America’s Got Talent judges have ‘lopsided power dynamic’ – with ‘Queen Bee Heidi’ and male star looking ‘under attack’
ON camera, the America’s Got Talent judges look like they’re best buddies and the type of people who get on like a house on fire no matter what.
But a body language expert has claimed it’s actually not the case for two of them, while another pair share a secret soft spot for each other.
Season 18 of America’s Got Talent is underway with Howie Mandel, 67, Sofia Vergara, 50, Heidi Klum, 49, Terry Crews, 54, and Simon Cowell, 63, back as judges.
For the next 15 weeks, the famous fivesome has their eyes and ears peeled as they hunt down the hottest talent across the nation every Tuesday night.
So viewers could get to know them better, on June 1, the show’s official Instagram shared a video of four of them.
It featured Heidi, her fellow NBC judges Sofia and Howie, as well as host, Terry taking part in an Ask Me Anything card game.
After introducing the game, Heidi confidently held out all the cards.
First up first was Terry who asked: “Complete this sentence. ‘Five years from now, AGT will be….'”
Heidi jumped in and answered: “I think in five years’ time, AGT will be on the moon.”
Howie joked that he would lose his hair in five years’ time and revealed that Heidi had garlic breath.
The former Deal or No Deal hosts joke came after Heidi read out a card and said: “Everyone has pet peeves. Tell us a pet peeve of someone in this group.”
She also asked who the best driver was before answering the question herself: “Me of course, Me!” Heidi squealed.
In an exclusive interview, body language expert Judi James told The U.S Sun: “The power dynamic is very lopsided between this group of TV stars.
“But Heidi Klum comes out on top by far.
“She wants her very own TV show and behaves like Queen Bee Heidi.
“In the card game video, she snares all the attention.
“Heidi announces herself like the star while using the cards splayed out in a fan,” she said.
She continued: “She moves the cards up and down and uses a body shimmy to gain maximum attention and impact.
“Heidi shouts with a self-point ‘look at me!’ gesture and a wiggle of the hand,” adding that: “This shows she does not want to be challenged by anyone.”
Judi said: “Sofia holds her hands clasped low in front of her body which means she is signaling a lack of desire to talk.
“She uses one of the large cards as a barrier in front of her torso.
“Sofia seems to avoid smiling and ends up sucking her lips in, suggesting regret or deliberation.
“When Heidi yells about a ‘Girl’s nights out’ and leans in towards Sofia, nothing changes in Sofia’s facial expression.”
Looking at the other celebs on the panel and Judi revealed two seem surprisingly close.
“Sofia and Terry relate well with their eye contact and gaze,” added Judi.
“While Howie hides behind his shades, Terry acts as an amiable, polite mediator.
“He stands at the end but he does have his card covering his crotch as though under attack.”
She also said: “When Simon appears in another video you get an explosive mix of judges.
“Simon’s clip sees him using the body language of an AI robot with sleepy-looking eyes and a rigid mouth shape.
“But he and Sofia also lean in towards one another in the group shot and seem closer and sometimes mirror gestures.”
Interestingly the video clip dropped around the same time that Heidi celebrated her 50th birthday.
Images posted online also showed Klum, 49 surrounded by friends, including Sofia at a lavish Gastby-themed party.
The former Victoria’s Secret star is seen dancing in a revealing gold dress and thong.
This came after the judges hit the red carpet for the AGT premiere event in Pasadena.
Here Heidi and Sofia 50, dressed up in their best dresses once again.
Heidi chose an eye-catching strapless orange number with matching long gloves. Sofia wore a toned-down sparkling top.
“Overall Sofia doesn’t rise to the battle for attention and that also showed at the Pasadena red carpet,” added Judi.
“She seems to melt into the background somehow when Heidi is about.
“Sofia often gives her smile of recognition and to give the idea of what actually happens.
“Heidi’s eyes always address the camera but are very direct and more than the others.
“Heidi constantly pulls the attention back to herself,” she said.
She also said: “She can be seen shouting so loudly and at such a pitch that you risk ear bleed.
“Out of the group, Howie seems to be Heidi’s battle partner on the panel.
“But he keeps his eyes hidden by shades.
“We can’t often read all his true feelings.”
Judi commented: “Heidi does these fake laughs as well.
” At the end of the card game trick video, it becomes more like an attack signal.
“Heidi has her mouth wide open and very very noisy toward the camera.
“This happens quite a bit
“Terry looks slightly intimidated when the fun and the banter start.”
Since 2006, the popular NBC talent show has had its fair share of shakeups.
Before now and the panel has seen stars like Piers Morgan and David Hasselhoff come and go.
Despite these changes, there seems to have been little in-house fighting so far.
In fact, our expert notes it is Simon who has even won another judge’s heart.
“In the group panel photo, Simon leans in from the side wearing a bemused smile,” added Judi.
“Simon acts like a parent who knows that he is going to spend time with a group of unruly kids.
“His emotional soulmate is Sofia Vergara.
“She is leaning as far as possible away from Heidi and in towards Simon.
“Sofia’s smile looks as wary as his but is softer near him.
“Despite this, Heidi’s body language suggests she is leading her best life no matter what,” she said.
Judi continued: “She is the closest to the middle of the pose.
“She sits upright to the camera, as per usual holding it with her eyes and her symmetric smile of confidence.
“Howie has a large spatial gap between himself and Heidi.
“Despite a wide smile, his eyes are hidden.
“Terry looks way more comfortable behind this unruly group than the others.
“Terry is the real host and MC when he is on the panel.
“With his arms splayed out, he is presenting for the fans and this time around, doing his job properly.”