TOCCARA ELIMINATED FROM UPN'S "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL"

Toccara, a student from Dayton, Ohio, has been eliminated from the third cycle of UPN's dramality series AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, reducing the pool of girls competing for the grand prize from seven to six.

During last evening�s episode, all seven girls were given the opportunity to learn the importance of image and personal style. Each met with stylist Rebecca Weinberg and publicists Paul Wilmot and Hampton Carney for private consultations on their wardrobe and interview skills. After making some constructive remarks about her wardrobe choices, Rebecca commented that Toccara was �lacking personal style.�

The girls� first challenge was with Rebecca Weinberg, who met them at the discount designer clothing store Century 21. Each girl then had 15 minutes to select an outfit based on the tips they had received during their personal consultation. While each girl showed enthusiasm during the fast paced challenge, Toccara�s frustration mounted as she had a difficult time finding clothing in her size.

Once the 15-minute shopping spree was complete, the girls were whisked off to a red carpet challenge with the paparazzi and Sarah Pyper, a reporter for US Weekly magazine. When Toccara was asked about her fashion ensemble, she mistakenly mispronounced the designer�s name, causing Sarah Pyper to question her expertise as a potential Top Model.

During the next day�s photo shoot, the girls starred opposite a large tarantula as they modeled beautiful diamond jewelry. It seemed that many of the girls shared Eva�s spider phobia, but most, including Toccara, were able to work through their fear. �Toccara had great energy and is a sweetheart,� said photographer Bill Diodata. �But she�s not a great beauty girl.�

For the final test, the girls had to build an image around a hat of their choice. The panel of judges then critiqued their fashions along with their photos from the previous day�s shoot. Unfortunately, Toccara�s half-hearted selection of jeans, a plain white tank top and cowboy hat sent the wrong message. Although initially impressed with Toccara�s exuberant confidence and striking beauty in front of the lens, the judges decided that her recent lack of enthusiasm and growing frustration with the process was enough to end her run to become AMERICA�S NEXT TOP MODEL. �She has potential to be a star,� Tyra said. �For some reason, today she walked in here and gave up.�

This season, Tyra Banks once again leads the panel that will narrow the field of girls each week as they take them into a high-pressure, high-stakes series of competitions that will determine the series winner. The world's first supermodel Janice Dickinson, renowned photographer Nigel Barker and Nol� Marin, an acclaimed fashion editor and stylist, also serve as judges. This week the judging panel welcomed celebrity stylist Rebecca Weinberg.

The third installment of UPN's hit dramality series AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL follows 14 young women as they attempt to prove they have what it takes to make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of modeling. Banks, who created the show, also serves as executive producer along with Ken Mok ("Making the Band"). Anthony Dominici ("The Amazing Race") serves as co-executive producer.

The winner of UPN's AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL will have the opportunity to be managed by Ford Models. She will also receive a $100,000 contract with cosmetics giant Cover Girl. Finally, the winner will appear in a fashion spread in Elle magazine.

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL airs Wednesday, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN. For more information about AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, log on to www.upn.com.