'America's Next Top Model' down to final 3

Article Launched: 05/16/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT

Tonight, only three contenders are left, as supermodel Tyra Banks gears up to tap the eighth winner on "America's Next Top Model."

The competition will be tough between the final three: Jaslene, the self-described "Cha-cha diva" from Chicago; Renee, the mommy from Maui with a bit of a mean streak; and Natasha, the mail-order bride from Russia (now a Texan) who deflects criticism with a sterling smile.

With so many surprises this season (hyper-photogenic Brittany and Felicia going home), the title is really up for grabs on the CW show's finale tonight. But the two front-runners seem to be Jaslene and Renee. Jaslene would win if "Top Model" were merely a still-photo competition, but Renee beats her as a spokesmodel/TV personality.

Then there's wildcard Natasha, who seems to dodge a bullet at every turn and get stronger each week. Her bubbly personality made her Tyra's top pick to be a guest correspondent on her talk show.

Jaslene
# Hometown: Chicago.
# Age: 20.
# Occupation: Online college admissions
# Strengths: She photographs beautifully, really capturing the frame in every shot. She would be the first Latina to win "America's Next Top Model."
# Weaknesses: The judges keep harping on Jaslene to let her "fierce" personality shine through, and she's constantly criticized for her appearance at panel. The judges make it clear they're interested in a Top Model who is a larger-than-life presence when she walks into a room. She also needs to be better at video.

Renee
# Hometown: Maui, Hawaii.
# Age: 20.
# Occupation: Stay-at-home mom.
# Strengths: Amazing eyes. Renee's extreme determination and TV skills may push her to the top.
# Weaknesses: This mommy from Maui can be a bit unhinged, and is under pressure to succeed for her husband and son. She's also a tough chick whose default is to hurt others. That harshness often comes across in her photos. Nigel points out that she looks older than the other models; and Tyra has called her "too catalogy," meaning rather plain and not exotic. But she's gotten stronger every week.

Natasha
# Hometown: Dallas, via Russia.
# Age: 21.
# Occupation: College student.
# Strengths: She's the world's best self-promoter, who handles criticism with a smile and (as Nigel points out) sounds charming when she's bragging. She excels on TV, winning Tyra's challenge to appear as a correspondent on "The Tyra Banks Show."
# Weaknesses: While she's great on video, other girls take better still photos. She's one of the shorter models, whose poses can be very awkward. Her face and body are harder to photograph, and her neck often looks too short.