ends Tuesday the 26th at 11:59pm

Week 6 has come to an end and we are that much closer to crowning Eorzea’s Next Top Model! Unfortunately – that also means it’s time to say goodbye to another amazing model.
This week the models were asked to soar into the heavens and take a shot on their flying mounts! That said, here are the:

Judges Critiques!

Ciara:

Velora- Vel don't you look like a sky pirate ready for action! You look lovely on this mount and I love your chocobo's head choice! You have managed to match him in stunning fashion and I am loving your tattoo! Great job dear, and beautiful background!

Rivienne- A lovely date with a charming companion! You both look sharp and so well dressed, happy to be spending time together with your heads in the clouds as lovers should be! I love your matching outfits and the cloudy background only helps to really draw the focus to the two of you. Beautiful as always Rivienne!

Eldaena- The colors in this shot are amazing! You look gorgeous and really stand out in that particular weather, bringing a touch of calm natured elegance to a stormy day. Gorgeous Eldaena!

Stephen- you have really been throwing out shots to give the lala brand a lovely look! Once again you remind me of Aladdin asking Jasmine if she trusts him if he was really a warlock bent on stopping the evil Jafar and I love it. You look calm, cool and collected but manage to make not only yourself but the background serene. Also props for having the balls to pull this shot off because I had expected a lot of witches this round (perhaps it’s my love for the broom myself) and took the risk and it paid off. Great job^^

Katarh- I remember my round doing the mount shot and also wanting to go with the eye. It was a bad idea because almost all the other models had the same idea! But seeing you here makes me very envious of the ability to fly as you not only managed to top all the eye mount shots from my round but capture a unique gorgeous shot with amazing colors and a very colorful background! Your outfit fits great with your mount and even though the shots a bit farther back I like it this way, something I don't normally say for farther away shots. Gorgeous Kat!

Kitori- Please tell me I’m not the only one who saw this shot and immediately felt the need to go back and watch the rescuers down under! To me this shot captures the feels of that movie like I just watched it yesterday. I love your mount, I love that you chose to skim over the water and I love the colors! Beautiful Kitori!

Annouille- So much purple in this shot! Yet I don't mind it at all. you have put not only a charming palate of matching colors in your shot but did so while making a shot that looks right out of a story book. Intimidating, fierce, and brave scream to me in this shot. I love that you took the risk to put in a bold gutsy back shot as I really fit it couldn't have been done better. Kudos for having the balls while also telling a lovely story that will have kids jumping in capes and swinging wooden swords at imaginary dragons!

Nozomi:

Velora hunter - You have quite a few nice points in your shot this week and some not so great ones but I'm excited so let's get this started. I really love this angle; it's very hard to get, in my experience, which means I'm cutting you some slack on your lack of expression/unique pose. Your makeup is on point this week with lovely lips, cheeks rosy from the wind, great eyeliner, and a nice little tattoo to add interest. Your outfit is good for this too. Not over the top cheesy but clearly fitting for the concept. The extra detail of your cute bird's barding only helps you. Your background isn't as amazing as it could be but it does the job. Color choices now... The green of your bird's barding actually matches that center island. Dyeing your outfit any other non-neutral colors would have likely clashed with birdie's barding, or in the case of a matching green, buried you in the background so sticking with a mix of off-whites to echo birdie was smart. One kinda big thing I'd have liked different is the lighting direction. This isn't terrible but some light on your and your mount's faces would likely have been better. Good job this week. ^_^

Rivienne Cotrlaint - It never occurred to me that we could possibly use gpose on a mount! A nice angle on your bird that implies flight even in a static shot and a great choice of mount for your concept. It may not have been intentional but your mount doubly matches you because of the gradient on its plume (while it isn't an exact color match it's close enough and on an unimportant enough part that the difference is ignorable.) Compositionally you do a good job keeping the eye of the viewer in the shot and coming back to you. The slant of the mountain combined with the slant of the chocobo funnel the eye to the center of the shot and your eye contact (both of you) cements the eye there. I don't know if your outfits were always this color but I'm glad to see better coordination between your established styling and your clothes this week; you've obviously matched the clothes to your hair which is just fine. The blue you've chosen stands out in a calmer way than red because of the rather muted background so it was a smart choice for the casual situation you've described in your submission. Don't think I missed the cute details that you two matched. I like that both of you seem to have calm but happy expressions and different poses which comes across as more human and less posed. Even though the both of you are presented basically equally in the shot you effortlessly come across as the true focus. Your more active emote and slightly happier expression steals the attention in a good way. Great lighting on the both of you and the birdie. My biggest complaints are the rather boring background (palette and scenery wise).

Eldaena Vonxandria - Great shot; mind if I make this my desktop background? The style is definitely yours but you've managed to keep it from feeling stale here. Man, where to start? Well you've certainly shown us beauty only flying can allow and the view is amazing. Your mount choice works incredibly here despite the many ways it could have killed you; that magitek is BIG and very flashy. You managed to keep the positive aspects of the mount without it stealing the show, so bravo. The colors in this shot are so so good and give a very unique feeling. Great tactical choice to have The Aery in the opposite direction of your gaze; this way it fills what could have been a nasty empty space (the current 'empty' corner is filled by your gaze) and gives an unexpected twist to the composition. Love the multiple thirds divisions with your mount and the background and The Aery and the sky. Because those things are so busy leaving the sky empty in the direction of your gaze give the viewer breathing room in your composition. Despite it being a night shot the moonlight (I'm guessing) and your naturally pale character make it work without the un'sun'monable minion. Your styling is good and your outfit works well, matching your mount and your shot vibe. A happy accident but your eyes look like they're holding those luminescent clouds in them which adds even more to your ethereal look. Using this weather was smart. If you had taken it in normal weather the view would have been too plain and the lack of static particles would have left the sky feeling too empty.

Stephen Fairbrook - A very nice shot, Stephen; I think maybe you stole some of Eldaena's ethereal powder. This wouldn't have worked with a normal person's shot but is perfect for your squarer setup. The great weather choice turned what could have been a very boring shot into this wonderful picture. I always struggle with a great spot for the moon when I include it in shots but your location worked well. The whole look, outfit and mount, are very Halloweeny but with your background/ bg color, and the generally gentle, muted colors your shot transcends the boundaries of holiday fashion. Good job on your story telling this week; even without the description I get the feeling that I'm being invited along for a ride. Despite my reservations about such out of season gear your outfit works well even without your concept because the blacks catch the lighting to sink you into the picture, the pumpkin/bat details glow which matches the rest of the elements, and your dark colors allow the background to shine which in turn enhances your own look. The mount choice is obvious for the concept but also works outside of the concept because of the glowing pumpkin and that lovely lighting on the bristles. Good expression and pose. Great job utilizing your natural palette again. Your eyes match the sky and make you seem more magical. Good diagonal composition.

Katarh Mest - While you managed to get some scenery in the background that you could only see while flying your use of gpose makes it almost too blurry to see anything. Alright attempt at matching your outfit to the shot but it would have been better to have hidden the axe I think. The center composition doesn't look bad and it is likely better than off center would have been. The Ahriman's coloring is nicely matching the mustardy yellows of the distant clouds. Moving your body up to cover a bit more of Tiamat's crystal blob would have made your cat show up more cleanly and given you a nice personal bg. Using such a yellow minion in a shot blotted with purples was smart. I like that your ahriman's eye is off to the side implying he's studying his surroundings; it also keeps the viewer in your shot longer since the eyes are not immediately being directed out of the lower border.

Kitori Orihara - I can feel your powerful swoosh from here (always been a fan of the feathery FREEDOM mount). Your gaze is just a piercing and focused as your feather baby; good job! I really like that the blue of your dress matches that gorgeous SoC sky and the cut of your top shows the movement spoken about in your description. Would have been nice if you could have had griff's head silhouetted against the sky. That shadow by the back foot is very awkward feeling; like a telephone pole coming out of a person's head in a photograph. The lighting direction works fine for you because of your expressions and implied movement.

Annouille Andouillant - Thank you for risking a back shot!!! It works well here; the shot would have been ruined if you had been turned to the camera. The lighting increases the drama partly by working well with your clothes. Outfit is fine and having your weapon out here makes sense with your concept. You still manage to look gorgeous even from behind. The glasses are good with the book. No dead spots but not overly cluttered. Seeing this with your description really brings back my feels about poor Tiamat and Baha-chalupa. I like the roughly diagonal division across your shot and feel it accentuates the story telling vibe. Good book choice with the metal, wings, and glowing red dot that resembles the dragon's eyes. Nice breathing room between Tia's gaze and your own.

Xev:

Stephen Fairbrook:
It's time for Pumpkin Spiced Popoto on a stick! Our little Popoto is paving the way as a fashion pioneer by being the first to dress up for All Saint’s Wake this year. Staying true to his lifestyle brand of cute n’ tasty tater tots, Stephen Fairbrook is prepared to sprinkle a little bit of magic into our lives with this dynamic, Halloween themed shot. Awash in a gentle moonlit haze of viridian, he works the midnight colourways to send us over the moon and back again. Just when we feel like we might spin off into deep space from this starry deluge of fabulousness, Stephen streamlines the entire experience with a hand-dyed burlap coat with an ornamental pumpkin motif.

Velora Hunter:
Bringing home that sense of genuine home-grown adventure, Velora creates perfect visual synergy in a fluid blending of her own aeronautical themed costume and her Chocobos. Presenting a refreshing alternative to more traditional getaways, Velora sails over lush islands brimming with endless possibilities for adventure. Our bold hero emerges as the focal point while still presenting an exhilarating dance of color and light for our eyes. The subtle texture and lack of /gblur marry nicely to bring all the savory details together in perfect harmony.

Kitori Orihara:
Come and skim the edge of paradise on freedom's feathered wings today! Kitori takes us on an inspired expedition skipping over reflective waters that mirror the hues of the wide blue sky. A dainty trail of organic trees pepper the shoreline to present visitors with a truly authentic experience. This simplistic color palate has created the ultimate opportunity to bring out the sartorial big guns in the form of a dramatic floor-length gown with perfectly punctuated thigh-high slits in vibrant hues that rival the skies itself. While Kitori has ventured too far away from the camera in past shots, here the distance lets the gryphon take center stage to bring together that unbridled spirit of adventure.

Rivienne Cotrlaint:
How romantic is this? Offering a charitable princess wave to the unwashed masses (Because she has an altruistic heart like that), Rivienne and her paramour ride off for a romantic getaway in the clouds. Imagine sipping chardonnay in an exquisite azure gown with a long, laced cathedral train as clouds roll by on an enchanted evening ride. With a premiere view of the majestic Dravanian Forelands below, Rivienne expertly applies true love and hand embroidered details in a collaboration that truly takes our breath away. The subtle touch of the /gblur tops this waltz of romance with a flourish.

Eldaena Vonxandria:
You are cordially invited to a high-definition experience of color and cloud that Eldaena has methodically curated for our viewing pleasure. On an artisanal saddle fashioned from rich golds and mother-of-pearl, our Ethereal Star throws caution to the wind riding against the cerulean storm. In the distance, a roiling storm of gloomy spires strike out against the sky creating a unique juxtaposition to Eldaena’s dynamic luminescence. This exquisite collage of nebulous contrast will leave you wanting for nothing but more of our vibrant Eldaena herself.

Annouille Andouillant:
Tired of the same bland, boring vacation? Have you had enough of tiresome tropical paradises and mundane mountain ranges? Well Annouille is here to help. Not only does he give us an extra healthy dose of unadulterated Elezen handsomeness in his adventure, but he also dares to take us where no hot Elezen since Estinien has before: Right into the jaws of a dragon! We can almost feel the devil’s breath on the camera lens from here as his blood red eyes gape into our soul. Fortunately for Annouille, his own dragon mount is providing enough camouflage that it’s almost indiscernible where scary dragon ends and happy mount dragon begins. It’s a good thing none of our dear potato friends attempted this shot, as they would surely have been hors d'oeuvres.

Katarh Mest:
Looking for a little bit of magic in your vacation? Soaring high into the atmosphere, Katarh dishes up a holistic blend of granular amethyst and rich earthy tones. Indulge in the dulcet serenity set in motion by the /gpose and ignore those nagging acrophobic sensations that threaten to disrupt this journey of healing and revitalization. Dressed in contemporary stylized tank attire, Katarh’s lavender adornment inlays make an iconic statement that blends effortlessly into the backdrop. Perhaps we get a little too much blend in this particular colourway however. This shot would have been the perfect opportunity to showcase a sharp pop of color via costuming.

Remember scoring is as follows:

For scoring, each model was awarded points based on their placement in vote order. So, if Model A was ranked 1st out of the 11 models, they gained 11 points. 2nd place gained 10 points and so on, until the 11th ranked model gains 1 point. We then tally the judge scores too, which get inflated to count for 75% of the total vote. Below are the total rankings, along with the public score count and judge total pre-inflation.

Overall Results:

Stephen Fairbrook: (195 public, 20 judge)
Velora Hunter: (209 public, 12 judge)
Annouille Andouillant: (147 public, 13 judge)
Eldaena Vonxandria: (167 public, 11 judge)
Kitori Orihara: (184 public, 10 judge)
Rivienne Cotrlaint: (167 public, 10 judge)
Katarh Mest: (163 public, 8 judge)

Congratulations to Stephen, your witchy ways flew you right to the top~! But will that magic get him to the top spot next week? We will find out when you vote!

Katarh, you are no doubt a fierce model – we will miss seeing your amazing images every week. From myself, Ty and the judges, we are sad to see you go but know you’ll always be a part of this ENTM family! <3

http://i.imgur.com/ANUrwZb.jpg

^^ congrats to all the models for their great photos.
It's interesting that there's a more marked difference between public and judge votes this time around.

We hope that everyone is enjoying Cycle 5 of Eorzea’s Next Top Model! This wouldn’t be what it is without all of you supporting us, and supporting the models! So…

Do you like it? Do you love it?? Do you want some more of it?!

Well your wish is granted!!

CYCLE 6 IS COMING YOUR WAY!!

Please keep your eyes out - because in late spring/early summer we will be giving more news about Cycle 6 of Eorzea’s Next Top Model (though we might sneek in a bit here and there!)!

Everything is being turned on it’s head with a never done before cycle that is sure to have you cheering! We will be introducing new rules, new judging, new ideas, new ways for you as fans to interact - and we are not just talking about voting! Also new… oh wait we can’t tell you that last ‘new’ yet~!

Be on the look out for CYCLE 6, Eorzea’s Next Top Model - It has evolved once again - and this is going to be amazing fun for everyone!

Thanks for the fun everyone!

I'll still be around the ENTM skype to chat. Can't wait to see who wins this round!

We thought a flying round would be a good idea. We didn’t think that the Ishgardians would mistake the mounts for dragons and, well...

We’re down to six models, is the key point. Time to test their bravery!

This week, we challenged the models to go play with their favourite monster! If it can be killed, it counted for the challenge. And yes, that includes primals, dungeon bosses, rats, Garleans, anything! The models were given the following instructions:

Out out into the world and take a picture interacting in any way you like with your favorite monster in the game. Hope you come out of it in once piece! This can be taken in any zone in the game so have fun and make it work!


Click here to see the shots

Click here for the voting form

Best of luck to all the models and thank you in advance for all your votes! Remember, be careful to only pick each model once. Voting will end at 11:59pm EST 02/02/16!

My civic duty has been fulfilled...

nice screenshots again from all the models :)

This is the last day for votes~! Voting ends at 11:59 PM EST

Week 7 is now over and we are getting down to the wire – soon we will have our top 3, and someone will be named Eorzea’s Next Top Model!

This week we asked the models to come play with danger, and unfortunately one of the mobs didn’t play nice… and so we must say goodbye to yet another model.

First we will see what the judges had to say:

Ciara

Annouille-
Don't you look like you know how to have a great time! I’m loving this shot it's creative and I think you two look fabulous. You even managed to get some great lighting in a dark primal area with no access to sun minion. Great job!

Eldaena-
Wow lookin mighty intimidating, you don't look like a girl straight out of Catherine or many a person’s fantasy. Creepy dark and seductive with such a lovely color palette. I especially love that lucky sparkle at the top right. Keep rocking the inner succubus its gorgeous!

Rivienne-
Wow this rounds amazing! I can see you have all taken a lot of thought to your shots and have really started creating fantastic pictures every round! I love everything about this shot, especially you dear! Such a lovely outfit to go playing in the sylphlands. What are those pants! I must have! Lookin great dear!

Kitori-
These shots just don't let up and fan girling all your shots and they just keep coming with unending excitement! Gorgeous lighting, setting and camera angles here Kitori. Your outfits amazing and you really aced this shot! Don't panic, she just wants to build a snowman, named Kitori so she can keep you! Lovely!

Stephen-
Adorable as always Stephen, you really remind the world -why- we want to really be lalafells and bask in the glory that is FFXIV's "master class" This picture is adorable and colored so perfectly. Such a great picture to turn fighting fun into "One of the guys". Super cute Stephen!

Velora-
Looking like a summoner trying to come speak with the elements about the secrets of life, Velora makes real by honoring the bombs with her rituals of peace. A fun picture to remind us that kimonos are just around the corner I know we’re all waiting for. I love that you caught one of the places in the game that can be duller to look at sometimes but always felt mysterious to me and left me wanting to explore. Great job!

Nozomi

Annoille Andouillant –
I like your outfit here. The parts themselves were good choices with the body and head matching the aesthetic of Garuda and the gloves blending with the other pieces. Keeping a bunch of metallics in your clothes allowed you to precisely match things that otherwise wouldn't. Right now it's a bit cluttered up in the middle of the shot because of the rock behind you both; with so much going on in such a tight area you need a clean background to prevent visual confusion. Your pose was pretty well chosen. You actually mimic some of the shapes that Garuda's body makes and the crazed laugh (male elezen laughs can be ...odd) fits your concept well. You kind of come across as a tempered right hand to the birdy. The little orange slash at the bottom isn't actually immediately very noticeable but it's there and it shouldn't be.

Eldaena Vonxandria –
Another unique and dramatic shot this week. You took a major risk with the lighting but I think it paid off; the result is very conceptually strong. The way the faces and bodies are arranged in the shot keeps the eye moving between the elements and finding new details. Great use of the lighting in this fight. Love the lens flare in the upper right. Again you used your character's aesthetic well and built the concept around her strengths. As an Au ra she can have a default somewhat soulless resting bitch face great for possession by an evil being and with her slightly glowy limbal rings the possession seems even more real. A good outfit for the concept that takes advantage of the Au ra's body scales. The choice to use dark red in your outfit helps to amp up the effect of the red light from the arena and push the focus to you.

Rivienne Cotrlaint –
Not too bad conceptually but you kind of blend into the background. The height gradient from the left sylph across the picture to the right one ramps the viewers eye right out of the shot. I'm guessing you tried to sort of match the sylphs with your outfit but it doesn't work well; the color is too off from the sylphs, the color blends in too much with the background, and the sleeves look dirty next to the happy bright orange lights behind you. The lighting in the area isn't very flattering as it makes her face look very flat and pasty. The sleepy concept was good and the stretch emote was the right choice to go with it. Because of the other elements your weapon is just extra clutter in the shot. I mentioned it in the general skype channel and in at least one of your previous critiques that you can and should be changing your hair/makeup to better fit your shots or else design your shot around your default look to make it appear to match excellently and not seem out of place. Right now your hair seems out of place and mismatched in this shot. Even just changing the dark blue in the hair to a similarly deep purple would have been better and shown more consideration.

Kitori Orihara –
Lovely colors in your shot this week and a cute concept. If you would have gotten Kitori a bit more over to the right side I think she would have filled the shot better, as it is you have quite a large dead space over there that the background elements aren’t adequately filling. Have you where you are right now puts you in front of the arch which is a bit too bright to fall into the background as much as it should for it to work. If cropping were allowed taking off the far right quarter would improve the shot greatly. Great expression; it really works with both the concept and you (you’re very cute and the concept you presented has a bit of a sweet, fan tang.) Good styling and weapon choice although I’m not sure I would have left the weapon visible. Your outfit is a major focus both passively and actively here but your arm blocking the chest disturbs the flow of the different pieces so that I can’t get a read on it. Also, while you are dressing up for her I’m not sure exactly what you mean because what I’m seeing is confusing. Your outfit is similar enough that it’s almost like some sort of cosplay, but different enough that a cosplay doesn’t make any sense.

Stephen Fairbrook –
Unexpected and clever use of posing. One big thing that really detracts from your shot is the bird flying in the distant background. It’s very distracting since it comes across as either dirt on my screen or a fly buzzing around unfortunately. Good outfit. This is how you put together an outfit that is inspired by a creature but holds its own too. It has the general color elements of the animal and maintains the aesthetic even though it doesn’t perhaps create the same silhouette or place the colors in the same places as they would be located on the animal. I feel like after you got the posing down here you should have waited until the birds were in better places (this front one is having clipping issues.) Also the rock on the bottom right has enough texture that it doesn’t feel empty but even a cursory glance reveals strange graphics effects. The key element in your shot was your pose; it would have been better if you had capitalized on that and found a more perfect location. Lighting was fine.

Velora Hunter –
This feels very safe and boring with not a lot of thought put into it. You went with very obviously pair-able elements and didn’t really bring anything else to the table (no special placement for the bombs or special effects). Out of the three beings in the shot you demand the least attention for me. The little bomb appears to be wondering about the bomb that blew such a big hole in the structure behind you, and the big bomb is all glowy and pretty against the cool background. You just sink into the shot because of the lack of lighting, passive gaze, and peaceful pose. I see that you’ve used your minion slot on the little bomb but you need better lighting and could easily recruit a friend or stranger to come and supply either the bomb or sun minion (I recommend you use the sun minion so that you can easily readjust). I can’t see your shoes but somehow I can guess that you have on the geta. Because of the cropping a taller pair of shoes would have worked better here as the apparent lack of footwear leaves your legs looking very bare.

Xev

Eldaena Vonxandria:
Eldaena is taking the doll aesthetic to brand new heights in our nightmares this week. Posing with Echidna, she masters resting bitch face in a shot that is nothing but perfection. The subtle honeycomb effect from the protect spell adds just enough diversity to the backdrop without taking anything away from the star and her monster. While many people commit atrocious fashion faux pas by wearing bikinis into dungeons, this is an instance where it works: all the strappy pieces lend continuity through to the monster’s dark, sinewy lines to make this shot a total masterpiece.

Annouille Andouillant:
HA-HA-HEE-HEE-HEU-HEU-Har-Har! Garuda has one of the most grating laughs in the business but Annouille doesn’t let that deter him. Dressed in a feathery frock that rivals the lady of wind herself, our handsome Elezen adds insult to injury by challenging Garuda to a duel of cackles. Making bold fashion statements that work the Primals signature color scheme, Annouille’s star remains brilliant even through a turbulent windstorm. In fact, the gales do wonders not only for setting great color and mood, but it also in muting the backdrop so that the focus can remain on our exquisite model.

Stephen Fairbrook:
Do your birds hang low? Do they waddle to and fro? Can you pose them in a shot? Can they pose with Popotos? Stephen Fairbrook is playing it safe this week keeping his tasty tots away from the bigger, scary, more predatory monsters of Eorzea. Instead he’s chilling it with some cute birds that seem to lack the appetite for mashed taters. Dressed as an honorary Apkallu, this shot makes great use of poses, costume, extras and bright, vivid lighting to make a shot that is simultaneously aww and fun. All it needs is duck sauce and salt.

Kitori Orihara:
Bringing the Bubbles Girl meme to the world of Eorzea, Kitori teaches us that she who poses and runs away shall live to pose another day. This entire shot is a visual cornucopia of iciness and fun sparklies; From Kit’s floofy underoos to the ribbon of aurora borealis streaming across the sky, I love every bit of this frosty shot. My only suggestion this week would be for Kitori to run a little bit faster while also holding a bubble wand (Note to Squeenix: this game needs bubble wands!). Not only would she channel the full might of the Bubbles Girl, but she would put a more comfortable distance between her and Shiva’s heavenly strike.

Velora Hunter:
Having made her way to the far reaches of Finder’s Bluff wearing nothing but a red and white Yukata, Velora speaks the language of the bomblings people in an elegant, summery dance. While the lighting and use of contrasting colors in this shot is top notch, this particular view of the Bluffs leaves the backdrop feeling a bit parched. Luckily we have Velora’s explosive beauty and leggy ensemble to compensate for that particular bomb.

Rivienne Cotrlaint:
Momma always told me to watch my drinks at parties and never to fall asleep in front of strangers. Rivienne may be learning this lesson the hard way however as it looks as though she may be emerging from a long winter’s nap amid a midnight deluge. Those dodgy looking leafy dudes flanking her sides have that shifty look as if they are up to trouble. Imo, ALL sylphs are up to no good. Despite the gorgeous plum colored woods and the fairy tale touch of the sylphs tiered lanterns; I’d still advise Rivienne to run like hell from those devious little cabbage heads. That or at least come back after it’s done raining so we can use them for their vibrant colors.

Remember scoring is as follows:

For scoring, each model was awarded points based on their placement in vote order. So, if Model A was ranked 1st out of the 11 models, they gained 11 points. 2nd place gained 10 points and so on, until the 11th ranked model gains 1 point. We then tally the judge scores too, which get inflated to count for 75% of the total vote. Below are the total rankings, along with the public score count and judge total pre-inflation.

Overall Results:

Eldaena Vonxandria: (252 public, 15 judge)
Stephen Fairbrook: (266 public, 14 judge)
Annouille Andouillant: (261 public, 13 judge)
Kitori Orihara: (248 public, 12 judge)
Rivienne Cotrlaint: (231 public, 5 judge)
Velora Hunter: (221 public, 4 judge)

Congratulations to Eldaena, your sexy darkness stole the hearts of many! But will her wicked ways keep her in the top! Come back to vote again!

As for Velora, we are so sad to see you go, your elegance will not be forgotten! From myself, Ty and the Judges – you will be missed and will always be a part of the ENTM Family! <3

http://i.imgur.com/U4nsVNh.jpg

Great! Looking forward to the next challenge! :D

The contestants better keep up the good work because...

A new model is ready to step into the spotlight!
http://i.imgur.com/T4FFV8E.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seisha

Great! Looking forward to the next challenge! :D

The contestants better keep up the good work because...

A new model is ready to step into the spotlight!
http://i.imgur.com/T4FFV8E.jpg

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The Vday stuff has been so great this year.

ROUND CHALLENGE idea I had for Cycle 6 - A paired shot! Extras are usually nice but not required. But what if you had to have a buddy?

My best friend Lahurah and I are up to the challenge!
https://40.media.tumblr.com/e517f12c...11wo3_1280.png

Velora, sorry to see you go. Come join me on the couch so we can armchair pundit for the remaining rounds :)

After last week’s monster madness, Velora was so fond of her bomb friends she wound up giving one a great, big hug...

Our condolences to her family. And the family of the Lalafell who happened to be wandering nearby at the time.

Anyways, moving right along! We’re down to our last five models, with the contest heating up! I want to point out that last week, the scores from the judges had a single point separating each place from the one behind it, so it very much is anyone’s game! The public vote was incredibly close as well...there’s everything to play for as we approach the end game.

For our eighth round, we wanted our models to go spend some time with the two newest beast tribes - our friends the Gundu/Zundu and the Nonmind! The models were given the following instructions:

The Vanu Vanu (Zundu) and the Gnath (Nonmind) are just getting to know us - take a shot with one of the tribes, showing us how you're becoming a trustworthy friend.

Shots can be found here.

Voting form can be found here.

As always, rank the models in order of your favourite shot! We greatly appreciate all your votes. This round will close at 11:59 pm EST Tuesday, February 9th. Best of luck!

Vote cast! Great photos again from everyone!

Voting ends tomorrow, Feb the 9th at 11:59 pm EST~!

We have reached the end of Week 8 – and unfortunately we must say goodbye to another amazing model. Please remember we appreciate you all, and everyone is awesome – but unfortunately there can only be one winner.

…but can I keep you all and love you forever?? Heehee~!

First a little note from us here at ENTM:

ENTM Fans, Friends & Supporters: With everything getting down to the wire - please remember to support the models by voting, we only have two weeks left!! I am sure they would really appreciate it, just as all models in this competition have enjoyed seeing their pictures being voted for~ it’s nice to know people care, support and enjoy seeing the hard work the models put into this! I know new patch stuff is coming up - but thank you for the support - all of you are awesome! :)

So:

This week we asked the models to hang out with two of our newer tribes and show the friendship they have with them. First we will go to the judge’s critiques~!

Ciara

Rivienne- Gorgeous! I love this shot, you look classy and rock that Elezen charm! the colors great and I honestly I’m not sure id change a single thing <3 Great job hun!

Annouille- What a neat idea for a shot, I love it! You like Rivienne really show off that Elezen charm. This is a cute idea and done in a lovely palette. Lovely, Annouille!

Kitori- So serene... So peaceful~ You seem right at home in this well done soft shot. caught at the perfect time of the night to start a campfire and get to know your new friends. Gorgeous Kitori!

Eldaena- Haha this shot is cute and the colors are gorgeous! I love all your expression and drive to show the Gnath a good time! Super cute and I’m really impressed at how you angled this and still managed to be the spotlight of the picture!

Stephen- So much love for the Gnath today! I’m sure you all have done an amazing job at helping to strengthen the bonds between beastmen and men! Stunning as always, Stephen steals the shot and light it softly but not overdone in any way. Great job Stephen!

Nozomi

Rivienne Cotrlaint - Great idea to use those legs! Do you mind if I try to incorporate it into some of my own outfits? Not a bad shot but I think you have some framing and placement issues with the picture being split almost in half content-wise. There's the half with you and the right Gnath and then a separate seeming shot of the area on the left. I think a way to fix these issues would be to pull the camera back a bit more to get the far left Gnath more obviously in the shot, and scoot Rivienne over to the left and towards the viewer. When I look closer I can tell the right Gnath is turned away a bit so you being deeper in the picture logically makes sense, but unless you really look she appears to be too far back and so slightly awkwardly placed as though she's blowing a kiss to someone offscreen. Good job on the styling and lighting. Although I kinda like the choice to stick with all grey on the outfit, with you pretty closely mimicking the Gnath it may have been better to attempts to match their various color patches (their colors are a bit more like a dusty brown but I mostly meant darker hat, redder body stuff like that.) Clever pose use to better resemble them.

Annouille Andouillant - Cute idea and nice outfit choice. I really think this shot would have been improved with the use of /gpose because as it is it is very very busy visually, such that the foreground details are difficult to distinguish from those in the background. A somewhat interesting concept and an interesting execution. Something that I like about this shot is that you succeeded in creating the illusion that you were actually interacting with the shy little buggy. Your lighting isn't actually bad but with the busy background it isn't able to do its job very effectively. Not sure how intentional it was but I like that your earring matched the somewhat radioactive green of the Gnath fume plumes. As I mentioned in the beginning good outfit choice. You managed to keep the slightly dieselpunk aesthetic of the Gnath without being to costumey, almost like a Gnath that turned into an elf. Your minimal styling doesn't detract from anything and helps to keep the nicely toned-down Gnath-ish vibe. Good expression and whatnot; matched your description.

Kitori Orihara - Nice job copying the cute, dorky smile that the birdies make. One of the things I'm not digging about your shot is how you aren't really interacting at all with the Gundu; you're just sort of... there. Your outfit isn't terrible and I see what you were going for but I think there are other things you might have worn to more closely match the islander aesthetic of the Vanu Vanu. Bikini tops, hempen tops, some of the flame hunt gear, possibly the summer yukata, taffeta/coliseum gear, there were a lot of clothes that would have been a better fit for the Gundu. Your styling is basic but that's fine; don't be afraid to change up your hairstyle/color and makeup to better suit a shot. Your lighting needs some work here. The light hitting your face dead on is making it a bit flat; try for a more indirect three quarter angle accentuate your features. Fires in shots are definitely not always a bad thing but in this case the flames are far too bright and distracting and make me want to squint when I look at the screen. The current lighting isn't helping Kitori be more distinguishable from the background. To deal with this you could try making her brighter, choosing a different location entirely that has less well-lit extras, or take the shot at a different time of day that leaves your extras less noticeable and you delicately illuminated by the sun minion.

Eldaena Vonxandria - An unexpectedly energetic shot for you but certainly not unwelcomed! Eldaena looks as lovely as ever but with a very different, sparkling vibe. Your outfit picks up on the organic, handmade, but slightly mechanical side of the Gnath aesthetic in a nicely subtle way. You color choices were good. The metallic green gives you the color variations of the gnaths' fabric and resonates well with the energy of the realm reborn spraying action and the sparkles it created. Going with a bright sunny day ties in nicely with the other happy, lively elements. While your lighting doesn't especially set you apart from the background your framing and image element arrangement does the job just as nicely. On closer inspection it is obvious that you're just firing wine into the side of some unsuspecting Gnath who's in the middle of a conversation's head but it isn't a big deal and not a real detractor for me. I'm very glad to see some life in Eldaena's face this round and glad to see some variation from your usual style. While it's lovely and you generally use it very effectively I was starting to worry that that was all you could do so it's very nice to see that your skill extends beyond what we've seen so far this cycle.

Stephen Fairbrook - A sweet concept as usual for a sweet Lala. I'm very glad to see that you utilized the darkness of the night to massively tone down the busy texture of the landscape surrounding the Gnath. This also meant that when you used the sun minion to light yourself up your Gnath friends got the beneficial buff of gentle light that seems to be subtly radiating out from your tiny potato body and even more subtly reinforcing the implication that you're the star of the shot. You picked the ever popular red to set yourself apart from the background and it worked as well as it did because the rest of your outfit compliments it and makes you come across as being an adventurer in his casual clothes because he is comfortable around the Gnath. You still managed to settle yourself into the shot with your well-chosen green necklace. You did a great job of looking like you are actually interacting with the buggies. Your pose and line of sight make it quite convincing. Your framing works well and thoroughly directs the eye towards you but because of your gaze going to the left our eyes are set on a path that continually bounces from one person to the next in a pleasing way.

Xev

Stephen Fairbrook:
*Dark clouds roll across the scene as ominous music plays.* Opponents of Stephen Fairbrook want you to believe they’ve brought their A-game this week, but anonymous sources say some of them are nothing but shady, shameful tater haters.

*The music swells to a sunshine harmony as we are bestowed the gorgeousness of Stephen’s screenshot.* Unlike his opponents, Stephen Fairbrook is an equal opportunity potato lover that can use his low center of gravity and cutesy wiles to win the hearts of shorty beastmen everywhere. While other diplomats are only willing to work the 9-5, Stephen works around the clock to conciliate the Gnath in this nicely lit night shot. A vote for Stephen is unanimous with a vote for good taste; A good taste for taters!

Kitori Orihara:
If you’re gathered here today, it’s because like us, you care about quality costumes. Impressive, rich colors are important to you and to screenshot fans everywhere. Kitori is here this week not to placate us with empty promises of glitz and glamour, but to serve as an official ambassador of the fierce. If we vote for Kitori this week, not only will it serve as a win for Vanu fans everywhere, but it will also be a decisive strike against bland and basic coloring everywhere. So go ahead, vote Kitori and let her razzle-dazzle your world with her savagely perfect fashion ensembles.

Rivienne Cotrlaint:
This battle of the shots has come to a crossroad and the time is now to vote for high-heeled (without the heels) elegance. Rivienne has hatched the perfect plan to win the votes. First, she will stand center stage against a backdrop so bleak that she shines like a fiery beacon of gorgeousness against the bland. Second, she knows what it takes to win over even the most gnarled and twisted beastmen and that something is shameless smoochies. When will your faves ever? Lastly, she will use her lithe Elezen grace paired with high fashion shoesies to blast your eyes with a burst of fashion glamouring so strong, its amazing Loth Vast Ath is not a smoldering hole on the map.

Annouille Andouillant:
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for considering Annouille for ENTM’s top model of the week. Reaching out from higher altitudes than any of his contemporaries, he works a mount pose to serve us up some sassy diplomat realness while still gifting us a handsome screenshot. I have full confidence that if we vote for Annouille this week, not only will he refrain from cooking the Gnath in that very convenient cauldron, but he will also continue to grace us with fab costume accessories that complement touches of green in the beastmens coloring to cultivate a pleasing palate. Annouille is a visionary like that and if he earns your vote today, he can continue to color our world with stylish splendor.


Eldaena Vonxandria:
Are you tired of the same stale beastmen content day after day? Eldaena understands. That’s why she’s busting out the bottle to bring us the party in an ensemble so vivacious, even the drab, rocky outcrops of the Gnath are illuminated by her presence. Voting for Eldaena is a vote for fun. I’m sure if we cast our votes for the shimmering Au Ra, not only will all of our wildest dreams come true, but that she will continue to bewitch us with her bold fashion choices and penchant for perfectly placed panache. Vote for Eldaena today and let her share that bubbly magic with the world; Or at least me. Are any of us really above bribes of the sparkly drank?

Remember scoring is as follows:

For scoring, each model was awarded points based on their placement in vote order. So, if Model A was ranked 1st out of the 11 models, they gained 11 points. 2nd place gained 10 points and so on, until the 11th ranked model gains 1 point. We then tally the judge scores too, which get inflated to count for 75% of the total vote. Below are the total rankings, along with the public score count and judge total pre-inflation.

I would like to point out something very important this week: We had a tie for first place when it came to judge’s votes, and it was the public vote that broke that tie! Which goes to show how important it is that y’all vote for the model you want to see win~!

Overall Results:

Eldaena Vonxandria: (95 public, 11 judge)
Kitori Orihara: (82 public, 11 judge)
Stephen Fairbrook: (96 public, 10 judge)
Annouille Andouillant: (87 public, 9 judge)
Rivienne Cotrlaint: (90 public, 4 judge)

Congratulations to Eldaena~! Your partying has crowned you the winner this week. But will she continue to rise to the top next week? Come back next week to vote and find out!

As for Rivienne, your grace and elegance will be missed – you are fierce and from myself, Ty and the Judges – you will be missed and are forever part of the ENTM family! <3

http://i.imgur.com/55ws4uk.jpg