Miss America Reality Check: Two Of Four

After a recap of the first episode, this week's Miss America Reality Check began with Miss Alaska talking to some of her fellow competitors about "women power". Miss Tennessee couldn't help herself in expressing how Miss Alaska was getting on her nerves behind her back to us though. Talk about "women power".

The next morning, the ladies began getting ready for the day's activities. During this time, Miss DC told us how hard of a life she had growing up (single parent household and a father that was a crack addict) while Miss Utah began going about getting herself all glammed up. However, she wasn't getting herself glammed up in the way that the advisory board wanted. She was going overboard with the lipstick and the big hair and basically mocking the judges' advice they'd given her.

Michael Urie, our fantabulous host, later told the ladies that the day would be all about beauty and brains and that they needed to change into their swimsuits and meet him by the pool. At the pool, Michael told them that they're going to be showing off the sexiest part of their bodies: their brain. Lined up by teams, the ladies would be asked to answer questions. If they answered correctly, they could go to the back of their team's line and wait for another question. If they answered incorrectly, they would have to jump in the pool. The winning team would win an advantage in the next event. And as always, the advisory board was on hand to observe how they acted and reacted during the challenge.

Miss Florida was the first girl up for her team and admitted to being nervous -- but only because she didn't want to get wet and have her makeup come off. So what do you think happened? Of course she answered wrong and had to jump in the pool. After semi-crying about her situation and tip-toeing around the pool, she eventually jumped in and got wet. What a little prima donna! As more girls answered incorrectly, they were jumping into the pool and being good sports about it (unlike Florida!).

Miss DC's turn at the pool was a little different. She began having an asthma attack and pulled herself out of the pool gasping for breath. Miss Utah was right there by her side though and trying to help her out the best she could. Meanwhile, the advisory board and the other girls just stood around slack-jawed. Luckily, Miss DC was able to recover quickly and the challenge began where it had left off. In the end, it came down to Miss Colorado and Miss New Jersey. They were asked which country Borat was from and Miss Colorado had no idea. Miss New Jersey answered correctly so her red team ("Brown-eyed Girls") won.

It was now time for the beauty part of the day. Now that everybody's makeup is off and their hair isn't fixed, they would be critiqued by hair stylist to the stars Kim Vo and makeup guru Napoleon Perdis. The ladies would then have a makeover that incorporated their suggestions and have new headshots taken afterwards. Because the red team won the brains challenge, they would each have their hair and makeup done personally by Vo and Perdis (they were thrilled by that!). While a couple of girls were unsure of the advice given to them (particularly about cutting their hair), they were all willing to go for it and make some changes. Well, except for one. Miss Illinois declined having her hair cut by three inches so she would not be able to participate in the makeover at all. I really thought the advisory board was going to fall out of their chairs when she said she wouldn't do it.

As the girls went inside and began receiving their makeovers, Miss Illinois retreated to her own room (I guess) and began styling herself for the headshots being taken later in the day. Jeannie, one of the members of the advisory board, told her that all eyes would be on her since she was the only one offered beauty help and turned it down. Meanwhile, several of the girls were getting especially wonderful makeovers. Miss New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Alaska (cut 12 inches off) all looked so amazing after their hair cuts!

At their photo shoot, the girls were all having a great time posing and goofing off for the camera. You could tell that they all loved their new looks. The only one we saw that had some problems with this was Miss Utah. She said she wasn't good at taking pictures and the photographer tried to help her out and work with her but she basically refused to listen. After making the same stupid poses and same stupid smiles, they pulled her aside and told her to watch the other girls and get a clue as to what to do. Later, Miss Alaska had a little heart-to-heart with Miss Arkansas, Tennessee, and others about how she feels is too serious and outspoken about things. She wound up crying about how she wants to change her personality and how she acts towards people.

When Michael and the advisory board met to discuss the ladies and who would be in the top and bottom three, Mark broke the news about how Miss Utah went overboard on the glam as a joke. Dina and Jeannie were shocked about that and didn't think it was cool at all. They were proud of Miss DC for bouncing back so quickly after her asthma attack and not pulling a diva moment like Miss Florida did. They thought that Miss Idaho and Miss Alaska had the most drastic makeovers but Mark thought something was missing from Miss Alaska. There was also a brief mention of how her Indian holler with her chopped off braid in her hand (after her haircut) might have offended some people. They discussed Miss Illinois and how she didn't accept the haircut but they were glad that she updated her look on her own.

It was now time for the Tops & Bottoms Ceremony (that sounds naughty!) where the top three and bottom three would be called out. Six ladies were asked by Michael to step forward: Miss Indiana, DC, Utah, Washington, Illinois, and Alaska. Now they would hear what the advisory board thought about them.

The board thought that Miss Indiana began entirely way too rehearsed but has made incredible changes since arriving at the house and placed her in the top three. They thought that Miss Washington had an engaging personality but wasn't standing out enough and put her in the bottom three. Miss DC apologized to them for her asthma attack (she'd been denying her condition it seems) but they applauded her for sticking it out and placed her in the top three. The advisory board told Miss Utah they were glad that she was having fun in the competition but that they were insulted by her over-the-top behavior and put her in the bottom three (haha!).

It was down to Miss Illinois and Miss Alaska now. Who would be ranked where? They took Miss Illinois to task for not accepting the stylist's hair advice but were happy that she did make some adjustments of her own and admitted that she took fabulous pictures. They loved Miss Alaska's attitude during her makeover and don't want to change her quirkiness but felt that she's not sure of herself and not sure if she could handle being Miss America. Wow. I can't believe Miss Illinois was in the top three!

Next week, Miss Alaska struggles to redeem herself (and asks for more feedback from the advisory board on what she needs to do). The ladies test their balance in a challenge and then strut their stuff on the catwalk. Also, Miss Florida opens up about her traumatic past. If you missed this episode, check the show's site for it's re-air schedule and don't forget to catch the next episode on TLC at 10:00 PM (ET/PT) on Friday, January 18. Don't forget to vote either!

So what did you think about this second episode of Miss America Reality Check? How much did you like their makeovers and who do you think looked the best after? How do you feel about Miss Illinois turning down the haircut and Miss Alaska's attitude? What do you think is up with Miss Florida's confession next week?