[Vespertine]

Cheese?

[DripDrip]

You don't need a strong man to cut your cheese edge, you're a strong independent bottom. Don't set us back decades. #BottomsRights #bottomist #bottomism

[Matty]

Like I figured. Still missing two judges.

Fingers and toes crossed we'll be able to get something posted tonight.

[Marq]

[Citrus]

Ddd, let me go to sleep. Good luck yall.

[Red]

Good evening, everyone.

[Matty]

One hour!

[Dancehall]

:ducapotato:

[DripDrip]

[Marq]

Oh lord.

[Element]

Almost time!

[Matty]

---

EPISODE 12 | FINALE: SPEECHES/OVERALL

***Katie will have more comments than provided to come



THE COMMENTS

CITRUS

Originally posted by MMMinaj

What a great introductory paragraph! I thought it was so cute (and surprising) how you were intimidated at first. Between you and me, i knew you would be big competition from the start. Your entries were very captivating from the start, even if you did have a few bad weeks. I love how you mentioned that failure pushed you. I mean, that stats speak for themselves. It's fantastic to be someone who can notice their mistakes, then learn and improve from them. To me that's a top member quality! Also there is nothing wrong with taking breaks from the site, you can still be a top member if you do so. I myself, have been very inactive as of recently. You have your priorities straight, but you still have time for enjoyment which i can appreciate. Finally i would definitely agree that performance in this competition is only one piece of the puzzle to winning. You stood out as a competitor and earned yourself a spot here! You were really great in this competition. On another note my personal favorite entry from you was the avatar entry. I can't remember if i ranked you first or not, but i was recently rereading all the challenges, and i couldn't help but laugh while reading it! Also it's a great avatar and you clearly have made an identity for yourself. Your biggest strength was that you never took yourself too seriously for sure. From the avatar entry or your infamous youtube video musicality entry, you had a great sense of humor. You, along with the other final competitors have really proved your place.

Originally posted by Supaspaz

Citrus, I didn't know you from DripDrip when this competition started. (And honestly, I'm still not sure who DripDrip is, if that gives you some sense of how little I knew you.) But that only made it all the more wonderful each week as I was surprised and delighted by your fabulous entries. GIF-gate aside, you consistently produced the strongest work this season, always giving us a better sense of who you are. I loved the opportunity to discover an awesome new member. So I'm not sure why you completely brushed over all of that in your final speech. I'm so glad to hear this was a positive growing experience for you, but you never really tell us how. I feel left out of your journey. Hopefully that doesn't overshadow your tremendous accomplishments, because if there's anything straight about me, it's my love for you in this competition. (Though, now that I think about it, that's kind of gay, too.)

Originally posted by Katie

you're very...you. This speech is something that was already in my head when I started reading it. I'm not sure if what I'm saying is good or bad. I think you're in the boyonce boat, honestly. You were already the biggest star member to go into the finale so it's almost like you haven't changed much. You slay the competition but it's not even taking any effort for you. The speech was nice, but nothing too new to me.

Originally posted by EdgeOfAddiction

Well, that was a lovely speech. Not too sappy, not too tacky, just a great embodiment of yourself in a tight little speech. I’m proud that you went through a little soul searching during your time away from ATRL and came back with a better understanding of who you are and how you would like to be perceived. Your revamp was executed to your benefit and you are the only finalist to have won a challenge (multiple times at that) and I think you even bested Kitt’s run? Not quite sure but regardless, your overall journey on this season was nothing but kudos after kudos and I’m glad you continued to grow during the course of the competition instead of reverting back to your old draglicious ways.

Originally posted by Red

What's interesting, to me, is that I sensed that you weren't entirely sure of yourself up until the Username entry. I thought, even at the beginning with the applications, that you had potential. You just had to realize it. Up until this point, I feel that you have done just that. Since the Username entry, you have been on point. To me, you have been consistent in your quality the entire cycle. There were a few challenges where you were not quite as strong, but you then seemed to follow those challenges up with an incredible effort. I like that you said that you shouldn't become Top Member because of the competition, but you might be selling yourself short. Your work throughout this cycle has been Top Member-quality. And the speech just further relayed that. You've come a long way, and it's lovely to see a flower truly blossom in the way that you have in this cycle.

Originally posted by Matty

Congrats on being in the final three. Your work in this competition speaks for itself. You have been a strong competitor from day one and stayed that way for most of the competition. You did have a few slips, but you said it yourself it only motivated and showed your determination to only improve. It’s funny how you mentioned that in your first season of ANTM, you felt like you were just a cheap copy of Jeremique. I never really noticed until you actually said that. Maybe that was the reason I had love/dislike relationship with you during your first time on ANTM. There was already one Drip, there didn’t need to be another. This cycle you came back new and improved, and really portrayed yourself as Citrus. You have become distinguishable from Drip and have come into your own. I personally love this truer self than the Citrus you originally started out as. You have grown and continue to grow inside and out.

VESPERTINE

Originally posted by MMMinaj

Your writing from the first paragraph is so striking. You bring so much life into all your entries and this is no exception. It was really nice how you expressed your feelings for the other members in the competition! That always looks alot better than putting them down for your own gain. I love how you embraced your underdog spirit in this speech. I can relate to that, i felt the same way during my cycle of this competition. However the best part of this speech is definitely the last few paragraphs. Your satire and snarky writing is so fantastic! You mentioned all the struggles and wins you had, and how this competition changed your atrlbility. It's funny because you applied you cycle 11 and never made it in, but this cycle you made it in AND made it to the finale! That itself shows huge growth. During this competition you relied on your unique entries, you always stood out from the crowd. For example, your smiley entry, while not a winner, was a standout for me. When rereading the entries i chose this as one of my favorites! It's funny how one's opinion can change as time passes. My point is you're a grower, in a literal and metaphorical sense. You, along with the other final competitors have really proved your place.

Originally posted by Supaspaz

Vespertine, this speech is a hilarious work of staggering genius that deserves to be immediately inducted into the ANTM Hall of Fame. It perfectly captures all of your strengths in this competition: your unique, off-kilter sense of humor; your willingness to take compelling (if not always successful) risks with that in your entries; your love of Louis T. Among the finalists, you have the most mixed record in the challenges, and you needed something special to push you over the edge in the finale. You certainly gave it to us. Without compromising an inch of yourself and what makes you beautiful special, you laid out a strong case for why you deserve to win this cycle. I'm expecting big things for you on ATRL going forward. Congratulations.

Originally posted by Katie

#wtf is ihype

Originally posted by EdgeOfAddiction

Bitch. And here I was thinking you’ll turn in a soaptastic speech to bring us to tears (I have no idea why you would have) but was pleasantly surprised with this fan fiction. It definitely is the most creative final speech I have ever seen in the few seasons I’ve been a judge and for that, I think a-p-p-l-a-u-s-e is deserved for that alone. Other than that, I would have made a comment on how sparse the personal growth segment of your speech is but that would have been a mistake on my part. Throughout the season, I’ve knocked you for trying too hard to be funny without having the content or just being so unextraordinary. However, the attention to detail of your wit in this speech and how some of these lines are fleshed out are kinda sorta clever as ****. I can tell that you understand who you are and how you come off to ATRL and that in itself merits recognition cuz it’s a feat people take for granted and not easily achieved as one would think.

Originally posted by Red

That's, um...an "eclectic" soundtrack. Okay, it's time for me to be a little honest. Based on my thoughts on your performance throughout this competition, I can honestly say that I've been really hard on you every step of the way. For some reason, your entries, for the most part, just did not work for me. I don't know why, exactly, that is, but I do know that, out of the final three, you were, easily, the contestant who got the least amount of respect from me. The reason I bring this up is that this "speech", if you can really call it that, was so enjoyable that it makes me wonder if I was wrong about you all this time. This level of creativity is something I have been looking for this entire cycle and have rarely gotten. Some of my absolute favorite contestants are the ones who strike the right balance between creativity and purpose. If I had sensed this kind of creativity from you from the beginning (and, admittedly, this could be more my fault than yours), I would have been more appreciative of the work you put in. Even still, this speech is the most Top Member-esque work I've seen from you.

Originally posted by Matty

Congrats on being in the final three. I remember back to last cycle when you applied. You were a fan favorite and it became a big disappoint that you didn’t get in. It goes to show that first impressions are everything. This cycle, you turned things around and actually made it in. Better than that, you made it to the finale! When I first read your speech, I thought it was too much. The whole Miss Congeniality YouTube revised version just seemed way too over the top. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is just truly you! You love to provide this kind of humor and be this out of the box kind of person. It has what you showed throughout the competition. You listened to what the judges had said, but you ultimately stayed true to yourself and who you were. You are right, you have grown the most in this competition out of the two finalists. You didn’t have certain peaks, but just continue to make your own peaks and grew as a person.

MARQ

Originally posted by MMMinaj

You start off with a bang by mentioning how this is your first time. It was your first time trying and you made it to the finale! Reminds me much of myself. However, the way you're different is that you started off stronger than I did. You were one of the top picks, and i really thought you would make it to the finale. Turns out i was right! You differ alot from the other remaining competitors, vespertine and citrus. Like you mentioned, you are much more reliant on sincerity than humor or satirical writing. I love how you mentioned how you don't wanna mask/exaggerate characteristics just to be seen as an ATRL persona. You are you, and you are yourself on this site. I saw this in your entries, and because of this you (along with the other 2) almost always got great scores from me (emphasis on almost ). I also wanted to add that your visuals never affected your entry from me. However the amount of effort that went into them did. Overall you had many great entries, your branding entry comes to my mind specifically. The fact that i'm even associating an entry to you without having to look back to remember speaks volumes. You, along with the other final competitors have really proved your place.

Originally posted by Supaspaz

Marq, it gives me great joy that you've found your happiest, most comfortable place on ATRL finally being yourself. I can relate to that journey with the forum—feeling anonymous and lonely, jumping at the wrong opportunities to play with the cool kids, then slowly connecting with the right people by engaging the site on your own terms. You really have a built a niche with your thoughtful, intelligent and kind approach to discussions. As I've said before, that's what constantly stuck out to me about your work throughout this competition, and it resonates again in your sweet and sincere final speech. I, too, love what your victory would mean, but even if you don't win, please keep it up. You help elevate ATRL.

Originally posted by Katie

I never know what to do with you. You're so nice and sweet! I feel like I'd be criticizing Thumper. The speech was average for your work. I wish you had blow me away more. I was looking for something strong to finish the competition. Your brand was always impartial and I feel like that held you back in the finale. You're too impartial, even to yourself and competitors.

Originally posted by EdgeOfAddiction

I like that you stick your neck out for the “underdogs” as by definition, they frequently get overlooked. As for you thinking you are an “underdog,” not quite sure if I agree or not. No, you didn’t win a single challenge but you’ve had plenty of acclaim while being the runner up and that in itself made more of an unforgettable performance than having a win. It’s interesting that you summarized your entire experience through the internal dialogue that you had with yourself but the tone of self-reflection always made your entries stick out in a way that was mostly untouched by the other contestants. You may not have achieved #1 status but just like P!nk, you’ve managed to remain lauded throughout the whole season and outlast all the other hit makers.

Originally posted by Red

I will admit that you and Citrus were consistently my two favorite contestants to follow throughout this cycle, though Vespertine is starting to fight his way into my heart. You and Citrus have different styles, but you were both putting forth quality content every challenge. And I feel as if your speeches further reflect the quality of your work. The weird thing is that, even though you always sold yourself as an "underdog", at no point did I really think you were one. You were always going to be a favorite because of your way with words and your ability to mesh words with creativity. Your speech isn't quite as "creative", per say, as some of the other work you've put into this cycle, but creativity is less of a need here. Your top strength lends itself very well to this last entry, because this entry, at least to me, is all about the contestants' way to captivate with their words. In terms of truly selling yourself as a Top Member, I think that you succeeded the most out of all three entries. Quite a leap forward for someone who thought he was an "underdog" going into this cycle of ANTM.

Originally posted by Matty

Congrats on being in the final three. You too have been a strong competitor in this competition. You gave a great first impression during the casting applications in which all the judges wanted you to be a part of the competition. You did not disappoint, until the week you were originally eliminated. You are truly the comeback kid. It was such a shocking elimination and a hard one at that knowing how well you have done in the competition. Luckily for you, you were the only one left in the comeback so you guaranteed that comeback spot. Afterwards, you made it up to us, with a minor slip, on why you deserved to continue on. Truly the Leila of this cycle. You mentioned that you were the underdog in this competition and I kind of agree with that. Most of these members were kind of known, had this big personalities, had these qualities of a regular ATRL member, but you seemed like one of the more sane ones. That is a good thing in the current state of ATRL in my opinion. What has shocked me though for being the underdog, you won the public vote. If people know you that doesn’t make you much of the underdog, but in this competition sense, you still are one. A powerful underdog nevertheless.

When we return
Only 1 of you will become
ATRL's Next Top Member!




Fierce and Love
- Matty

[Dancehall]

Citrus, I didn't know you from DripDrip when this competition started. (And honestly, I'm still not sure who DripDrip is

Poor DripDrip.

- - -
Honestly my bets going into this finale are all thrown off by the new point system and these comments.

[DripDrip]

My personality is an enigma to some people. It just means a new start Mica :/

[Citrus]

Read my comments, not even looking at the other girls'. I am terrified and I wish each of you the best.

[Element]

ddddd I thought that was real

EDIT:

[iHype.]

Didn't mean to post that!

[Dancehall]

Originally posted by iHype.

Didn't mean to post that!

It got viewers. Post and delete it again. Change the names around.

[Marq]

d @ iHype

Oh my god, I am anxious as hell. Thanks again to the judges for all of your constructive words throughout the cycle. I suppose I have nothing to do now but wait for the final results.

[DripDrip]

Get off my stage iHype