C1-E1: The Girl Who Wants It Bad

First aired May 20, 2003

Twenty semi-finalists arrived to casting and were told that only ten would move on to the finals. After the auditions however, Tyra revealed that she and the producers only could agree on eight. The eight contestants selected arrived in New York City and were escorted to the loft apartment in the Flatotel. In one room, they discovered pullout mattresses underneath their beds. Two additional contestants, Giselle and Tessa, were soon added to the group after being scouted at a separate audition, filling in for the missing two finalists.

After Brazilian bikini waxes have been administered to the contestants, and initial weights were recorded, the contestants headed to their first photo shoot; modeling JLO by Jennifer Lopezbikinis atop a Manhattan skyscraper in frigid weather. At the first judging session, the judges felt that Elyse was too thin, and that Tessa had been taught how to pose incorrectly. They also remarked that Shannon looked much better in her pictures than in front of the panel, and perhaps she has tanned too much. Finally, the judges decide to eliminate Tessa, because even though she had a strong high fashion look, they thought that she lacked the personality to be a model.

• First call-out: Ebony Haith
• Bottom two: Shannon Stewart & Tessa Carlson
• Eliminated: Tessa Carlson
• Featured photographer: Douglas Bizzaro + Elizabeth Moss
• Special guests: Jon Silverman, Jonice Padilha