'America's Next Top Model' season premiere recap: There Will Be Bad Blood

MARVITA
Strengths: The 23-year-old cycle 9 reject from San Francisco is back and, having gone to therapy every Tuesday, was disarmingly nonchalant talking about why she didn't make the cut the first time around: ''I think that I was not ready. I was angry, and I was ready to fight because with my past, I went through a lot of crazy stuff. I've been molested and raped.'' Still, the self-proclaimed stray dog who just needs time to warm up knows how to give a good quote: ''When my pastor saw the show last season, she's like, 'You need some more Jesus.' So, I was like, 'Maybe I do.' '' Weaknesses: Like Jay, I was more impressed with her look last time. It's wonderful that she's finding herself, but it does seem like she's trying to be something she's not for the judges (coy, for example, in that finger-in-mouth senior-portrait shot). She'll still need to keep an eye on her short fuse. For the record, I don't think she meant to be insensitive when she asked Fatima if she felt like less of a woman following her circumcision. I get the feeling Marvita knows what it's like to be stripped of your innocence and wanted to have a genuine conversation about it. That was just not the right time.

LAUREN
Strengths: As Tyra said, ''Most of the girls that are top models, especially right now, are weird, different, and freaky looking.'' And the 22-year-old artist and zombie-movie fanatic from Brooklyn, N.Y., fits the bill. You want to see what she'll look like done up each week. Don't you love that Tyra told her it pays to be yourself, after she told Amy and Aimee that one of them would have to change her name, because the show didn't have room for two of them. Weaknesses: Can you imagine if she had to do that cycle 6 high-heel challenge? Eek! Confidence and cluelessness about modeling will be her main problem. (That back-to-the-judges swimsuit stance would've been kinda awesome had she meant to do it.) Oh, and the walk. As Miss Jay said, ''You walk as though you don't have any circulation in your feet....We will have to create a miracle here.''

ATALYA
Strengths: Um, the pretty 18-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y., has a Dani tooth gap? Weaknesses: When Tyra called her name, I literally was like, Who? I'd totally forgotten that she was the one with the lisp that Miss J. and Tyra made fun of. And that she resents her doctor sister. Tyra saw something in her; I'm not sure anyone else did.

ANYA
Strengths: You won't forget this girl, the 18-year-old from Honolulu who thinks about modeling 24/7 and has fire in her eyes. (That, I did see, actually.) Weaknesses: Her accent. ''Where are you from?'' never sounds as accusatory as it does coming out of Tyra's mouth, right? Jay is already afraid to send her on any job that would require her to speak — ''I see a model, but when she opens her mouth, I just want to die.'' Note: He didn't even hear her say, ''I do appreciate everything that has been given to me. I mean, just the food alone. Like the food that they're feeding us, I just love it so much.''

DOMINIQUE
Strengths: Luck. Tyra created a 14th slot for the 23-year-old from Cleveland. Also, breasts. ''She's entering,'' said Tyra. ''With lots of boobs.'' She's a poet. Weaknesses: This is clearly a strong woman (with a jawline to rival cycle 5's Coryn). But her comment about what she taught her physically and mentally abusive boyfriend totally confused me. ''I showed him that you can't put a price on all of this.'' What's all of this? ''Pret-ty. Pret-ty.'' Is she saying that you can't buy a beautiful woman — that you need to treat her with respect and not with things your money can buy? Or that she's priceless because she's that gorgeous? Either way, it's telling that the first word she used to describe herself was ''pretty.'' Maybe the slice of humble 14th-place pie will do her good.

As for the ladies I'll miss: Even though I think I might have more fashion sense than her, Shaya would've been a quote a minute: ''Shaya is goofy. Shaya is sexy. Shaya is everybody's fantasy.'' (Shaya also shouldn't be referring to herself in third person.) I think Kristen (boyfriend-in-Iraq girl, who Jay thought had a mysterious European vibe) might've gone farther if she'd only worn her bangs down more at Top Model Prep. And also didn't let her voice go up an octave at panel. But really, I'm mourning the loss of Jenna and her mystical Impala. I think we should all find a way to work ''Rims. Tint. System. Bumpin'. Fly. Flyyyy!'' into conversations in her honor. I pity the person who asks me what all I've got on my to-do list today....

So now that you know where I stand, who are your early favorites? Who should go soon? And what do you think will happen in next week's ''most shocking elimination ever''?

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