Test your savvy. During the auditions for ANTM, try to predict who is going to make the cut and who is going home to Mom and Dad. At first, this task can be hard, because what is sexy and what is hoochie are often in the eye of the beholder. Train your eye to be like Tyra's, and you will learn: Pink baby doll tank top cut down to there = hoochie; black tank top with skinny jeans = high fashion. Looking too high school or mall rat are other common downfalls, so headbands and too many accessories are often nixed (as in the case of Isis in season 11).
Pay attention to the personal stories. A little crying can go a long way on "America's Next Top Model," but a lot of whining won't fly. Who gets the most minutes devoted to her autobiography? In Season 11, it was Sheena who scored over 2 minutes of screen time describing her background and ambitions, while others had under 1 minute.
Analyze the contestants' interactions. Once the girls have moved into the house, you will have a chance to see how they interact, and can place them into various personality categories. Typically, winners of ANTM are charismatic but not overconfident. (Jaslene, the winner from Season 8, is a notable exception.) Being a diva can go either way, as long as the wannabe model remembers that there is room for only one true diva on the show: Tyra Banks. (Well, and maybe Miss. J.) If the model is a back-talker, particularly to the judges, she will not only be eliminated, but might get a dressing-down like Tyra gave Tiffany in Season 4.
Crunch the numbers. No winner in the first decade of "America's Next Top Model's" was over 23. No one has been shorter than 5 foot 6 inches. No winner has been in the bottom two consecutively more than twice. Every winner has been the first call-out at least once. The heaviest winner was Whitney Thompson at 159 lbs., sparking controversy because she was called a "plus" model, even though she was only a size 10.
Study the progression of photographs throughout the season. Don't be sucked in by pretty. The judges enjoy mocking what they call pretty-pretty, as it can lack an edge. Looking commercial can earn some accolades, but if you're too commercial, you're relegated to catalog-model status. A critic on Yahoo Buzz says there are types of "straightforward pretty girls whose self-confidence brings out Tyra Banks' inner mean girl who wants to tear them right down."
Consider the ratings. We know Tyra does. If the ANTM contestant is mean, catty or conniving, she has a good shot at hanging on for a few episodes, because viewers hang on every word and want her off the show so badly. However, that temperament does not typically garner her first place, but rather third or fourth place. Think A.J. from Season 7, or Monique, the revenge queen of Season 8.
Resign yourself to the fact that there are forces beyond your control. Before you tally up those winning photos, stellar runway walks, Cover Girl spots and the charm factor, do a little research. Remember the lessons learned at the conclusion of Season 9, when Saleisha took first place but the news came out that she was no amateur and had prior connections with Tyra. The possibility of a fixed competition aside, considering the other factors should help you shake down the contestants and predict American's next top model.