America's Next Top Model

The episode starts with Tyra talking to her mom expressing concern over Cassie being sent home, knowing she has an eating disorder and not willing to get help for it. Tyra's mom comforts her, but tells her you can't help someone who doesn't want help and Tyra didn't do anything wrong.
At the model house the girls are dealing with their own issues; Tocarra is struggling with breaking the barriers for full- models. Eva feels that no one sees her as a human, just a loud-mouth. Yaya feels like she can't relate to the other girls because she's from "another place" than the rest of them, and Ann agrees...that place being "Yaya-knows-it-all".
The girls receive a visit from Rebecca Weingberg, Paul Wilmot and Hampton Carney to talk about image and creating a signature look. Looking at the girls' clothes, Rebecca manages to offend everyone--especially Yaya who takes issue with Rebecca's advice to mix it up a little bit and add some variety instead of sticking with just her "earth mother" look. The girls all receive a quick lesson on how to speak to reporters and other media.
Later, the girls head to Uncle Jack's Steakhouse for dinner. Ann, who finally has taken a good picture, now feels she has a chance to win the competition. Tyra shows up to join the girls and answer their questions about the competition and modeling. Tocarra, who was told at the last panel that America wasn't ready for a plus- supermodel, asks for Tyra's input. Tyra tells her it's the same thing for models of color, no one thought there would be black supermodels and to this day it can be difficult for them to find work. Tocarra decides to step things up to make sure she ends up on top.
Back at the house the girls get a Tyra-mail, although Ann, Nicole and Eva decide to shake things up and concoct their own message. Nicole tells the girls they're about to pack for a trip to Europe and everyone is estatic until they realize it's just a joke. While Ann and Eva roll on the ground with laughter the other girls just roll their eyes.
The real message is that the girls are heading to Century 21 department store, where they have to put together a head to toe outfit in 15 minutes. Despite Tocarra's vow to work harder than the other models, she's soon disheartened by the lack of suitable for her body and her waning enthusiasm shows.
With their new outfits on, the girls are taken by limo to a mock red carpet event complete with paparazi, reporters and big screen media display. The girls are asked some tough questions about their outfit and their roommates. Taking a cue from their media lesson earlier in the day, most of the girls avoid giving any answers that could seem negative...except for Norelle. When asked who she doesn't click with, Norelle names Yaya and calls her "stand-offish". While talking about their interviews backstage Norelle tells Yaya about her comment, which doesn't really surprise Yaya since she thinks Norelle is a flake.
The girls are given their critiques and Yaya wins the challenge for the third time in a row. She picks Norelle to share her prize since she thinks Yaya is unapproachable. They receive a gourmet dinner prepared by New Kitchen at their home and try to figure out why Norelle sees Yaya as having a wall around her. During the discussion Yaya says that Norelle doesn't speak much but when she does what she says is very profound. (It must be noted that while Yaya is saying this Norelle is picking her teeth with a bamboo skewer.) After dinner the girls feel like they're a little closer to getting to know one another.
The next Tyra-mail tells the girls that they will be draped in the finest silk in their next photo shoot. It turns out that they will be doing a beauty shot with Verragio diamonds and...a live tarantula. While the other girls don't seem phased by this Eva totally loses it and is crying all through hair and makeup.
The shoots are going smoothly (though no one is really standing out as doing a great job) until it's Eva's turn. They have to stop in the middle of her shoot when she starts to cry. The girls take this opportunity to talk plenty of smack about Eva, saying how she tries to come off as a bad-ass but a little spider can bring her to tears. Eva manages to get through the shoot but is disappointed that she allowed herself to show emotion which she sees as weakness, and is afraid that she's going home. That sentiment is shared by Ann, who's scared that she might not have a good enough picture to stay, and Tocarra who's been a little down that week.
At panel the challenge is to pick from an assortment of hats and build an outfit and image around it. Their choices are a tiara, a biker hat, a cowboy hat, a tiny black hat with feathers and a veil, and an Afro-centric cap. When the girls come out they are evaluated on their outfit and their pictures. Tocarra has picked the cowboy hat with a white tank top and jeans. The panel is not impressed, especially since her picture isn't that good and her personality seems to have disappeared. Ann doesn't fare much better...not only is her picture not good, but her outfit consists of a dirty tank top and Ugg boots.
Eva is amazed to find out her picture is actually gorgeous and Janice gives it a 10. Yaya also has a slammin' picture, but for the challenge has inexplicably picked the cowboy hat. Rebecca Weingberg, who is the guest panelist, comments that Yaya has this intensity to prove her "African-ess" that's overbearing. This infuriates Yaya, who is still upset about their first discussion about her wardrobe, and calls Rebecca's African hat "cheap". She goes on so long that Tyra has to cut her off and tell her that her defensiveness is not attractive.
At eliminations Tocarra and Ann wind up in the bottom two; Tocarra for losing her fiery personality and Ann for not looking like a model. In the end Tocarra is sent home. Although sad, she's proud of how far she made it; she's the only plus-sized model to make it to the house and hopes that she broke the barrier for the next big girl, who will hopefully make it a little farther.