Randa's Next Top Model (cycle 3)

The third season of ***Randa's Next Top Model*** features 12 girls from all around the world. This season was the start of the *Beauty Beyond* miniseries where doors were open to girls who do not fit conventional beauty standards. As such, there were no strict requirements to apply, however applicants younger than 15 and older than 28 had a lesser chance of getting in. The winner was **Chae Ji Hyeon** from  South Korea.

This season implemented the photo battle twist, where the girls who were deemed the worst of the week had another chance at redeeming themselves. Additionally, no changes in panel was made.

## Locations

This season was based in Mexico, however opportunities to travel were available.

* Toluca, Episode 1
* Puebla, Episode 2
* Mexico City, Episodes 3-6
* New York City, Episodes 6-10

## Contestants

1. ↑ Although Geneve and Jessie were eliminated in two different elimination ceremonies, the girls competed in two batches. So, neither placed higher than the other.
2. ↑ Mariame Mitiku went by MiMi on the show.
3. ↑ Gözel originally placed 10th before winning re-entry in the competition in Episode 7.

## Summaries

### **Call-out order**

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The first two episodes saw the contestants competing in seperate batches.
2. ↑ Aisha Elle and Ji Hyeon shared first call-out.
3. ↑ Episode 6 featured two separate call-outs.
4. ↑ Since neither MiMi nor Sointu won the photo battle, it was decided that Safiatou would be put in the photo battle alongside Gözel, a previously eliminated contestant.
5. ↑ Gözel won the photo battle and was granted re-entry into the competition.
6. ↑ Episode 9 was a recap episode and did not feature a call-out.

## Plot summaries

### **The Girl Who Nearly Fell to Her Death**

The first batch were thrown into a hectic first week focused on familiarizing themselves with the competition. A mock runway and interview test was hosted, then the girls were taken to a helipad for their first shoot. Sointu's risk taking nearly led her to hurt herself, and it didn't pay off as in the end, she and Ariana were put in the photo battle.

* **Challenge winner:** Chae Ji Hyeon
* **First call out:** MiMi Mitiku
* **Bottom three:** Ariana Prinsloo, Mejrema Predojević & Terbish Sointu Maral
* **Nominated for photo battle:** Ariana Prinsloo & Terbish Sointu Maral

### **The Girl Who Had an Asthma Attack**

The second batch arrived to Sandi announcing their first challenge, a styling challenge. The fur triggers Reelika's asthma, and she was excused from the challenge. Later on, the rest of the girls question her ability to thrive in the competition. They then had a photoshoot posing as flight attendants about to enter a flight. Ultimately, it was Geneve and Jessie who were put in the photo battle.

* **Challenge winner:** Jessie Sterckx
* **First call out:** Aisha Elle Mathurin
* **Bottom three:** Geneve Hezekiah, Jessie Sterckx & Reelika Jänes
* **Nominated for photo battle:** Geneve Hezekiah & Jessie Sterckx

### **The Girl Who Owned a Jewelry Store**

The two batches come together in Mexico City and immediately hit it off. However, Gözel's reclusiveness and Safiatou's coldness set them apart from the rest. They did social media campaigns for a local jewelry brand for their challenge, and then acted out a comic book scene in pairs. Gözel and Mejrema have trouble working together, and it was them who were put in the next photo battle.

* **Challenge winner:** Ariana Prinsloo
* **Eliminated:** Geneve Hezekiah & Jessie Sterckx
* **First call out:** Aisha Elle Mathurin & Chae Ji Hyeon
* **Bottom three:** Gözel Nyýazow, Kai Vaelyn Sopé & Mejrema Predojević
* **Nominated for photo battle:** Gözel Nyýazow & Mejrema Predojević

### **The Girl Who Cracked Under Pressure**

Mejrema befriends MiMi with the intent of using her. The girls were tasked with selling a different type of makeup product around a park in pairs for their challenge. They then had a timed photoshoot where they posed as Barbie dolls which was supervised by Giuliana Palau, a client for a future go-see challenge. The pressure led MiMi to break down. However, she pulled it together and it was Reelika and Sointu who had to be in the next photo battle.

* **Challenge winners:** Aisha Elle Mathurin & Kai Vaelyn Sopé
* **Eliminated:** Gözel Nyýazow
* **First call out:** Chae Ji Hyeon
* **Bottom three:** Mejrema Predojević, Reelika Jänes & Terbish Sointu Maral
* **Nominated for photo battle:** Reelika Jänes & Terbish Sointu Maral

### **The Girl Who Tried to Apologize**

Kai Vaelyn senses that she isn't very well liked, and tries to resolve the tension with the others. Most accept the apology, while Aisha Elle causes a scene, and Mejrema joins in. The girls were taken to a hall of mirrors and told that they would be having a mock runway to prepare for go-sees next week. It was supervised by Israel and Alejandro Tenorio, who were revealed to also be in the go-see lineup. They then had a close-up beauty shoot that centered around one of their facial features.

* **Challenge winner:** Mejrema Predojević
* **Eliminated:** Reelika Jänes
* **First call out:** Chae Ji Hyeon
* **Bottom three:** Aisha Elle Mathurin, Kai Vaelyn Sopé & Safiatou Nichida
* **Nominated for photo battle:** Kai Vaelyn Sopé & Safiatou Nichida

### **The Girl Who Intimidated Her Clients**

The girls officially go on go-sees. It was revealed that the designers would be going to New York Fashion Week, and that the girls were going to stay there for the remainder of the competition. Safiatou's detached personality was a disadvantage to her, while Ji Hyeon's natural bubbliness helped her. They then posed as circus performers for their photoshoot.

* **Challenge winner:** Chae Ji Hyeon
* **Eliminated:** Kai Vaelyn Sopé
* **First call out:** Safiatou Nichida
* **Bottom three:** Chae Ji Hyeon, MiMi Mitiku & Terbish Sointu Maral
* **Nominated for photo battle:** MiMi Mitiku & Terbish Sointu Maral

The girls fly to New York for Fashion Week. MiMi's airsickness got the better of her, and she was sick throughout the whole week. Sointu's experimental cooking caused her to be sick as well. It was revealed that there would be no photoshoot, and that the call-out would solely be determined by their performance during NYFW.

* **Challenge winner:** Mejrema Predojević
* **Eliminated:** MiMi Mitiku & Terbish Sointu Maral
* **First call out:** Ariana Prinsloo
* **Bottom three:** Aisha Elle Mathurin & Safiatou Nichida
* **Nominated for photo battle:** Gözel Nyýazow & Safiatou Nichida

### **The Girl Who Lived On Her Own**

The top 5 and Gözel arrive in New York. It was revealed that Gözel would be staying at a penthouse separate from the others for the week until it was determined whether she would come back or not. The girls have a YouTube workshop with Cycle 1's Xiong Dong Mei, and later had to film their own YouTube videos for the challenge. Ji Hyeon surprisingly struggled, and Mejrema's taunting led the former to lash out at her. They then had a photoshoot portraying different stereotypes from the 70s. To everyone's surprise, Aisha Elle and Ji Hyeon, who were frontrunners, landed in the photo battle together.

* **Challenge winner:** Ariana Prinsloo
* **Eliminated:** Safiatou Nichida
* **Rejoin:** Gözel Nyýazow
* **First call out:** Mejrema Predojević
* **Bottom three:** Aisha Elle Mathurin, Ariana Prinsloo & Chae Ji Hyeon
* **Nominated for photo battle:** Aisha Elle Mathurin & Chae Ji Hyeon

### **The Girl Who Cooked a Feast**

Aisha Elle cooks up a surprise barbecue party for the girls as a celebration for nearing it to the finale. Mejrema ties up some loose ends and apologizes for any wrong she's caused, to which the girls gladly accept. They then had filmed a commercial for Maybelline as their challenge, and then posed as jetsetters for a Morphe campaign.

* **Challenge winner:** Aisha Elle Mathurin
* **Eliminated:** Aisha Elle Mathurin
* **First call out:** Chae Ji Hyeon
* **Bottom three:** Ariana Prinsloo, Gözel Nyýazow & Mejrema Predojević
* **Nominated for photo battle:** Gözel Nyýazow & Mejrema Predojević

## Challenge and photoshoot guide

(*italics* indicate challenges, **bold** indicates photoshoots)

* Cast reveal: **Beauty shots in latex**, **Retro superheroes**, **Polaroids**
* Episode 1: *Runway and interview with Cordelia*, **Powerful women on a helicopter**
* Episode 2: *Self-styling tournament*, **Flight attendants**
* Episode 3: *Jewelry campaigns*, **Comic book scenes**
* Episode 4: *Selling makeup*, **Barbie dolls**
* Episode 5: *Runway test*, **Close-up beauty**
* Episode 6: *Go-sees*, **Circus performers**, *NYFW*
* Episode 7: *YouTube workshop with Dong Mei*, **1970 stereotypes**
* Episode 8: *Maybelline commercial*, **Jetsetters for Morphe**
* Episode 10: **Covers for VOGUE**, **Trésemme hair ads**, **Surrealism for Calvin Klein**