Skin Wars (2014–…): Season 3, Episode 10 - Last Looks - full transcript
The final three artists tackle a tricky camouflage challenge using two models: One must blend in with the backdrop, the other must be the focal point.
- The top three remain
- to compete
for the grand prize,
$100,000,
and the ultimate title
of "Skin Wars" champion.
In the intense world
of competitive body painting,
you can either keep your cool,
or turn up the heat.
- ♪ This ain't no illusion,
- babe ♪
♪ Yeah, you're heaven made ♪
It's a sizzling season three
of "Skin Wars."
[upbeat electronic music]
- [gasps]
- There's presents.
- We have presents.
- What?
- Ah.
I made it
to the top!
I'm ecstatic.
This is it.
Now it's just down
to one of us.
One of us is going to be
the winner of "Skin Wars."
- Welcome to the
"Skin Wars" finale.
[all cheer]
Congratulations! You made it!
- Whoo!
I'm in the grand finale
of "Skin Wars."
Man, what a dream.
If I won "Skin Wars,"
my parents would be proud.
- My friends
- would be proud.
- The whole community
- of El Paso
- and Ciudad Juárez
- would be proud.
- You've really
earned this position,
and I am so proud
of you all.
- It's so fun
- to think that
one of you is gonna be
$100,000 richer.
- This is where you have
to pull out all the stops.
If I win "Skin Wars,"
I'll be able to get
my family finally out of debt.
So much weight will be
lifted off my shoulders.
I can almost taste
that $100,000 right now.
- The winner of "Skin Wars"
- will receive
- an all-expense-paid
- trip for two
to the World Bodypainting
Festival in Austria,
your own custom line
of stencils with your name
on it from Bad Ass Stencils,
and not to mention,
the $100,000 grand prize.
- Oh, my God.
I want it so bad.
My grandpa's back home
rooting for me,
and I really want
to make my mom proud.
- Painters, all of you
have gifted us
with some of the best artwork
in the history of "Skin Wars."
For this challenge,
we want to give you a gift.
As you can see,
there is a gift box
in front of each of you.
Inside each box
is something special
to inspire you
for your first challenge.
All right, Rick, let's see
what's inside your gift box.
- Sweet.
What?
- Oh, wow.
- Whoa!
- [chuckles] It just couldn't be
- a bigger surprise.
♪ ♪
- I know how to play
- the trumpet, you know?
- That's something
- I do in--back at home
- whenever I'm going
- through hard times.
Music really heals
my inner wounds.
- It was
- the best present.
♪ ♪
Yeah!
- Rick, you are full
of surprises.
- Love it.
- Brittney.
- Oh, boy.
[sentimental piano music]
♪ ♪
My journal!
That's really sweet,
you guys.
- It says,
- "Shoot for the moon.
Even if you miss,
you'll land amongst the stars."
- It's kind of
- been my motto.
My family always tells me
that no matter what,
I always do great,
and even if
I don't make it,
- I've already inspired
- so many people.
So... it means
a lot to me.
[sniffs]
- Okay, Alison?
- Okay.
[gasps]
Oh, my God.
[crying]
- [crying and laughing]
- Oh, my God.
It's my belly cast!
- [all exclaim, applaud]
- Oh, my God.
- Wow.
- [laughs]
- My son is
my whole world,
and that belly cast just
reminded me of what it was like
to have that mystery inside me
and feeling life inside me.
It's just so powerful.
- It can't even
- be put into words.
- Before we get started,
we have one more gift for you.
- There's more?
- Oh, my God.
[gentle music]
♪ ♪
Oh, my God.
Hi, bub!
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
It's been ten weeks
since I've seen
my family and my son.
Oh, my God.
Hi.
It's just been
such a hard journey,
and having them here
- will recharge my batteries
- right now for sure.
- Are you happy
- to see your mommy?
- Yeah.
- I missed you
so much, bub.
[dramatic music]
- Rick.
- Yeah.
- I see my mom
- and my brother,
and I'm just
so excited to see them.
- I love you, baby.
- Man, it feels good.
Uuh.
- This is
- my beautiful mother,
- and this is
- my beautiful brother, man.
I miss them so much.
If it wasn't for my mother
bringing me to the States,
- I probably wouldn't even
- be an artist.
I'd probably be stuck
in a whole different lifestyle.
It definitely feels good
to reunite with my family.
- Okay, Brittney.
- We also have
- a gift for you.
- Yeah.
I'm ready.
[crying]
Hi, Mom.
- Hi.
So proud of you.
- My mom is the strongest person
- I have in my life.
- She's been through
- so much,
and I look up to her
in every way possible.
This is my lovely mother.
- Hello.
- Are you surprised to see
Brittney here in the finale?
- No, I'm not
surprised at all.
- Painters, you will
create a painting
- that illustrates
- how the object
in the gift box
is meaningful to you.
This is a waist-up,
front and back,
360 degree design.
- Get clear-headed,
get focused,
- and trust
- your instincts
because it's
gotten you this far.
- You have three hours
to complete this challenge.
- The judges will
- consider your work
- from both
- this challenge
and the upcoming
concept challenge to determine
who will be this season's
"Skin Wars" champion.
Your time starts... now.
- Good luck.
- Okay. Love you.
- I love you.
- You guys make
- yourselves comfortable.
- Okay.
[upbeat music]
- Things are about
- to get serious.
- Hey!
- Welcome, welcome.
- Hi.
- Pasties?
- Yeah.
- All right, I got you.
- This is my mom.
- Hi.
- It's a push-pull
- situation,
having your mother there
right behind you,
- watching you along the way,
- and you wanting
to do your best work
at the same time.
- So it's a bit
- distracting for me.
Bring your mom to work day.
- [laughs]
[electronic music]
- There you go, honey.
- Beautiful.
- And then there's the--
- That's all I can do today,
- honey.
Ugh.
As a mom, I'm so
tuned into every move
my four-year-old makes.
I'm programmed
to attend to that.
- How the hell
- am I gonna tune that out
- while I'm trying
- to work?
- [babbling]
- Having my mom and
my brother watch me paint,
- it just makes me
- work harder.
The $100,000 will
give me the funds
- to help my mom
- get out of debt.
Can I have you put
your hands straight for me?
Just like that.
So for my piece,
I want to do a landscape
of both of my hometowns:
Ciudad Juárez
and El Paso, Texas.
- On the back,
- I want to draw a heart,
and I want to put
music notes around it,
and that explains
my love for music.
- [speaking Spanish]
- I want to put the music,
how it unites everything for me.
And how I carry it in my heart.
- [speaking Spanish]
- I think it's good
- that you're painting
- what you're feeling
and what comes out of you
in your heart,
that's what's reflected there.
- Wow.
- Hi, bub.
- Shh.
I feel really strong
about my concept.
- I want to do a shape
- that's sort of
reminiscent of
a pregnant belly,
and I also want to give
the feeling of that life
moving upward
and changing the face.
- On the back,
- I know that I want
to incorporate
an exploding volcano
- because my son
- loves volcanoes.
After I had my son,
I felt that sort of calm of,
- like, deep water,
- so I wanted
to have those
two very different elements.
- The paint
looks beautiful.
- It--you think
- it looks beautiful?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
- So do you want
- to come paint with me?
- Make this easier?
- Yeah.
You can't do that.
- Okay. [laughs]
- That's cheating.
I really want to
take this quote
and bring it to life.
So my concept is
to have
me shooting paintbrushes
at the moon,
and on the back of it,
I really want to
bring to life
what my family is for me.
They're always that
North Star for me.
You guys, we have
30 minutes left!
[trance music]
- Lawrence Lee
- is why I'm here.
- I've got to win this
- for him.
If I win "Skin Wars,"
I'll be able to provide
the future that I want
to give to my little boy.
The stakes are really high.
- All right, girls,
we got one minute left.
- All right, one minute!
- Oh.
- All right.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- Painters!
- Whoo!
- Time's up,
- tools down!
- Oh-oh!
- [giggles]
- Whoo!
- [laughs]
- Okay, well,
the judges and I
- can't wait to get
- a closer look
- and talk to you
- about your work.
Alison?
- When Lawrence Lee
- was inside my belly,
it just felt like I had
every speck of life
that's ever existed
from the beginning of time
was, like, inside of me,
and it's sort of
shooting light
up here.
And on the back,
before I had him, I felt
like I was always a volcano,
- blowing up easily
- all the time,
- and then after
- I had him,
- I felt myself
- move to this
so much deeper,
calmer place.
- Technically,
it's beautiful.
You've got every color
in the rainbow,
beautiful detail,
and we love it.
- Hello, Brittney.
- Hello.
- Gwen.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- So I have a bow
- and arrow down here
that's shooting paintbrushes
towards the moon,
and I just haven't made it
quite there yet.
On the back of her,
it's a North Star
because no matter where
I land in the stars,
my family is always going to be
the biggest star in my life.
- I like the texture
that you did behind the star.
- I was really going
for a very faint and subtle
universe effect because
my family is my universe.
- Great.
- Thank you, Brittney.
- Thank you.
- All right, so in this piece,
I incorporated our hometown,
which is
Ciudad Juárez, Mexico,
and right above that,
it's the landscape
of El Paso, Texas,
and there's a huge star
on the mountain,
- and that represents
- El Paso.
- I was involved
- in graffiti,
- and I threw some graffiti lines
- on the buildings.
- Did he get in big trouble
- for graffiti?
- [speaking Spanish] That's why
I brought him from Juárez
to the United States
so that he can have
better opportunities.
- In the back, I wanted
to incorporate something
for the love of music.
I wanted to do
a heart bleeding.
Music is a big influence
in my life.
- You are the youngest painter
in "Skin Wars" history.
What do you think
the reason
- you've made it
- so far is?
- For me,
- in this competition,
I gained confidence
that made me realize
how much of a
strong mind I have.
- Thank you, Rick.
So what'd you think?
- Alison's painting,
for me, I just loved.
There was just a lot
of positivity happening.
- She had so many
- little details.
You know, she had all of
that beautiful line work
- up the arms.
- Gorgeous.
- And how the
sort of alchemy
- of becoming a mother
- changed her.
- Mm-hmm.
- And I saw that.
- Brittney's piece,
for me, the front,
it's so well-rendered.
- Mm-hmm.
- We've got unique
compositional elements,
but the back, for me,
didn't have
the same strength.
- I felt a little bit
- mixed on that.
- The beautiful blue
- on the face
- with the moon
- on the face,
I--I really did
buy that.
- I really liked
- Rick's piece.
I just wasn't super crazy
about his color palette.
- I just felt like...
- Oh, going back to dark?
- It was a bit
- too muddy for me.
- I don't mind
- the darkness.
- I thought it was
- beautifully painted.
I love the fact that
he used glitter in there.
It showed his
youth and exuberance.
- That painting told me
a story about a young man
whose life has changed.
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay.
- Have you made a decision?
- I think we got it.
- Painters,
although all of your
inspirational paintings
wowed us, there can be
only one winner.
And the winner is...
- I'm, like, dying
for this advantage right now.
You have no idea.
- Although all of your
inspirational paintings
wowed us, there can be
only one winner.
Judges?
- Alison, I love the color,
the energy,
- and the flow
- of your piece.
- Rick, I really love
that personal story you told.
- And that glitter
- you used
was so unexpected
and beautiful.
- Brittney, the moon face
was just lovely on your model,
- and it looked
- so nice against
that deep-blue space
background you gave her.
- And the winner is...
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Alison!
- Yay!
- Congratulations,
- you're the winner.
- Beautiful thing!
I know this is gonna count
in the final judging.
- I've kind of
- got this right now.
I'm gonna be the freaking
season three winner.
I knew you were
my good luck charm.
- This sucks.
I'm a bit worried, you know?
- 'Cause she's already
- ahead of the competition
for this grand finale.
[dramatic music]
- In this final
- concept challenge,
you will be painting
two models
and a backdrop.
You must blend one model
into the backdrop
and have the second model
stand out
as the focal point
in this piece.
- Holy ****.
- I haven't painted
- a canvas in years,
and it took me months
to paint that damn thing.
Plus, two models?
It's insane.
It's just crazy talk.
- You will have
ten hours
to complete
your final paintings.
- I have no idea
how I'm going to
make this work.
- This is some real-world stuff
that we're asking you to do.
You guys have
no limits
on your imagination
and creativity here.
- The judges will take
into consideration your work
from both your first challenge
and this concept challenge
- to determine
- who will ultimately
become this season's
"Skin Wars" champion.
This is it.
We'll see you tomorrow.
[energetic music]
♪ ♪
- Okay.
- [clapping]
- This is some serious stuff,
you guys.
- This is the craziest challenge
I have ever seen on "Skin Wars."
Not only do we have
two models to paint,
we also have
an 8x8 canvas;
and we have to incorporate
our two models into it,
but this is the finale,
and we're all fighting
for the title.
- We all want
- to do our best.
Ricky, you feeling like you
at home right now?
- Hell yeah.
- [laughs]
- Everything
- in this challenge
- is nothing new for me,
- you know?
Murals, camouflage,
details.
- This is something
- I've been doing for years,
- but I'm a bit worried,
- you know?
- 'Cause, man,
- now that Alison
won the first challenge,
I got to catch up
and push myself
even harder
in this final challenge.
[upbeat music]
- Okay, what am I doing?
- I'm a little intimidated
- because Brittney
paints canvases a lot.
- She works big.
- I know that Rick works big.
- I'm just trying
- not to panic.
- I just need to paint
- my ass off right now,
and I just start
rolling out paint.
So my concept
is to paint myself
as a goddess coming
out of a shell,
and I am thinking of
the ocean and the waves
and feeling like
this reborn goddess.
- I've changed
- and transformed
from the first day
till now.
[all screaming]
- I came into
- this competition
- feeling like
- I wasn't good enough.
[exhales]
I don't want that to
- subconsciously sabotage
- what we're doing.
- I almost feel like
- throwing myself under the bus
because I feel like Kyera
should just be here.
Like, this is so her.
But then with each challenge,
I've gained more confidence.
- Oh, my God.
- Yara Sofia, you are
the first ever Ms. "Skin Wars!"
- Yeah!
- I feel like
- I'm a contender,
- and I really want
- to keep that momentum going.
Ah!
[electronic music]
- I love working
with big canvases.
My concept today
is a jungle.
It's inspired by
my struggle of me
going through my childhood
and surviving.
I had to fight to get
to where I am right now.
Being here in "Skin Wars,"
I've learned a lot.
- I didn't think I was gonna
- make it this far,
- especially being
- the youngest.
- What is this again?
- [laughter]
All right, let me see--
oh, ****.
I was having trouble with
the first couple of challenges.
- I'd love for the painting
to speak for itself.
- Well, that's definitely
- something I should have done.
- I feel like
you just woke the **** up.
[laughter]
- Now I'm more confident.
- Rick, you're a magician.
- Congratulations, Rick.
You are the winner.
- Oh, yeah, baby.
- I need to win
- this competition,
not just for me,
but for my family.
- If my mama had never
- taken me out
- of Ciudad Juárez,
- I'd be dead.
I'd probably be stuck
in drug trafficking.
- So I want to win
- this prize for her.
Yeah!
- Okay, you guys,
there's only seven hours left...
- Whoo, oh, God.
- For this ginormous,
life-changing project.
- Hey!
- Hey.
What up, ladies?
- I spent three hours
working on this backdrop.
The models show up
- right as I'm about to
- start painting my shell.
[sighs]
- I don't know if you guys
- want to,
like, grab a seat,
turn on your heater.
The model's there,
and I'm looking at them like,
- "I want to be
- painting you right now.
- I really need to be
- getting this done."
- And the clock
- is ticking,
and I'm still working
on this stupid backdrop.
And I'm feeling like my shell
is gonna suffer in the end
because I'm rushing it
like crazy,
and it's just
looking really sloppy.
- Hand down just a little bit.
Right there.
My concept and how I want
to place my models
plays into everything
that I've gone through,
from beginning to end,
- throughout
- this whole experience.
I am painting
a large-scale rose.
So I have one model placed
within the rose itself,
standing tall,
because that's the one
- that's going
- to blossom throughout,
- like I have
- in this competition.
- And I've positioned
- my other model
closer towards the corner
to be this bee that is
willing to take a chance
- and sting
- when they need to
- because that's what I've
- tried to do
this entire way through.
- Looking back now
- at who I was
- when I came
- into this competition,
I felt really confident
about showing everyone
what I'm capable of.
- I figured if I was gonna
- be stuck with a challenge,
- I might as well
- go big or go home.
It was tough flying
under the radar for so long.
- You're safe.
You're safe.
You are safe.
- I was feeling
all of this self-doubt.
- I just felt that that was
a missed opportunity.
- But, now,
- I totally feel like
- I'm hitting my stride
- at the right time.
- Brittney,
- you're the winner.
- I got one,
- you guys!
- Look at that!
- Just gorge-y, girl.
- Winning this
- would change my world.
- Everybody back home
- is counting on me.
My grandpa is battling
pancreatic cancer
and hanging on
at home.
My mom is there
behind me 100%.
- So proud of you.
- I'm doing it
for them.
- Beautiful, you guys.
- Okay.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Okay, I really want
- to start you guys.
- Time is not
- on my side.
It's so frustrating
to have the models there,
- and I'm still painting
- this damn shell.
- I cannot screw up
- right now,
- especially in the finale,
- where everything is on the line.
****
- Having trouble,
- Alison?
- There's no such thing
- as being safe.
- Either you win
- or you don't win.
- [sighs]
- This sucks.
****
[dramatic music]
[energetic music]
- Right there.
- Perfect.
- For this concept challenge
for this grand finale,
we are painting
an 8x8 feet backdrop.
We have to blend one model
into the backdrop
and make the other model
the focal point of the piece.
- This is the toughest challenge,
- the biggest challenge,
and I've never felt
as much pressure
as I'm feeling
right now.
- Alison winning
- the first challenge
is definitely
a huge threat to me.
- And now
- I'm peeking over,
and I'm thinking,
"You got to be better.
"You got to just do it
a little bit bigger
- than what Alison's
- got going on."
- All right, ladies,
we got four hours left.
- Dude, like, what happened
to all of our entire day?
- Right?
- I had a little bit
- of a rocky start
- launching into
- this final challenge,
but now I'm feeling
like this advantage
could really help me
keep my momentum going.
- Now I finally get
- to look around the room
and see what
everyone else has.
Looks amazing.
Is she gonna be a wasp?
- She's gonna be
- a bee.
- Beautiful.
- Yeah.
- What's her wings
- gonna look like?
- [inhales]
- Huh.
- Forgot about that.
Wow.
You can't mess up
those small details,
because you only
have this chance.
- So if you don't make
- it work at this point,
then you're throwing in
the towel.
- You guys, we've got
- two hours left!
- Two hours left.
- Two hours.
- How you feeling, Ricky?
- I'll get it done.
- I'll get it done.
- I feel like you stuttered
on that answer right there.
- No, it's looking great.
- At this point,
- I kind of just sit back
- and see
- the bigger picture,
and see how I could incorporate
a focal point in there.
- I figure to put one,
- uh, sole survivor
in the jungle,
- something similar
- to "Tarzan ."
- I know I'm not painting
- the whole body,
and I feel like I'm
putting myself at risk,
but I definitely want
to make it stand out.
- How are you doing,
- Alison?
- Good.
- All right.
- Rick has so much time
- on this backdrop,
- and his blend
- looks amazing.
- And here he is just putting
- a couple stripes on her,
phoning it in with
his focal-point model.
So I'm hoping that
that skin on his model
keeps him
from winning.
[dramatic music]
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- You like my bee?
- I like your bee.
- Fly like a butterfly.
- Sting like a bee.
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
- How you think it
stacks up against yours?
- Against mine?
- Yeah.
- Girl, man.
There's a big gap in between.
- I don't know if it's
- a good one or a bad one,
but we'll find out.
I feel like Brittney's
doing a beautiful job,
but there's not as much
creativity going on.
And Alison, I mean,
she has more creativity
ongoing with the water,
- the cloud,
- the shells.
But it could go any way
at this point.
- You guys, there's
only ten minutes left!
both: Whoo!
- Get your last details in
- 'cause this is it.
This is the end.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- Time's up!
- Tools down!
- Whoo!
- Painters, congratulations!
- You did it.
- It looks so beautiful!
- How you feeling?
- Amazing.
- Yup, let's do it.
- Okay, painters.
This is your
final presentation.
One of you will be named
the "Skin Wars" champion.
- I'll see you
- over at the stage.
- Okay, bye.
- Whew.
- I can't believe
- I've just finished
the very last challenge
of "Skin Wars."
It's over.
This is $100,000.
This is win it
or go home empty-handed.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Come on, come on.
- Let's go this way,
- my man.
- Welcome, painters,
to the grand finale
of season three of "Skin Wars."
In the end,
one of you will be named
"Skin Wars" champion
and win an all-expense-paid
trip for two
to the World Bodypainting
Festival in Austria,
a custom stencil line
with your name on it,
courtesy of Bad Ass Stencils,
and...
$100,000.
Let's say hello
to our esteemed judges:
world-champion master
body painter, Craig Tracy;
the owner of Skin City
Body Painting, Robin Slonina;
and the reigning queen
of transformation,
international icon
RuPaul Charles.
- Honored to be here.
- Painters, please step
to the side of the stage.
[dramatic piano music]
- Seeing that this is
- the last piece
that you're gonna create
on this stage is amazing.
♪ ♪
I have both
warm and cool colors
that are just
vibrant and beautiful.
I love the frequency
that the background
- is putting off
- with all of the energy
that it has in it.
- I feel like I've
- completed a piece
exactly the way
I wanted to do it.
[upbeat hip-hop music]
♪ ♪
- I'm so happy
- with the outcome.
I just feel like
it has a lot of contrast
and plenty of detail
that makes it so unique.
♪ ♪
My backdrop shows my skills
in mural painting,
and it makes me realize
all that hard work paid off.
I feel like I took a risk
stepping outside the box
with my survivor
in the jungle.
Overall, I couldn't
be any happier.
[upbeat pop music]
- I'm super excited
to see my piece
- in it--
- all its glory.
- Wow.
- Yeah, wow.
- My focal-point model really
does look like a goddess,
and my backdrop looks
like a set
for a movie
or an opera,
but if I had
had an extra 30 minutes,
I would have done more
with that shell.
It almost looks
like I didn't paint it.
I'm honestly
seeing myself winning
this $100,000
right now.
- Absolutely outstanding work,
painters.
- Next, the judges want to know
- more about your work
- before they make
- a decision
that could change
your lives forever.
Brittney, please step
to the center stage.
- Coming into
- the challenge,
I wanted to show that
throughout this competition,
I've learned to adapt
in every way that I could.
- My model
- down towards the bottom is
represented as a bee.
And at times, you do
have to sting a little
- in order to get
- what you want.
And through the flower,
I wanted to represent
beauty and blossoming.
The butterfly is also
a rebirth of everything
that I've been through,
going from not having much
as a child.
And watching my mother
come in today
- to share this experience
- with me
- has kind of just
- set everything in place.
- Beautiful.
- I love how
that flower represents
the grace
within the storm.
That represents
who you are:
a true survivor.
- Means a lot, Ru.
- Thank you.
- That blend
is just gorgeous.
I wish that
her wings popped out.
They're getting a little bit
lost in the waves
because they both have
that strong white highlight.
Overall, I just think you did
such a beautiful job.
- Thank you.
- Brittney,
beautifully radiant piece,
but, um,
I'm a little troubled
by the scale of the bee
to the butterfly.
It seems like that butterfly
would be the size of a quarter,
- but you should be
- very proud.
- Thank you.
- Brittney, why should you
win "Skin Wars?"
- To be able to go
and hug my grandpa
and give him something
to be proud of
before he leaves...
[sniffs]
Would mean the world.
- Thank you, Brittney.
- Thank you.
[gentle music]
- Rick, you're up next.
- Well, first of all, I mean,
- it's the grand finale, guys.
- I mean, ****.
- That's right.
- Bravo!
- Whoo!
- Everybody's been
- so emotional today, so,
you know, I'm just trying to
pump the game back up.
But, I mean, damn,
it's been a long challenge,
- and I'm just
- so happy to be here.
Being in the final challenge,
I wanted to step my game up,
- and I wanted to leave
- with a work
- that I'll be
- proud of.
I wanted to make
a backdrop about a jungle,
and I wanted to incorporate,
like, a big iguana in there
with a lot of details.
And the focal point,
- it's just a lady
- in the jungle
- trying to get
- some food out there.
- Did you airbrush
- the river?
- Yes, the river
- was airbrushed.
- What does that lady represent?
- Surviving.
- I feel like
- that's me growing up,
- having to be
- a survivor in the streets.
And just seeing
dead people in the streets
- is just something
- I'm never gonna forget.
And no matter win or lose,
I'm proud of this,
and this is it.
- I got to tell you,
I'm looking at your work,
and I want to slap
the **** out of you.
[dramatic music]
- I'm looking
at your work,
and I want to slap
the **** out of you
because I cannot deal
with the amount of beauty
that you are showing
in your work here.
[voice cracks]
To have seen this kid emerge
from--from this--
this hard-ass
background,
- and looking at
- this young man here,
who's 20 years old,
I'm blown away.
- Thank you.
- [exhales]
- To see Ru cry,
I mean, this whole competition,
- he's just been
- so straightforward.
And to see him break down,
it's just--
- I mean, that's what art
- is all about, you know?
Touching anybody's heart.
I'm proud of that.
- I'll never forgive
- you for this.
- [laughs]
- Rick, your mural-painting
- background
- obviously
- served you well here.
Your blend is flawless,
but your Amazon warrior,
it does feel a little bit
under-painted to me.
I would have liked to see
all of that care and beauty
- that you put
- into your backdrop
used on your
focal-point model.
- The overall composition,
the fluidity of this piece
is really well-done.
Your focal point
is the iguana
because you draw us in
with so much detail.
Unfortunately,
your focal point
is supposed to be
that warrior.
- To be honest, I didn't picture
this would be the outcome.
I mean, this was just
improvising my way through.
- Thank you, Rick.
Alison, you're up next.
- So I wanted
- to show the transition
between coming in,
- sort of shrinking
- into the background,
and then through all
the trials and tribulations
we've had here with
the storm in the background,
I've emerged
as the powerful artist
- that I was
- meant to be.
- It is absolutely
gorgeous.
You know, the Venus coming
out of the shell like that,
it's so boss.
- Alison,
the watery gown
is gorgeous in contrast
to the pink oyster shell.
I love the contrast
to that pose,
to your blended pose.
- That was brilliant
- as well.
Now, I got to
talk a little bit
about this
bald cap issue.
- When you're
- doing a blend,
you really need to
factor in the composition.
If you have
a very smooth surface,
it's gonna
be virtually impossible
- to make
- your model disappear,
- and the same goes,
- actually,
for the
butt crack issue.
- It just
- didn't do it.
- But focal point,
she is just shazam.
You achieved
such realism
in the rest
of the composition.
The fact that the shell's
a bit under-painted
and not as realistic,
it is a little bit
off-putting.
But, you know, overall,
I think you did
a great job.
- Thank you, Alison.
- Thank you.
[upbeat hip-hop music]
- Now it's time
- for the judges
to decide who will be
"Skin Wars" champion.
- Please head back
- to the lounge,
- and we'll call you back
- in a little bit.
This is the big one.
What do you think?
- Rick's painting
blew me away.
The jungle representing
what he's been through,
and the warrior
is actually Rick.
- The detail that he put
into the iguana was exceptional.
It really worked for me.
- When we were just
looking at their backdrops,
- I thought he had it
- in the bag.
- I just wish
- that he would have
put the same attention
to his focal-point model,
- because it felt
- so under-painted.
- He stuck
- to his strengths,
- and he knew
- in this situation
- his strengths
- were that backdrop.
- We haven't mentioned
the most important thing,
which is the painted model,
because it was so...
- It was so well-done.
- Beautifully done.
- Yes.
- Mm-hmm.
I saw so much maturity
in Alison's work.
- That electrical storm
with the ocean
and the emergence
of this goddess,
it was beautiful
to look at.
- I loved what she painted
on her focal-point model.
It looked like a,
a watery gown.
- There was
- some technical things
- that I got a little
- tripped up on.
- The bald cap
- was distracting.
Her pink box
was distracting.
I was willing
to forgive those things,
- and she also has the advantage
- of the first challenge.
- Yes, Alison did win
the first challenge,
but Rick and Brittney
- leveled
- the playing field
by the things
they did in this challenge.
- I think Brittney
presented the most polished
piece of the evening.
- Brittney's really
hit her frequency.
She's really on point
with who she is right now
- as a woman,
- as an artist.
- The way that
she painted her model,
then the wings
on the backdrop.
- And she had that butterfly,
- and then the shadow of the
butterfly on the backdrop,
really clever decisions.
But I wish that that butterfly
was a little bit bigger.
- And it's funny because
- my eye kind of
- accepted it until
- you pointed it out.
- I didn't mind
- it so much.
I love how huge that,
that rose was because, again,
it's really the story of
Brittney in "Skin Wars."
- Right.
- I wish she
- would have put something
in that blue corner other
than what she provided.
- Okay, you're judging
the final image.
- Which one wowed
- you the most?
- Rick's,
- and I agree--
- You were definitely
- hypnotized by that piece.
- Well, you know, I--
- There was no drama in there.
- In Rick's?
- And there was no maturity of--
- Rick's?
- Yeah.
- You're talking
- about Rick's?
- It's a postcard image
- of nature--the lightning?
- It was beautiful.
- It was beautiful.
- Compare that to your river...
- It was gorgeous.
- And tell me about power.
- Yeah, but you know, it's--
- You're comparing
- a goddess to a warrior.
- Yeah.
- And our goddess
is clearly the winner.
- I mean, overall,
I think Brittney really...
To me--I loved
Brittney's final image.
It was very polished.
- The only thing
- I can really criticize
- is the size
- of her butterfly.
- Well, I don't envy
you tonight, guys.
- My big dilemma here
is which one had
the most impactful
final image.
- It's all over the map
- 'cause some people
did really well on one element
and not the other.
- At the end of the day,
which one of these paintings
wowed us the most?
- So have you made
your decision?
- all: Yes.
- Finally.
- Yes.
[dramatic hip-hop music]
♪ ♪
- Your final paintings
were phenomenal,
but there can be
only one champion
of season three
of "Skin Wars."
♪ ♪
Please step forward.
[intense music]
♪ ♪
- Brittney, your overall image
was just so picture-perfect.
I thought you did
a really great job,
and it was
very mature.
- Brittney...
I'm sorry,
you are not the winner.
- Brittney, you
disappointed no one tonight.
You should be so proud
of yourself.
Your future is bright.
- I'm a winner
in so many different ways.
You guys have pushed me
to my limits
- in the best way
- possible.
[crying]
All right, guys.
Thank you.
It's a great feeling
knowing that I put everything
into it that I wanted to,
in my art,
in my life,
in everything
that I have to come.
[dramatic music]
- Rick...
Alison...
this is it.
It's down to one of you.
The winner of the
$100,000 grand prize is...
♪ ♪
- Rick...
Alison...
it's down to one of you.
[dramatic music]
- Rick, I love the creativity
of your piece.
It was a representation
of how you've survived,
not only in the jungle of the
mean streets of your home town,
but the jungle
of "Skin Wars."
- Alison,
the dynamic tension
that you created
in this painting
was explosive.
The storm,
the waves,
your goddess.
You're that goddess.
Great work.
- Both of your paintings
excelled.
In the end, it came
down to who had
the most mind-blowing
final image.
♪ ♪
It's time to announce
our season three champion.
♪ ♪
The name of our
"Skin Wars" champion
is painted on
the backs of these models.
♪ ♪
This is it.
The winner of the $100,000
grand prize is...
♪ ♪
Rick!
Congratulations!
You've won the $100,000 and
title of "Skin Wars" champion.
- [laughs]
- I'm the winner!
- Yes, you are!
- Yeah!
- You did it.
- Wow, man.
- Alison, this was
- the hardest decision
the judges have ever had
to make in a "Skin Wars" finale.
You've done incredible work
while you were here,
- and it was a pleasure
- to get to know you.
- Likewise.
- We wish you all the best.
[uplifting music]
♪ ♪
- Rick,
congratulations!
Whoo-hoo!
You did it.
- Whoo!
This is--yeah!
Man, this is so--
I'm so pumped up.
- [giggling]
[squealing and laughing]
- Wow.
- Wow!
- That's the American Dream.
- This is the best feeling
right here,
having my mom with me,
it's just the best.
- I wouldn't be
- who I am right now
if it wasn't for her
taking me away
from the violence,
from the drugs,
from the gangs
and everything.
- I'm here to
- make her proud.
To see my mom here
- and to see me at the top
- of something that I love doing,
- this is just
- an amazing feeling.
- I'm the first guy
- to win "Skin Wars!"
- That's right!
- Yeah, baby!
- That's what
- I'm talking about!
- Yes!
Congratulations!
- Here I am, baby.
- You know, first guy to win,
- the youngest competitor.
I can't believe I took on
all these painters, you know?
It's an amazing feeling
just to be the best,
and now that I have the title
of "Skin Wars," you know,
I mean, this is a
body-painting career for me.
It's just starting new,
and I just want to keep
painting bodies
for the rest of my life.
- And the winner is...
- Yeah!
[cheering and clapping]
- to compete
for the grand prize,
$100,000,
and the ultimate title
of "Skin Wars" champion.
In the intense world
of competitive body painting,
you can either keep your cool,
or turn up the heat.
- ♪ This ain't no illusion,
- babe ♪
♪ Yeah, you're heaven made ♪
It's a sizzling season three
of "Skin Wars."
[upbeat electronic music]
- [gasps]
- There's presents.
- We have presents.
- What?
- Ah.
I made it
to the top!
I'm ecstatic.
This is it.
Now it's just down
to one of us.
One of us is going to be
the winner of "Skin Wars."
- Welcome to the
"Skin Wars" finale.
[all cheer]
Congratulations! You made it!
- Whoo!
I'm in the grand finale
of "Skin Wars."
Man, what a dream.
If I won "Skin Wars,"
my parents would be proud.
- My friends
- would be proud.
- The whole community
- of El Paso
- and Ciudad Juárez
- would be proud.
- You've really
earned this position,
and I am so proud
of you all.
- It's so fun
- to think that
one of you is gonna be
$100,000 richer.
- This is where you have
to pull out all the stops.
If I win "Skin Wars,"
I'll be able to get
my family finally out of debt.
So much weight will be
lifted off my shoulders.
I can almost taste
that $100,000 right now.
- The winner of "Skin Wars"
- will receive
- an all-expense-paid
- trip for two
to the World Bodypainting
Festival in Austria,
your own custom line
of stencils with your name
on it from Bad Ass Stencils,
and not to mention,
the $100,000 grand prize.
- Oh, my God.
I want it so bad.
My grandpa's back home
rooting for me,
and I really want
to make my mom proud.
- Painters, all of you
have gifted us
with some of the best artwork
in the history of "Skin Wars."
For this challenge,
we want to give you a gift.
As you can see,
there is a gift box
in front of each of you.
Inside each box
is something special
to inspire you
for your first challenge.
All right, Rick, let's see
what's inside your gift box.
- Sweet.
What?
- Oh, wow.
- Whoa!
- [chuckles] It just couldn't be
- a bigger surprise.
♪ ♪
- I know how to play
- the trumpet, you know?
- That's something
- I do in--back at home
- whenever I'm going
- through hard times.
Music really heals
my inner wounds.
- It was
- the best present.
♪ ♪
Yeah!
- Rick, you are full
of surprises.
- Love it.
- Brittney.
- Oh, boy.
[sentimental piano music]
♪ ♪
My journal!
That's really sweet,
you guys.
- It says,
- "Shoot for the moon.
Even if you miss,
you'll land amongst the stars."
- It's kind of
- been my motto.
My family always tells me
that no matter what,
I always do great,
and even if
I don't make it,
- I've already inspired
- so many people.
So... it means
a lot to me.
[sniffs]
- Okay, Alison?
- Okay.
[gasps]
Oh, my God.
[crying]
- [crying and laughing]
- Oh, my God.
It's my belly cast!
- [all exclaim, applaud]
- Oh, my God.
- Wow.
- [laughs]
- My son is
my whole world,
and that belly cast just
reminded me of what it was like
to have that mystery inside me
and feeling life inside me.
It's just so powerful.
- It can't even
- be put into words.
- Before we get started,
we have one more gift for you.
- There's more?
- Oh, my God.
[gentle music]
♪ ♪
Oh, my God.
Hi, bub!
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
It's been ten weeks
since I've seen
my family and my son.
Oh, my God.
Hi.
It's just been
such a hard journey,
and having them here
- will recharge my batteries
- right now for sure.
- Are you happy
- to see your mommy?
- Yeah.
- I missed you
so much, bub.
[dramatic music]
- Rick.
- Yeah.
- I see my mom
- and my brother,
and I'm just
so excited to see them.
- I love you, baby.
- Man, it feels good.
Uuh.
- This is
- my beautiful mother,
- and this is
- my beautiful brother, man.
I miss them so much.
If it wasn't for my mother
bringing me to the States,
- I probably wouldn't even
- be an artist.
I'd probably be stuck
in a whole different lifestyle.
It definitely feels good
to reunite with my family.
- Okay, Brittney.
- We also have
- a gift for you.
- Yeah.
I'm ready.
[crying]
Hi, Mom.
- Hi.
So proud of you.
- My mom is the strongest person
- I have in my life.
- She's been through
- so much,
and I look up to her
in every way possible.
This is my lovely mother.
- Hello.
- Are you surprised to see
Brittney here in the finale?
- No, I'm not
surprised at all.
- Painters, you will
create a painting
- that illustrates
- how the object
in the gift box
is meaningful to you.
This is a waist-up,
front and back,
360 degree design.
- Get clear-headed,
get focused,
- and trust
- your instincts
because it's
gotten you this far.
- You have three hours
to complete this challenge.
- The judges will
- consider your work
- from both
- this challenge
and the upcoming
concept challenge to determine
who will be this season's
"Skin Wars" champion.
Your time starts... now.
- Good luck.
- Okay. Love you.
- I love you.
- You guys make
- yourselves comfortable.
- Okay.
[upbeat music]
- Things are about
- to get serious.
- Hey!
- Welcome, welcome.
- Hi.
- Pasties?
- Yeah.
- All right, I got you.
- This is my mom.
- Hi.
- It's a push-pull
- situation,
having your mother there
right behind you,
- watching you along the way,
- and you wanting
to do your best work
at the same time.
- So it's a bit
- distracting for me.
Bring your mom to work day.
- [laughs]
[electronic music]
- There you go, honey.
- Beautiful.
- And then there's the--
- That's all I can do today,
- honey.
Ugh.
As a mom, I'm so
tuned into every move
my four-year-old makes.
I'm programmed
to attend to that.
- How the hell
- am I gonna tune that out
- while I'm trying
- to work?
- [babbling]
- Having my mom and
my brother watch me paint,
- it just makes me
- work harder.
The $100,000 will
give me the funds
- to help my mom
- get out of debt.
Can I have you put
your hands straight for me?
Just like that.
So for my piece,
I want to do a landscape
of both of my hometowns:
Ciudad Juárez
and El Paso, Texas.
- On the back,
- I want to draw a heart,
and I want to put
music notes around it,
and that explains
my love for music.
- [speaking Spanish]
- I want to put the music,
how it unites everything for me.
And how I carry it in my heart.
- [speaking Spanish]
- I think it's good
- that you're painting
- what you're feeling
and what comes out of you
in your heart,
that's what's reflected there.
- Wow.
- Hi, bub.
- Shh.
I feel really strong
about my concept.
- I want to do a shape
- that's sort of
reminiscent of
a pregnant belly,
and I also want to give
the feeling of that life
moving upward
and changing the face.
- On the back,
- I know that I want
to incorporate
an exploding volcano
- because my son
- loves volcanoes.
After I had my son,
I felt that sort of calm of,
- like, deep water,
- so I wanted
to have those
two very different elements.
- The paint
looks beautiful.
- It--you think
- it looks beautiful?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
- So do you want
- to come paint with me?
- Make this easier?
- Yeah.
You can't do that.
- Okay. [laughs]
- That's cheating.
I really want to
take this quote
and bring it to life.
So my concept is
to have
me shooting paintbrushes
at the moon,
and on the back of it,
I really want to
bring to life
what my family is for me.
They're always that
North Star for me.
You guys, we have
30 minutes left!
[trance music]
- Lawrence Lee
- is why I'm here.
- I've got to win this
- for him.
If I win "Skin Wars,"
I'll be able to provide
the future that I want
to give to my little boy.
The stakes are really high.
- All right, girls,
we got one minute left.
- All right, one minute!
- Oh.
- All right.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- Painters!
- Whoo!
- Time's up,
- tools down!
- Oh-oh!
- [giggles]
- Whoo!
- [laughs]
- Okay, well,
the judges and I
- can't wait to get
- a closer look
- and talk to you
- about your work.
Alison?
- When Lawrence Lee
- was inside my belly,
it just felt like I had
every speck of life
that's ever existed
from the beginning of time
was, like, inside of me,
and it's sort of
shooting light
up here.
And on the back,
before I had him, I felt
like I was always a volcano,
- blowing up easily
- all the time,
- and then after
- I had him,
- I felt myself
- move to this
so much deeper,
calmer place.
- Technically,
it's beautiful.
You've got every color
in the rainbow,
beautiful detail,
and we love it.
- Hello, Brittney.
- Hello.
- Gwen.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- So I have a bow
- and arrow down here
that's shooting paintbrushes
towards the moon,
and I just haven't made it
quite there yet.
On the back of her,
it's a North Star
because no matter where
I land in the stars,
my family is always going to be
the biggest star in my life.
- I like the texture
that you did behind the star.
- I was really going
for a very faint and subtle
universe effect because
my family is my universe.
- Great.
- Thank you, Brittney.
- Thank you.
- All right, so in this piece,
I incorporated our hometown,
which is
Ciudad Juárez, Mexico,
and right above that,
it's the landscape
of El Paso, Texas,
and there's a huge star
on the mountain,
- and that represents
- El Paso.
- I was involved
- in graffiti,
- and I threw some graffiti lines
- on the buildings.
- Did he get in big trouble
- for graffiti?
- [speaking Spanish] That's why
I brought him from Juárez
to the United States
so that he can have
better opportunities.
- In the back, I wanted
to incorporate something
for the love of music.
I wanted to do
a heart bleeding.
Music is a big influence
in my life.
- You are the youngest painter
in "Skin Wars" history.
What do you think
the reason
- you've made it
- so far is?
- For me,
- in this competition,
I gained confidence
that made me realize
how much of a
strong mind I have.
- Thank you, Rick.
So what'd you think?
- Alison's painting,
for me, I just loved.
There was just a lot
of positivity happening.
- She had so many
- little details.
You know, she had all of
that beautiful line work
- up the arms.
- Gorgeous.
- And how the
sort of alchemy
- of becoming a mother
- changed her.
- Mm-hmm.
- And I saw that.
- Brittney's piece,
for me, the front,
it's so well-rendered.
- Mm-hmm.
- We've got unique
compositional elements,
but the back, for me,
didn't have
the same strength.
- I felt a little bit
- mixed on that.
- The beautiful blue
- on the face
- with the moon
- on the face,
I--I really did
buy that.
- I really liked
- Rick's piece.
I just wasn't super crazy
about his color palette.
- I just felt like...
- Oh, going back to dark?
- It was a bit
- too muddy for me.
- I don't mind
- the darkness.
- I thought it was
- beautifully painted.
I love the fact that
he used glitter in there.
It showed his
youth and exuberance.
- That painting told me
a story about a young man
whose life has changed.
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay.
- Have you made a decision?
- I think we got it.
- Painters,
although all of your
inspirational paintings
wowed us, there can be
only one winner.
And the winner is...
- I'm, like, dying
for this advantage right now.
You have no idea.
- Although all of your
inspirational paintings
wowed us, there can be
only one winner.
Judges?
- Alison, I love the color,
the energy,
- and the flow
- of your piece.
- Rick, I really love
that personal story you told.
- And that glitter
- you used
was so unexpected
and beautiful.
- Brittney, the moon face
was just lovely on your model,
- and it looked
- so nice against
that deep-blue space
background you gave her.
- And the winner is...
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Alison!
- Yay!
- Congratulations,
- you're the winner.
- Beautiful thing!
I know this is gonna count
in the final judging.
- I've kind of
- got this right now.
I'm gonna be the freaking
season three winner.
I knew you were
my good luck charm.
- This sucks.
I'm a bit worried, you know?
- 'Cause she's already
- ahead of the competition
for this grand finale.
[dramatic music]
- In this final
- concept challenge,
you will be painting
two models
and a backdrop.
You must blend one model
into the backdrop
and have the second model
stand out
as the focal point
in this piece.
- Holy ****.
- I haven't painted
- a canvas in years,
and it took me months
to paint that damn thing.
Plus, two models?
It's insane.
It's just crazy talk.
- You will have
ten hours
to complete
your final paintings.
- I have no idea
how I'm going to
make this work.
- This is some real-world stuff
that we're asking you to do.
You guys have
no limits
on your imagination
and creativity here.
- The judges will take
into consideration your work
from both your first challenge
and this concept challenge
- to determine
- who will ultimately
become this season's
"Skin Wars" champion.
This is it.
We'll see you tomorrow.
[energetic music]
♪ ♪
- Okay.
- [clapping]
- This is some serious stuff,
you guys.
- This is the craziest challenge
I have ever seen on "Skin Wars."
Not only do we have
two models to paint,
we also have
an 8x8 canvas;
and we have to incorporate
our two models into it,
but this is the finale,
and we're all fighting
for the title.
- We all want
- to do our best.
Ricky, you feeling like you
at home right now?
- Hell yeah.
- [laughs]
- Everything
- in this challenge
- is nothing new for me,
- you know?
Murals, camouflage,
details.
- This is something
- I've been doing for years,
- but I'm a bit worried,
- you know?
- 'Cause, man,
- now that Alison
won the first challenge,
I got to catch up
and push myself
even harder
in this final challenge.
[upbeat music]
- Okay, what am I doing?
- I'm a little intimidated
- because Brittney
paints canvases a lot.
- She works big.
- I know that Rick works big.
- I'm just trying
- not to panic.
- I just need to paint
- my ass off right now,
and I just start
rolling out paint.
So my concept
is to paint myself
as a goddess coming
out of a shell,
and I am thinking of
the ocean and the waves
and feeling like
this reborn goddess.
- I've changed
- and transformed
from the first day
till now.
[all screaming]
- I came into
- this competition
- feeling like
- I wasn't good enough.
[exhales]
I don't want that to
- subconsciously sabotage
- what we're doing.
- I almost feel like
- throwing myself under the bus
because I feel like Kyera
should just be here.
Like, this is so her.
But then with each challenge,
I've gained more confidence.
- Oh, my God.
- Yara Sofia, you are
the first ever Ms. "Skin Wars!"
- Yeah!
- I feel like
- I'm a contender,
- and I really want
- to keep that momentum going.
Ah!
[electronic music]
- I love working
with big canvases.
My concept today
is a jungle.
It's inspired by
my struggle of me
going through my childhood
and surviving.
I had to fight to get
to where I am right now.
Being here in "Skin Wars,"
I've learned a lot.
- I didn't think I was gonna
- make it this far,
- especially being
- the youngest.
- What is this again?
- [laughter]
All right, let me see--
oh, ****.
I was having trouble with
the first couple of challenges.
- I'd love for the painting
to speak for itself.
- Well, that's definitely
- something I should have done.
- I feel like
you just woke the **** up.
[laughter]
- Now I'm more confident.
- Rick, you're a magician.
- Congratulations, Rick.
You are the winner.
- Oh, yeah, baby.
- I need to win
- this competition,
not just for me,
but for my family.
- If my mama had never
- taken me out
- of Ciudad Juárez,
- I'd be dead.
I'd probably be stuck
in drug trafficking.
- So I want to win
- this prize for her.
Yeah!
- Okay, you guys,
there's only seven hours left...
- Whoo, oh, God.
- For this ginormous,
life-changing project.
- Hey!
- Hey.
What up, ladies?
- I spent three hours
working on this backdrop.
The models show up
- right as I'm about to
- start painting my shell.
[sighs]
- I don't know if you guys
- want to,
like, grab a seat,
turn on your heater.
The model's there,
and I'm looking at them like,
- "I want to be
- painting you right now.
- I really need to be
- getting this done."
- And the clock
- is ticking,
and I'm still working
on this stupid backdrop.
And I'm feeling like my shell
is gonna suffer in the end
because I'm rushing it
like crazy,
and it's just
looking really sloppy.
- Hand down just a little bit.
Right there.
My concept and how I want
to place my models
plays into everything
that I've gone through,
from beginning to end,
- throughout
- this whole experience.
I am painting
a large-scale rose.
So I have one model placed
within the rose itself,
standing tall,
because that's the one
- that's going
- to blossom throughout,
- like I have
- in this competition.
- And I've positioned
- my other model
closer towards the corner
to be this bee that is
willing to take a chance
- and sting
- when they need to
- because that's what I've
- tried to do
this entire way through.
- Looking back now
- at who I was
- when I came
- into this competition,
I felt really confident
about showing everyone
what I'm capable of.
- I figured if I was gonna
- be stuck with a challenge,
- I might as well
- go big or go home.
It was tough flying
under the radar for so long.
- You're safe.
You're safe.
You are safe.
- I was feeling
all of this self-doubt.
- I just felt that that was
a missed opportunity.
- But, now,
- I totally feel like
- I'm hitting my stride
- at the right time.
- Brittney,
- you're the winner.
- I got one,
- you guys!
- Look at that!
- Just gorge-y, girl.
- Winning this
- would change my world.
- Everybody back home
- is counting on me.
My grandpa is battling
pancreatic cancer
and hanging on
at home.
My mom is there
behind me 100%.
- So proud of you.
- I'm doing it
for them.
- Beautiful, you guys.
- Okay.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Okay, I really want
- to start you guys.
- Time is not
- on my side.
It's so frustrating
to have the models there,
- and I'm still painting
- this damn shell.
- I cannot screw up
- right now,
- especially in the finale,
- where everything is on the line.
****
- Having trouble,
- Alison?
- There's no such thing
- as being safe.
- Either you win
- or you don't win.
- [sighs]
- This sucks.
****
[dramatic music]
[energetic music]
- Right there.
- Perfect.
- For this concept challenge
for this grand finale,
we are painting
an 8x8 feet backdrop.
We have to blend one model
into the backdrop
and make the other model
the focal point of the piece.
- This is the toughest challenge,
- the biggest challenge,
and I've never felt
as much pressure
as I'm feeling
right now.
- Alison winning
- the first challenge
is definitely
a huge threat to me.
- And now
- I'm peeking over,
and I'm thinking,
"You got to be better.
"You got to just do it
a little bit bigger
- than what Alison's
- got going on."
- All right, ladies,
we got four hours left.
- Dude, like, what happened
to all of our entire day?
- Right?
- I had a little bit
- of a rocky start
- launching into
- this final challenge,
but now I'm feeling
like this advantage
could really help me
keep my momentum going.
- Now I finally get
- to look around the room
and see what
everyone else has.
Looks amazing.
Is she gonna be a wasp?
- She's gonna be
- a bee.
- Beautiful.
- Yeah.
- What's her wings
- gonna look like?
- [inhales]
- Huh.
- Forgot about that.
Wow.
You can't mess up
those small details,
because you only
have this chance.
- So if you don't make
- it work at this point,
then you're throwing in
the towel.
- You guys, we've got
- two hours left!
- Two hours left.
- Two hours.
- How you feeling, Ricky?
- I'll get it done.
- I'll get it done.
- I feel like you stuttered
on that answer right there.
- No, it's looking great.
- At this point,
- I kind of just sit back
- and see
- the bigger picture,
and see how I could incorporate
a focal point in there.
- I figure to put one,
- uh, sole survivor
in the jungle,
- something similar
- to "Tarzan ."
- I know I'm not painting
- the whole body,
and I feel like I'm
putting myself at risk,
but I definitely want
to make it stand out.
- How are you doing,
- Alison?
- Good.
- All right.
- Rick has so much time
- on this backdrop,
- and his blend
- looks amazing.
- And here he is just putting
- a couple stripes on her,
phoning it in with
his focal-point model.
So I'm hoping that
that skin on his model
keeps him
from winning.
[dramatic music]
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- You like my bee?
- I like your bee.
- Fly like a butterfly.
- Sting like a bee.
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
- How you think it
stacks up against yours?
- Against mine?
- Yeah.
- Girl, man.
There's a big gap in between.
- I don't know if it's
- a good one or a bad one,
but we'll find out.
I feel like Brittney's
doing a beautiful job,
but there's not as much
creativity going on.
And Alison, I mean,
she has more creativity
ongoing with the water,
- the cloud,
- the shells.
But it could go any way
at this point.
- You guys, there's
only ten minutes left!
both: Whoo!
- Get your last details in
- 'cause this is it.
This is the end.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- Time's up!
- Tools down!
- Whoo!
- Painters, congratulations!
- You did it.
- It looks so beautiful!
- How you feeling?
- Amazing.
- Yup, let's do it.
- Okay, painters.
This is your
final presentation.
One of you will be named
the "Skin Wars" champion.
- I'll see you
- over at the stage.
- Okay, bye.
- Whew.
- I can't believe
- I've just finished
the very last challenge
of "Skin Wars."
It's over.
This is $100,000.
This is win it
or go home empty-handed.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Come on, come on.
- Let's go this way,
- my man.
- Welcome, painters,
to the grand finale
of season three of "Skin Wars."
In the end,
one of you will be named
"Skin Wars" champion
and win an all-expense-paid
trip for two
to the World Bodypainting
Festival in Austria,
a custom stencil line
with your name on it,
courtesy of Bad Ass Stencils,
and...
$100,000.
Let's say hello
to our esteemed judges:
world-champion master
body painter, Craig Tracy;
the owner of Skin City
Body Painting, Robin Slonina;
and the reigning queen
of transformation,
international icon
RuPaul Charles.
- Honored to be here.
- Painters, please step
to the side of the stage.
[dramatic piano music]
- Seeing that this is
- the last piece
that you're gonna create
on this stage is amazing.
♪ ♪
I have both
warm and cool colors
that are just
vibrant and beautiful.
I love the frequency
that the background
- is putting off
- with all of the energy
that it has in it.
- I feel like I've
- completed a piece
exactly the way
I wanted to do it.
[upbeat hip-hop music]
♪ ♪
- I'm so happy
- with the outcome.
I just feel like
it has a lot of contrast
and plenty of detail
that makes it so unique.
♪ ♪
My backdrop shows my skills
in mural painting,
and it makes me realize
all that hard work paid off.
I feel like I took a risk
stepping outside the box
with my survivor
in the jungle.
Overall, I couldn't
be any happier.
[upbeat pop music]
- I'm super excited
to see my piece
- in it--
- all its glory.
- Wow.
- Yeah, wow.
- My focal-point model really
does look like a goddess,
and my backdrop looks
like a set
for a movie
or an opera,
but if I had
had an extra 30 minutes,
I would have done more
with that shell.
It almost looks
like I didn't paint it.
I'm honestly
seeing myself winning
this $100,000
right now.
- Absolutely outstanding work,
painters.
- Next, the judges want to know
- more about your work
- before they make
- a decision
that could change
your lives forever.
Brittney, please step
to the center stage.
- Coming into
- the challenge,
I wanted to show that
throughout this competition,
I've learned to adapt
in every way that I could.
- My model
- down towards the bottom is
represented as a bee.
And at times, you do
have to sting a little
- in order to get
- what you want.
And through the flower,
I wanted to represent
beauty and blossoming.
The butterfly is also
a rebirth of everything
that I've been through,
going from not having much
as a child.
And watching my mother
come in today
- to share this experience
- with me
- has kind of just
- set everything in place.
- Beautiful.
- I love how
that flower represents
the grace
within the storm.
That represents
who you are:
a true survivor.
- Means a lot, Ru.
- Thank you.
- That blend
is just gorgeous.
I wish that
her wings popped out.
They're getting a little bit
lost in the waves
because they both have
that strong white highlight.
Overall, I just think you did
such a beautiful job.
- Thank you.
- Brittney,
beautifully radiant piece,
but, um,
I'm a little troubled
by the scale of the bee
to the butterfly.
It seems like that butterfly
would be the size of a quarter,
- but you should be
- very proud.
- Thank you.
- Brittney, why should you
win "Skin Wars?"
- To be able to go
and hug my grandpa
and give him something
to be proud of
before he leaves...
[sniffs]
Would mean the world.
- Thank you, Brittney.
- Thank you.
[gentle music]
- Rick, you're up next.
- Well, first of all, I mean,
- it's the grand finale, guys.
- I mean, ****.
- That's right.
- Bravo!
- Whoo!
- Everybody's been
- so emotional today, so,
you know, I'm just trying to
pump the game back up.
But, I mean, damn,
it's been a long challenge,
- and I'm just
- so happy to be here.
Being in the final challenge,
I wanted to step my game up,
- and I wanted to leave
- with a work
- that I'll be
- proud of.
I wanted to make
a backdrop about a jungle,
and I wanted to incorporate,
like, a big iguana in there
with a lot of details.
And the focal point,
- it's just a lady
- in the jungle
- trying to get
- some food out there.
- Did you airbrush
- the river?
- Yes, the river
- was airbrushed.
- What does that lady represent?
- Surviving.
- I feel like
- that's me growing up,
- having to be
- a survivor in the streets.
And just seeing
dead people in the streets
- is just something
- I'm never gonna forget.
And no matter win or lose,
I'm proud of this,
and this is it.
- I got to tell you,
I'm looking at your work,
and I want to slap
the **** out of you.
[dramatic music]
- I'm looking
at your work,
and I want to slap
the **** out of you
because I cannot deal
with the amount of beauty
that you are showing
in your work here.
[voice cracks]
To have seen this kid emerge
from--from this--
this hard-ass
background,
- and looking at
- this young man here,
who's 20 years old,
I'm blown away.
- Thank you.
- [exhales]
- To see Ru cry,
I mean, this whole competition,
- he's just been
- so straightforward.
And to see him break down,
it's just--
- I mean, that's what art
- is all about, you know?
Touching anybody's heart.
I'm proud of that.
- I'll never forgive
- you for this.
- [laughs]
- Rick, your mural-painting
- background
- obviously
- served you well here.
Your blend is flawless,
but your Amazon warrior,
it does feel a little bit
under-painted to me.
I would have liked to see
all of that care and beauty
- that you put
- into your backdrop
used on your
focal-point model.
- The overall composition,
the fluidity of this piece
is really well-done.
Your focal point
is the iguana
because you draw us in
with so much detail.
Unfortunately,
your focal point
is supposed to be
that warrior.
- To be honest, I didn't picture
this would be the outcome.
I mean, this was just
improvising my way through.
- Thank you, Rick.
Alison, you're up next.
- So I wanted
- to show the transition
between coming in,
- sort of shrinking
- into the background,
and then through all
the trials and tribulations
we've had here with
the storm in the background,
I've emerged
as the powerful artist
- that I was
- meant to be.
- It is absolutely
gorgeous.
You know, the Venus coming
out of the shell like that,
it's so boss.
- Alison,
the watery gown
is gorgeous in contrast
to the pink oyster shell.
I love the contrast
to that pose,
to your blended pose.
- That was brilliant
- as well.
Now, I got to
talk a little bit
about this
bald cap issue.
- When you're
- doing a blend,
you really need to
factor in the composition.
If you have
a very smooth surface,
it's gonna
be virtually impossible
- to make
- your model disappear,
- and the same goes,
- actually,
for the
butt crack issue.
- It just
- didn't do it.
- But focal point,
she is just shazam.
You achieved
such realism
in the rest
of the composition.
The fact that the shell's
a bit under-painted
and not as realistic,
it is a little bit
off-putting.
But, you know, overall,
I think you did
a great job.
- Thank you, Alison.
- Thank you.
[upbeat hip-hop music]
- Now it's time
- for the judges
to decide who will be
"Skin Wars" champion.
- Please head back
- to the lounge,
- and we'll call you back
- in a little bit.
This is the big one.
What do you think?
- Rick's painting
blew me away.
The jungle representing
what he's been through,
and the warrior
is actually Rick.
- The detail that he put
into the iguana was exceptional.
It really worked for me.
- When we were just
looking at their backdrops,
- I thought he had it
- in the bag.
- I just wish
- that he would have
put the same attention
to his focal-point model,
- because it felt
- so under-painted.
- He stuck
- to his strengths,
- and he knew
- in this situation
- his strengths
- were that backdrop.
- We haven't mentioned
the most important thing,
which is the painted model,
because it was so...
- It was so well-done.
- Beautifully done.
- Yes.
- Mm-hmm.
I saw so much maturity
in Alison's work.
- That electrical storm
with the ocean
and the emergence
of this goddess,
it was beautiful
to look at.
- I loved what she painted
on her focal-point model.
It looked like a,
a watery gown.
- There was
- some technical things
- that I got a little
- tripped up on.
- The bald cap
- was distracting.
Her pink box
was distracting.
I was willing
to forgive those things,
- and she also has the advantage
- of the first challenge.
- Yes, Alison did win
the first challenge,
but Rick and Brittney
- leveled
- the playing field
by the things
they did in this challenge.
- I think Brittney
presented the most polished
piece of the evening.
- Brittney's really
hit her frequency.
She's really on point
with who she is right now
- as a woman,
- as an artist.
- The way that
she painted her model,
then the wings
on the backdrop.
- And she had that butterfly,
- and then the shadow of the
butterfly on the backdrop,
really clever decisions.
But I wish that that butterfly
was a little bit bigger.
- And it's funny because
- my eye kind of
- accepted it until
- you pointed it out.
- I didn't mind
- it so much.
I love how huge that,
that rose was because, again,
it's really the story of
Brittney in "Skin Wars."
- Right.
- I wish she
- would have put something
in that blue corner other
than what she provided.
- Okay, you're judging
the final image.
- Which one wowed
- you the most?
- Rick's,
- and I agree--
- You were definitely
- hypnotized by that piece.
- Well, you know, I--
- There was no drama in there.
- In Rick's?
- And there was no maturity of--
- Rick's?
- Yeah.
- You're talking
- about Rick's?
- It's a postcard image
- of nature--the lightning?
- It was beautiful.
- It was beautiful.
- Compare that to your river...
- It was gorgeous.
- And tell me about power.
- Yeah, but you know, it's--
- You're comparing
- a goddess to a warrior.
- Yeah.
- And our goddess
is clearly the winner.
- I mean, overall,
I think Brittney really...
To me--I loved
Brittney's final image.
It was very polished.
- The only thing
- I can really criticize
- is the size
- of her butterfly.
- Well, I don't envy
you tonight, guys.
- My big dilemma here
is which one had
the most impactful
final image.
- It's all over the map
- 'cause some people
did really well on one element
and not the other.
- At the end of the day,
which one of these paintings
wowed us the most?
- So have you made
your decision?
- all: Yes.
- Finally.
- Yes.
[dramatic hip-hop music]
♪ ♪
- Your final paintings
were phenomenal,
but there can be
only one champion
of season three
of "Skin Wars."
♪ ♪
Please step forward.
[intense music]
♪ ♪
- Brittney, your overall image
was just so picture-perfect.
I thought you did
a really great job,
and it was
very mature.
- Brittney...
I'm sorry,
you are not the winner.
- Brittney, you
disappointed no one tonight.
You should be so proud
of yourself.
Your future is bright.
- I'm a winner
in so many different ways.
You guys have pushed me
to my limits
- in the best way
- possible.
[crying]
All right, guys.
Thank you.
It's a great feeling
knowing that I put everything
into it that I wanted to,
in my art,
in my life,
in everything
that I have to come.
[dramatic music]
- Rick...
Alison...
this is it.
It's down to one of you.
The winner of the
$100,000 grand prize is...
♪ ♪
- Rick...
Alison...
it's down to one of you.
[dramatic music]
- Rick, I love the creativity
of your piece.
It was a representation
of how you've survived,
not only in the jungle of the
mean streets of your home town,
but the jungle
of "Skin Wars."
- Alison,
the dynamic tension
that you created
in this painting
was explosive.
The storm,
the waves,
your goddess.
You're that goddess.
Great work.
- Both of your paintings
excelled.
In the end, it came
down to who had
the most mind-blowing
final image.
♪ ♪
It's time to announce
our season three champion.
♪ ♪
The name of our
"Skin Wars" champion
is painted on
the backs of these models.
♪ ♪
This is it.
The winner of the $100,000
grand prize is...
♪ ♪
Rick!
Congratulations!
You've won the $100,000 and
title of "Skin Wars" champion.
- [laughs]
- I'm the winner!
- Yes, you are!
- Yeah!
- You did it.
- Wow, man.
- Alison, this was
- the hardest decision
the judges have ever had
to make in a "Skin Wars" finale.
You've done incredible work
while you were here,
- and it was a pleasure
- to get to know you.
- Likewise.
- We wish you all the best.
[uplifting music]
♪ ♪
- Rick,
congratulations!
Whoo-hoo!
You did it.
- Whoo!
This is--yeah!
Man, this is so--
I'm so pumped up.
- [giggling]
[squealing and laughing]
- Wow.
- Wow!
- That's the American Dream.
- This is the best feeling
right here,
having my mom with me,
it's just the best.
- I wouldn't be
- who I am right now
if it wasn't for her
taking me away
from the violence,
from the drugs,
from the gangs
and everything.
- I'm here to
- make her proud.
To see my mom here
- and to see me at the top
- of something that I love doing,
- this is just
- an amazing feeling.
- I'm the first guy
- to win "Skin Wars!"
- That's right!
- Yeah, baby!
- That's what
- I'm talking about!
- Yes!
Congratulations!
- Here I am, baby.
- You know, first guy to win,
- the youngest competitor.
I can't believe I took on
all these painters, you know?
It's an amazing feeling
just to be the best,
and now that I have the title
of "Skin Wars," you know,
I mean, this is a
body-painting career for me.
It's just starting new,
and I just want to keep
painting bodies
for the rest of my life.
- And the winner is...
- Yeah!
[cheering and clapping]