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'A Model Life' takes on Fashion Week
Welcome, my friends, to what is the penultimate episode of A Model Life. The recap summarizes the season so far and reminds us that Angelika, Abigail and Michelle are the only ones to book a runway show so far. And I'm wondering if Michelle is planning on using Angelika as a plasma donor at the end of the series.
The show opens with the Models-In-Training meeting Petra at the area where the NY Fashion Week tents are in the freezing cold. She tells them what a big deal it is and wishes them luck.
Back at the apartment, a NEXTfax comes in summoning Valeria and Abigail to the office. They are nervous because the last time they were called in, it hasn't been for good feedback. Tammy meets with them to talk about their pictures and their progression. She tells them that both she and Stephen are very proud with how they've improved, news that's met with happiness and relief (and perhaps a smidge of shock) by the girls.
Later at the apartment, their NEXTfax directs them to meet with Dr. David Colbert, a dermatologist. Only Michelle the Daywalker, Abigail and Angelika go so I'm not sure if it was for them specifically or if they were the only ones who decided to go. He opens up a forum for questions which leads to Abby getting a light chemical peel to help her acne. Abigail goes into a James Bond-like room and sits in a chair with Angelika and Michelle in attendance for moral support. Dr. Colbert takes a cotton swab and rubs some stuff on her forehead and she holds the Daywalker's hand for support. He removes the stuff and points out the places where her acne is reacting. He then gives her a "blue-light treatment" where she sits in another chair with goggles, a box of sorts placed around her head that emits a blue light that's supposed to do something to help her acne. Exactly what, I'm not sure.
We return to the apartment again where Abby plays the trumpet and Michelle enlists Lucia to help her practices her runway walk. Michelle puts on high heels and they go into the hall in the hallway with a mirror (yes, there's a reflection - yet another advantage of being a Daywalker). As she walks, with Luci looking on and giving pointers, Michelle's voice over tells us that she understands what a huge deal it is to book a Fashion Week show. She's trying not to think about it too much so she won't freak out but she knows that the next day (the day of the show) she won't be able to help it.
The next day, Michelle shows up to Nicole Miller's tent for all the pre-show stuff. She meets up with Nicole and professes her nerves. Nicole takes pity on her and lets her have a run through, giving her some advice and pointers along the way. On to hair and make-up! By the way, Michelle totally needs a new hair-cut. My friend thinks it looks like a men's toupee.
Elsewhere, Angelika and Abby go to the location of Chris Habana's show. After it's done, Chris takes them to put their shoes on so they can get used to them but ... oops! Abigail's shoes aren't zipping up.
Cut back to Nicole Miller's tent, where Petra shows up and gets rushed by the photographers. The Daywalker's VO says she's not sure she could ever get used to that. Petra (with her sister Olga who is also gorgeous) goes to talk to Michelle and give her some moral support and more pointers. As Michelle gets dressed, everyone takes their seats - Petra once again rushed by photographers. And now the show begins! Several models go out and now it's Michelle's turn. As nervous as she was (especially about the pause and turn at the end of the walkway), our favorite little bloodsucker did great. After the show, Michelle gets congratulated by Petra, talks to Nicole a bit and gets introduced to Cyndi Lauper (I'm not sure she knows who Cyndi is and that makes me sad).
Now we switch to Chris Habana's show. It's a very avant garde show. Instead of doing a runway, the models are standing on a stage with some stairs and such and posing. Angelika digs it's non-conventional vibe. At the end of the show they got jewelry and some clothes. Karl Giant, my favorite make-up artist, was there for support and came back to the apartment with them to hang out.
The next day, Valeria and Angelika went on a casting for Jenni Kayne (who was present). The staff talks it over after the girls try on clothes and walk -- they love Angelika's height and like Valeria but have some reservations about her height. They also comment on how neither girl walks well. A decision is made and they call up Tammy and book Angelika and option Valeria. Meanwhile, the MITs are at the apartment messing around and Angelika is laughing like a freak. A NEXTfax comes for Angelika and Valeria to come to the office to learn how to walk.
Morning rolls around and the girls show up at NEXT and meet Misael Maldonado, Walking Instructor. He makes them walk down a fairly narrow hallway in huge heels. Misael really likes Valeria's face and pretty much only corrects her stride, she's taking too small steps. Angelika isn't exactly taking it seriously and looks a bit like a bobble-head when she walks. When Misael tells her to do it again and to really focus, she does...sort of. One of his tips for Angelika is that if the eyes and face have it, the rest of the body will follow. He wishes them both luck. Later on back at the apartment, Angelika and Valeria get a NEXTfax (lots of faxes this episode) telling them they've both booked the Jenni Kayne show.
Show day, Lucia wanted to go to see the show with the non-walking MITs but somehow got bronchitis and can't go. Backstage, Valeria and Angelika get a visit from Petra and she gives them words of encouragement. Bea, Michelle and Abigail all say the girls did well in solo interviews and Valeria is relieved that she didn't slip.
The next day, Petra shows up at the NEXT offices for picture reviews to decide the ultimate fates of the MITs. Petra, Joel Wilkenfeld, Tammy and Stephen gather around a laptop to give their opinions:
- Valeria - Petra thinks she's the whole package. Stephen wonders if she can give a paying client a lot of oomph and Petra thinks she can. She shows a lot of promise but I get the feeling that Tammy and Stephen are unsure about her being ready enough.
- Abigail - She's improved a lot and Stephen says that she wasn't afraid to ask for help for the things she couldn't do. Petra brings up how she cried at a photo shoot because she didn't feel she was getting it (the bathing suit shoot). She says that it showed she was really trying and is serious about modeling.
- Angelika - Before they get into the pictures, Joel relays the situation where he kicked her out. They discuss their respective concerns and experiences and all agree that, despite how she photographs, her attitude is a liability. So, what Joel really meant to say is that they weren't going to comment on her pictures at all.
- Beatrice - While she's beautiful, she's just not developed yet and partially because she's so young. Stephen remarks that she doesn't listen to advice and Petra says that often times when she's giving them lessons, she's noticed Bea roll her eyes. That's really not a good way to behave, but I keep forgetting she's only 16 and that's pretty typical teenage behavior. Not that I condone it, she's just so young.
- Lucia - Petra says she's a great beauty face and that she's got a great attitude. Tammy chimes in about how well she took them telling her she needed to lose weight. Stephen says that she could charm the pants off a client (he meant the figuratively) and Petra adds that she'd be a great spokesperson.
- Michelle - They like her because of her very specific beauty - she's definitely a high-fashion model but she can do both edgy and soft, masculine and feminine. Petra says that she did well at the Nicole Miller show but was really nervous, adding that while a bit shy, Michelle is always listening and learning.
Next Week: It's the finale and Joel calls the girls in to discuss NEXT's plan for each of them. There are tears as the girls say goodbye to each other but who's going home for good and who's getting a contract?
Angelika is really the best of the bunch. She always photographed well and she has the best walk among all the girls. Unfortunately she can be difficult which is a huge liability. I hope she'll learn not to be so head strong in the future. She reminds me a lot of Katharine McPhee on American Idol.
Michelle will do well because she has a very specific look. However, with that said, she's one note. A very good one but too one dimensional.
Lucia is quite nice and looks great in a swimsuit. I can see her being a Versace girl. However, I'm not so sure if she has what it takes to be a well rounded girl. But she has one huge advantage: nice. Being nice will definitely pay in a bitchy world of fashion.
Lastly, Petra is soooo super nice. Unbelievable. Either she's an Oscar caliber actress or she's genuinely super nice. Love her!
i think petra, being one of the nicest people on the planet (my brother and i always invoke seinfeld--"she's TOO good!"), carries alotta sway with everyone.
after abigail cried at the photoshoot, i'm convinced petra told everyone to "be nice" to help her along--because they were much nicer once abby came back.
as far as who next should keep and let go...
- as bad an attitude as angelika has, she books pretty consistently.
- lucia approaches petra's 'too good to be true' status. i was surprised how little time gilles bensimon (sp?) gave her.
- michelle, abby and valeria each have their own niches.
- despite beatrice perhaps being the prettiest, she seems limited to jeans ads as opposed to high fashion/editorial. of course, that can be pretty lucrative
incidentally, i'm not a big fan of stephen and particularly tammy, who seem too aware that they are on camera.
nitish | Aug 27, 2007 1:03:39 PM | #rock man
anu | May 30, 2008 8:13:58 AM | #
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