TENSIONS ARE running high on Pulse's Caribbean Model Search International (CMSI) reality TV series on CVM TV, as the girls this week had a lesson in treading the fine line between competition and friendship. In an unexpected turn of events, the CMSI judges - Pulse CEO Kingsley Cooper, Pulse general manager Romae Gordon and social scribe Chester Francis-Jackson - asked the models to decide among themselves which one should be axed from the competition.

Chantel Edwards of Connecticut found herself on the ballot several times and fumed that the other girls resented her confident nature. The other models are MeLeesa Payne (Guyana), Tryce Scully (Miami), Olivia Mekel (Guadeloupe), Kerry Ann Murphy (Trinidad), Crystal Patterson (Jamaica) and Jodesha Nedd (Barbados).

Nedd was also nominated to the 'chopping block' and found herself discrediting claims by the other contestants that she was dull and not hungry enough for the opportunity.

"I may be the youngest person in this competition but it certainly doesn't mean that I want this any less than anybody else. In fact, I want it more. I came here to win," Nedd responded.

Salsa dance-off

However, before the judges named who would be eliminated, the girls were judged at salsa dancing and a photoshoot.

In the end, Edwards was axed.

"You seemed to have lost your drive to be here, Chantel. Maybe you've become distracted by the other girls, but we are looking for someone who, no matter what, keeps focused on being the best," said Cooper.

The other competitors bid farewell to Edwards, but none are sad to see her go. "Chantel was the obvious choice to be sent home," said Scully. "She just didn't have that model spark and she is way too dominating and bossy. I'm glad she's leaving."

Edwards said she was unfazed by the comments from her peers and being sent home.

"My intuition told me that I was going to be eliminated, so I'm really not surprised. In this industry, you get more nos than you do yeses, but you just have to keep trying," she said.

On the next episode of Pulse's CMSI, the remaining six models get ready to head out of town for a special make-or-break challenge, which take the girls one step closer to the grand CMSI finale.

The next episode airs on Monday at 9:30 p.m., with a repeat on Tuesday at 6 p.m.