American Princess Week 2: Yvonka is eliminated
I finally had the chance to catch up on the second and third episodes of American Princess on TiVo. Whoever invented TiVo deserves a medal – it’s the working mother’s best friend!
At the beginning of episode 2 the remaining 9 princess candidates go to London to undergo rigorous “princess training”. They’re put up in a beautiful mansion in the city worth more than 80 million dollars. Jean meets the girls and assigns them roommates as follows:
Kirsten and Tara
Clarissa and Nakia
Crystal, Letoshua and Cassie
Yvonka and Jasmine
Overall the girls are happy with the accommodations, with the exception of Kirsten. She starts to cry because she doesn’t have enough closet space, does not have her own bathroom, and becomes convinced that someone in the show hates her and she is being punished for some wrong doing. Come on Kirsten – you’re 28 going on 15. Get over it.
This week of princess training begins with a lesson with a speech and diction coach. It’s not enough to look like a princess, you have to sound like one too. The girls are then given a challenge to speak on a topic they feel passionately about in front of an audience at Oxford University. The girls have to give a 10 minute speech. And here are the topics covered at this esteemed academic institution:
Letoshua – the journey of parenthood
Yvonka – the importance of educating youth about safe sex practices
Jasmine – video games
Cassie – physical image
Kirsten – her pets
Nakia – poverty and corruption in Nigeria
Clarissa – the STD known as HPV
Crystal – the US foster care system
In the eyes of the students and the judges Crystal gave the most passionate speech and was the only girl to really connect with the audience. As a reward she attends high tea at the Randolph Hotel with the contestant of her choice – she picks Yvonka to join her.
The girls overall think that Crystal was selected as the winner because of pity. Nakia thinks it’s not fair Crystal won because of course Nakia gave the best speech ever. Kirsten thinks her fascinating diatribe on her lovely cats and dogs should have made her the winner, but I totally agreed with the judges and the students on this one. As a punishment the girls have to clean books at the library. Once again Kirsten states that the judges must really hate her because they made her clean books while wearing a white suit. Yes, Kirsten, the judges went and selected your outfit specifically so you could get it dirty in the library. Get over yourself. If you had given a better speech you would not have had to dust the books.
The next lesson involved the girls getting some instruction from a royal milliner on how to make and decorate hats. They are going to make their society debut at some derby. The girls have to choose a hat and decorate it to match their outfit. Crystal as the winner of the challenge got to pick her hat first, while the remaining eight contestants had a free for all going for the hats. Another plus for the girls is that the Queen is going to be attending the derby.
At the derby the girls have two “gentleman companions” – Harry Sherbrooke, a horse racing expert and Tim Vincent from Access Hollywood. Unknown to the girls Vincent is serving as the guest judge in secret for this week. The girls are told to have a good time but not to swear, shout or in general disgrace themselves or fellow competitors.
The girls line up to get a chance to meet the Queen. The Queen passes by and some girls curtsy while others don’t. Nakia said she did not curtsy because the Queen did not acknowledge her standing there so she was not going to acknowledge the Queen. Hello – you are competing to get a British Royal Title. Doesn’t that mean you should show the respect for the Queen a member of British Royalty would show? If you didn’t want to curtsy for the Queen because you aren’t British that is one thing, but based on the fact that you’re competing to become British Royalty that doesn’t really fly either.
Some of the girls go wild at the derby. Kirsten will kiss or talk to anything in pants, and some of the girls went crazy with the drinks and the gambling. Serious Tara did neither. Tara really needed to lighten up a bit. I agree there are dangers for some who drink or gamble, but you still could have a good time without that holier than thou attitude.
In the end Yvonka was sent home by the judges. I can’t really remember why they said they were sending her home – I only remember that she was sent home.
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September 13th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I think your review of the show is quite interesting and fairly accurate from merely watching the final edited version of the show. However, you forgot to mention that my speech was about Theatre and its positive effects on the youth of a nation.
In defense of myself, also, I knew that the editors were going to do everything in their power to make each of us look as bad as possible. Therefore, I felt it was wisest, since I would like to still be employable after the season is over, to err on the side of caution. I am pleased with my performances, although very little of any of them is shown, and happy with the way I have been portrayed on International Television.
September 13th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Sorry about that – I went back and counted and saw I only listed 8 of the 9 girls and their speech topics. I probably forgot to list yours because you had a legitimate topic that I didn’t want to make sarcastic comments about.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:45 am
I just want to say think you, for taking the time to watch the show. I had a great time and learned so much! I was given alot of gref but I made sure to just enjoy the exspercie. Again Thanks for being a fan!!
Crystal
March 26th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Good Job Crystal!! You did great! I was upset you had to leave. You were my favourite!