I think there should be SOME interest.

There should be some interest at least enough for the models to have an idea who they are working for.

I agree w/the first two comments!

Totally agree with all the comments. If they are going to be a living clothes rack, they should at least enjoyed being dressed up. If not, just get a job like the rest of us.

I've noticed that the best dressed women are not models. For example, Sofia Coppola, she's a director and her taste and interest in fashion is remarkable.

Uh, was I the only one awake during this episode? It was very blatantly a fake-out. First episode: they cast an additional person. Second episode: nothing interesting happens *except* (gasp) someone out of nowhere decides to leave. How convenient. Meanwhile, they're back down to the normal number of girls. If that's how this season is going to be, I may not watch it at all.

I think they definitively should be screened to make sure they have an interest in fashion.
I mean, ANTM is trying to make a genuine contribution to the fashion world by finding some hidden gems. So, what's the point if they find a skinny beautiful tart who only wants to use it to her advantage, get rich and then retire so she doesn't have to work?
If you were born with the looks, it's easy to be skinny and beautiful. But that's not what ANTM is about; it's about showing the fantasy and passion behind the clothing that makes history.

When we think back to exceptional moments in fashion history, where the looks of the decade were made; would it have been the same without a talented and moving model to portray the look? Would the '80s fashion still be the same without Linda Evangelista? Would the '90s fashion still be as monumental without the waif Kate Moss? Claudia Shiffer?
All these women still continue to make contributions in the fashion world, even if they don't model (as much as they used to). And through their talent and love for their work, it inspires more people to follow their dreams in fashion.
That's what a model should do, inspire people to dream about creating real life, moving artwork.

(Sorry guys, I got a little carried away. It's just that I find that models have a crucial part in the fashion world, much like an actor who show-cases a movie or play.)

I was surprisingly home for this episode and I was shocked and appalled when Kim said that. My mouth was wide open and I was like "WHAT?" I never liked the girl from the beginning so good riddance to her.

Anyway, I agree with the comments above. There should be some kind of interest in fashion.

LOL - she was from Worcester, MA... which automatically makes her an "out" in my book anyway. xD

But yeah, models work in fashion; at least, the kind of modeling they go for in ANTM. She knew that on the way in, so she's pretty damn stupid, IMO. I feel so bad that all those other girls went home, and she didn't even want to be there. She could at least have tried to do her best before she went off at the mouth with that crap. There was another girl in another cycle who didn't want to be there, but at least she tried - it was Ebony, right? I think so.

Actually, I don't know what's worse, to let the other girls not even make it, or to let real competitors get eliminated.

the worst is when you get someone super trashy who thinks fashion is wearing as little clothes as possible

Models don't need to know anything about fashion to do their job. I don't see what it matters if she has the right look.

I like the really ugly girl...who looks a little poor & homeless...what's her name?

The model doesn't really need to pull an outfit together on her own, so that aspect of fashion's not key.
But the model should be expected to know the histories and styles of the major fashion houses, and follow up on trends to know what's coming. Those are two major aspects to her getting work.
Retro Bunny, do you *really* believe ANTM is about contributing to the fashion world? I know it's Tyra's most 'bankable' product. And I really, really hope that Linda Evangelista didn't sell scrunchies and leg warmers on purpose.

I think there should be an interest in fashion, however, that doesn't mean that they have to agree with it. I LOVE fashion. I love reading Vogue and Fabsugar and learning the latest trends, but do I believe in paying $2000 for an outfit...hell no! If you can afford it, great. But if not, there is nothing wrong with wearing trendy pieces from more budget-friendly brands, like H&M, Le Chateau, Guess, etc.
Now, if your a model, you have to act like you love the clothes in order to sell it. You don't have to run out and buy the outfit, but you have to look like you would for the duration of the runway or photoshoot. And that is Kim's problem. She could have still been a good model and just not actually own any of the clothes she was modeling.

oh, and for being 'just not really interested in fashion' she was merging as many trends as she possibly could with her outfit at the judging. She had on a headband, her jeans tucked into her boots, little black sweater. She clearly cares about how she looks, she's just not into designer prices. she should have just said that.

oh well.

I don't think someone needs to be particularly interested in fashion to be a great model, but this girl who left actually seemed disgusted by it. It really upset me because she seemed to think fashion is all about money and not at all about self-expression.

I think ANTM needs to die a swift death I'm sick of the show and it's formulas. It used to be fun but now it's done

I'd really like it if at least half of the girls were really interested in fashion. Then it would change the whole dynamics of the show. Thats my opinion anyway.

I'm with foxie... it was sooooo fabricated. All applicants have to fill out a huge questionnaire talking about various aspects of their lives. So I doubt the producers were unaware of her apathy toward fashion. And look how nicely it works out to let one "extra" girl in, and the next week, have one ding-dong drop out.

What i have come to hate about ANTM is its hypocritical nature. Tyra and the J's and other judges are quick to tell a girl to get serious as to why she is there, that the show isnt a joke that all the fabulous prizes including a contract with a major agency is a huge serious deal, but then they come out like clowns (tyra as prom queen, dancing with the wannabe models, etc) I understand that they need to be goofy sometimes, its just that they dont know when to pull it back and it makes the whole show seem like one long joke.

Tyra also peddling her humanitarianism "i was homeless for a day on my show, the tyra banks show, and i used to just ignore the homeless but now..." oh please gag me with Jays heels, tyra, save the homeless work for oprah.

Definitely.

I think they do need to do some sort of screening, however, I feel that some will still wiggle through, just to promote something else they have going on, or to get into another division of modeling. Tyra and the Jays ^_^ can afford to let loose at times, cuz their careers are set. The competition is a like a big job interview, so they can't be seen as taking this industry as a joke. They're practically being made into model in a short period of time, so they need to prove that they are not wasting time or space.

For the purposes of the show, maybe.

but i cast real models all the time, and i'm telling you a good number of them can't pronounce to designer's name, and look like they have less than 2% of fashion running through their veins.

sometimes you get these girls who are bored with fashion and hate the whole idea of it, but when you see your paycheck for just standing and posing, or walking a runway, they don't care.

casting doesn't care. the designer doesn't care. most of the time we just want to cast a girl who has the look we are looking for and fit the clothes. other than that, we could care less about the girl.

I was watching with my daughter and as soon as Kim walked off, I said, "That was so staged!!!!" Frankly, she will probably turn up in some magazine somewhere soon. Tyra & Ms. Jay hardly convinced me of their "shock." And, it just sounded scripted!!!

I thought they were all good in the ratings department since I started watching!

kim's departure was sooo fabricated. but yeah, they should screen the candidates anyway however what if someone had the same views that kim supposedly had and then changed her mind and started to have a huge interest in fashion? should she be penalized for the outlook that she USED to have

Definaetly! What's the point in hating fashion when your a model? That's one of the reason's I can't stand the show, the models are always seem like they were pulled right off the farm!

I'm glad Kim is gone. She is not model material, and oh so annoying to listen too.

Side Note: Worcester is in Massachusetts, not New York. Couldn't you hear her annoying Masshole accent??

for sure. there are tons of eligible models that actually do have an interest in fashion but seem to not make it over the models have to absolutely no interest. boo.

I think ANTM is a joke. If a girl is meant to be a model than let fate discover her not some T.V. show that promises girls to give them lucrative modeling gigs when we all know past contestants have no promising careers.

I don't believe many models actively follow fashion beyond what is needed for their work (knowledge of houses and designers). Too simplistic of an analogy, but not all bakers love eating cake. They may love the artistry of baking cakes, but not consume so much themselves.

Kim's whole distaste for the fashion industry stemmed from her not wanting to use her face and body to convince people to pay obscene amounts of money on clothing and luxury goods. She didn't believe in it, so she wanted to leave. I don't think it has anything to do with living and breathing fashion, but if a contestant doesn't believe in paying tons of money for things and her prospective profession revolves around that, then that's a different story.

I agree with all the comments.I personally I think it was little fake too

I don't get all the Massachusetts hate! Especially Morgs?? Masshole is totally inappropriate.

I agree that it seemed faked. Just too convient (bella) that there was an extra girl, and then two were automatically gone in the first episode. I might've missed it, but did anyone say/think Kim sort of looks like Reese Whitherspoon?

i agree cali... uncalled for - so anyway Mass >>>>> NY and want to talk about accents? err ever hear a LI one? LOL!

definitely faked and so stupid. i used to love ANTM...i'll still probably watch because that's my only night for TV and I need something mindless.

It really annoyed me when Kim walked off, she had the opportunity of a life time and just threw it away because she did not wear high fashion clothes. ANTM is not the same it use to be

stop the masshole hating - she barely had an accent, I was actually shocked to find out that she was from Worcester, I'm from MA and she didnt sound very Worcester to me.
But honestly how she sounds is totally beside the point, I do agree that it had to be staged, how would she get to that level of screening without really being passionate about competing, and the "extra" person just did not add up.

I would think that if you aspire to be on that show then you would already have an interest in the fashion world however I can see the other side of the argument. I'm a jazz singer. I know a lot about Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald but not so much about the intrumental side. If I was expected to know everything about jazz just because I happen to enjoy singing it then I would do so well. I can understand why some of these girls may just enjoy the process of modeling and could care less about the ins and outs of the fashion universe.

Strip off all the glamour and modeling is selling products. High fashion or Walmart, you are still trying to get people to buy things. Obviously if you have a passion for the product, thats great, but even if you don't, you still have to sell it because it's a job.

Umm before you decide to write something like this, maybe you should get the facts straight. Kim was from Worcester, MA, not Worcester, NY.