Top Model denies princess tag
BY VICTORIA ROBINSON
Did Aafreen Vaz deserve to be eliminated from New Zealand's Next Top Model?
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It's hard to concentrate on looking pretty when a bird thinks your finger is lunch, as New Zealand's Next Top Model contestant Aafreen Vaz found out.
Vaz was eliminated from the competition on Friday night after her photoshoot with Wesley - a temperamental parrot - failed to impress the show's judges.
The 20-year-old student agreed with their assessment of her picture, which she said was taken under difficult circumstances.
"I hated the way my eyes looked - dead and flat, no spark in them," she told Stuff.co.nz.
"It was really hard. I was the last one to go up. The parrot had to deal with different skin temperatures and had to come down to mine. It gave me a good bite."
However, Vaz didn't agree with judge Chris Sisarich's comment that she was "a bit of a little princess".
"I am far from a princess. I'm not fussy about my hair. Sitting here talking to you I've only brushed my hair once today - when I got up."
Vaz had a chance to prove she's not prissy with the makeover she received in last week's episode.
She "loved" the look she was given, but this was not the case with all the contestants.
"Obviously some of the other girls are attached to their hair and a few of them had tantrums and were crying. I guess it comes down to the fact that everyone's different."
It was a busy week for the models, who were also given a challenge to network with insiders from the fashion industry.
While Vaz enjoyed the challenge, fellow contestant Dakota Biddle's unusual approach to the task stood out.
Biddle used a lot of colourful phrases while networking, including mentioning that she wished she'd worn a bra to the event.
"I understand if someone wants to take an informal approach. But I think she took informal to an extreme. Some of the words she was using were a bit inappropriate for VIPs," said Vaz.
Despite this, she thinks all the remaining contestants deserved to be there.
"The girls in there are a pool that's completely representative of New Zealand and our mixed culture society. Everyone's completely different."
Vaz herself is proof that not all models are cut from the same cloth.
She is studying towards a Bachelor of Science majoring in Physiology at Otago University.
"Physiology is so intense and requires constant studying. Modelling is an escape from that. Because it's so different it gives me a good balance."
But Vaz is open to the idea of a career in modelling.
"If work comes my way I'll embrace it because I really do enjoy modelling."
* Did Aafreen deserve to go home? Post your comments below.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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I too know Aafreen personally and she is quite simply one of the loveliest girls ever to walk this planet. She doesn't have a "diva-like" bone in her body - she is the humblest, sweetest girl you will ever meet (if you are ever so privileged to have that opportunity :-D ) as well as being exceptionally intelligent.
She was great. But so is everyone else. It was just her time. The judges say mean things to all the girls. Its modelling, not primary school.
I have stopped watching the show since the time Aafreen made an exit. I am very disappointed in the judges, who themselves seems are not qualified enough to make such a lame decision. I hope I see Aafreen on TV again tho :-)
Aafren that look on your face is1in a million,your so natural,no bee stuck up your bonnet.Keep up the charm sweety,theres genuinety in all your photos.
Aafreen is incredible and definitely one of the more beatuiful models, with natural elegance and brains. I know her personally and I can honestly say she has a heart of gold, is down to earth and will go far no matter what she ends up doing. It was shocking how early she was sent off - definitely did not see that coming and was it was certainly a bizarre seeming decision given how much promise she showed. I wonder what went on behind the scenes that we didn't have the benefit of seeing?? I used to love watching this each week - now I dunno if I will.
Aafreen was very nice looking, I would place her in the top three looks wise (along with Amelia, and the lovely Courtenay, who deserves to win! as she's both very pretty and seems really sweet)... but I don't dislike Dakota, really, she's interesting and just being herself :-) She looks a bit like Shavaughn Rakere when she's done up, and kind of reminds me of that other one who got in the last three in the first series, as she was also quite polarising... Hosanna! Could see the final three being Courtenay, Amelia and Dakota - for entertainment purposes, this would be interesting. Holly's kinda plain, I have to admit, and has come across as a bit over confident, always thinking that she should come first in the challenges and things.
'Different skin temperatures'? What? She could've just said 'I'm not good with birds' and that would be sweet. But that's a pathetic excuse. Even though I don't think she deserved to get sent home, the judges were right about her making excuses all the time and not letting them help her.
She looks way better in the "natural" shot because she is wearing nice clothes not an ill fitting piece of lycra and crazy hair and make up that is supposed to look high fashion.
Stupid modelling show proving how stupid modelling is. I don't watch it but can anyone explain to me why Aafreen looks so much better in the natural pic than the "modelling" shot?
Not one of the models look good in the publicity shots so what is the point? Please don't say it's about the clothes because none of the modelling shots show the clothes off well either.
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She definitely deserved to go home. At the end of the day you cant make excuses, you just do what is required and get on with it rather than make a big deal out of it. Maybe shes better off sticking to her studies, clearly modelling is not for her.