Model.Live episode 11 recap: Debt, debt and more debt

On this week's Model.Live

Fashion Week/6 weeks is finally over and the girls are back in New York trying to book editorial campaigns to pay off some of that agency debt. I was actually surprised that we get to see just how agencies can really screw over models.

Madeline explains the vicious cycle of modeling: In order to get hired, you have to spend money (for rent, plane tickets, clothes, photo books, casting cards, agency fees...the list goes on.) The more jobs you try to get, the more money you have to spend and the more debt you are in. If you get a job, you still don't get paid a lot, so your debt only goes down a little bit.

Most fashion shows don't pay models to walk the runway unless you are a top model. Madeline's agent explains: "Models can get paid anywhere from a t-shirt to $20,000 depending on the girl." Scary, right?

The real moral of the story is, you will only be debt free if you become a successful model as in you have beauty campaigns and designer campaigns.

There are thousands of struggling models trying to make it but most don't, and those that don't are faced with unimaginable debt that they owe to their agencies. It's actually really tough being a newbie model. Madeline's boyfriend describes their un-enviable position: "The agency invests in you and they expect you to pay them back. I wouldn't like to be in that position."

Madeline realizes that her job controls her life, when after booking a flight to see her parents, she gets a job for an editorial campaign. She has to take the job because she needs to pay off her debt.
Basically models are slaves to their agency until they pay off their debt.

The episode ends with Madeline dreading the next Fashion Week because of her poor performance at the S/S 09 shows.

Next week: Austria returns home...for good?

Model.Live episode 10 recap

On this week's Model.live...


The girls are finishing up Paris Fashion Week and IMG is deciding whether they have what it takes to be long-term successful models.

Madeline books one show - she closes for Manish Arora and looks beautiful. But even though she finally got to walk on the runway, she still doesn't feel confident about her abilities to be a model. So she decides to let her hair grow out. I guess all those nasty comments from casting directors finally got to her.

Meanwhile IMG is deciding whether Austria should take a year off to grow up and mature a little bit. But Austria shows surprising conviction that she wants to still be a model and refuses to go back home to her "old life and friends." I think the girl just needs to clean up a bit- put on some makeup and smile with confidence. She seemed lackluster at castings and didn't show much personality. She ends up booking one show at Paris Fashion Week.

Cato was clearly the most successful of three, having walked for major shows such as Prada, Dolce and Gabanna and Louis Vuitton. But she is aware that this could all be over tomorrow so she revels in her success.

This episode really highlighted the fact that models have to work very hard to get to the top, but it's even harder to stay there. It also shows how precarious their jobs are. They are expected not only to book shows but to book editorials, then campaigns and then long-term contracts. It's a never-ending job and I feel for them; especially the young ones.

Next week: Life after Fashion Week

Model.Live episode 9 recap

The girls are in Paris for Fashion Week. For Madeline and Austria, this is a crucial time because they didn't get casted in Milan and are hoping to ramp up their careers in the fashion capital of the world. Cato has it so easy because she has "the look."

I guess black women and short hair are out in Paris too because Austria and Madeline just can't get a break. Austria is coached by IMG to act confident when meeting casting directors. They must be getting worried because Austria looks tired and haggard; not very attractive to designers.

The girl sits there mutely and tries to comprehend what is going on; if she doesn't get casted for shows, she doesn't get paid which means she can't pay IMG which means she will be in a lot of debt. Her manager muses that she might be a bit young to handle all this but defends IMG by saying that the girls aren't forced to work in the "model army." Austria realizes that she is on a short leash but looks too tired to care.

Madeline on the other hand is trying her hardest to impress the casting directors. She jokes around with them, gives them hugs and acts happy and confident. She feels like Paris will be her break because she has been here before and knows people.

Unfortunately even though the designers like her and act really friends, she doesn't get cast for any shows. This often happens in fashion; a girl might be gorgeous but if she doesn't fit in with the show's "look" of the season (it changes all the time. Short hair is in one season and out the next) then she won't get booked.

Poor Madeline tries on seven dresses for Fatima Lopes and still doesn't get booked. And even though she "looked gorgeous" at Vivienne Westwood and Issey Miyake, they don't book her either.

This is one of the frustrations of being a new model because there isn't much they can do when they don't fit the vision of a casting director. Madeline cries a few times in frustration and says "Everybody's so sorry, and they love me, but everyone wants Cato." My heart. It breaks.
But at least she gets to do an editorial shoot.

Cato has a pretty easy time; she books a show and gets to see her boyfriend. Life is so easy isn't it Cato?

Next week will show how the rest of Paris Fashion Week shapes up for the trio: Will Cato book a big show? Will Austria and Madeline book any?

Model.Live episode 8 recap

This episode was a bit heartbreaking for me because neither Austria nor Madeline book any shows in Milan after going to more than 30 castings. Austria notices that "no one seems to like people of colour here." Breaks the heart. Her managers tell her that it's unfortunately true, but that they hope it will change in a couple of seasons. Austria looks disturbed and upset. Poor girl.
Austria's manager even gets a call from a casting agent saying that she "doesn't look her best." How do you tell that to a 16 (or is she 14?)-year-old girl? The industry can be really harsh.
Meanwhile Madeline thinks she isn't getting booked because she has short hair and thinks that Milan Fashion Week is all about long, luxurious hair à la Versace. She's right of course.

But Cato does very well, booking Cavalli, D&G and the mother of all shows, Prada. I expected that because she has the typical blond, blue-eye look that all casting agents are going for these days.

Next week: Paris!

Model.Live episode 5 and 6 recap

Episode 6



Episode 5



The girls are in New York for fashion week and are dispatched to go on a whirlwind of castings. Most of the time the girls are just waiting in line behind dozens of other pretty, gazelle-like 15-year-olds so I understand when they get discouraged and lose confidence.
Madeline is convinced after a casting that she won't get hired because the casting agents didn't take her picture or have her try own clothes. The poor girl looks so dejected and tired. Maybe modeling can be hard after all?
Cato seems to fit right in and Austria is the only girl who brings her mother along. The funniest moment is when Austria, who still is a bit weak at English, tries to make a conversation with Cato. She asks Cato in halting (but sweet) English whether her mother is staying with her. Cato says no, that she's renting an apartment by herself and Austria looks at her as if she's not wearing any panties.
In the end, the girls end up going to more than 30 castings in only a few days. Cato books nine shows (including Marc by Marc Jacobs) and Madeline and Austria each book a respective seven. A pretty good season for these newcomers, when agents usually only book one or two new models for a show.

Next up: London, baby, yeah!

Model.Live episode 2 recap

On this week's Model.Live:

"I know Cato has a special talent but I don't know...in front of the cameras she does something different. I'm just worried about her becoming too famous." - Cato's mother.

The episode is all about the beautiful Cato, who is saying goodbye to her friends, her pizza-loving parents and her oh-so-sweet boyfriend, before she heads off to cynical New York and the evil agents who will make her a star. Her family is hesitant about this career move which is understandable seeing as how modes have been making the news lately what with all the anorexic deaths, murders and tales of torture. But who cares about that, she could be the next Gisele!

But her mom and dad bemoan the fact that their precious, naive Cato is entering a superficial profession that only cares about appearances. Well, they are right. But hey, she's not an idiot! Cato's sister makes sure we know that "she finished the highest level of education in Holland." You mean high school? And then she goes on to say something weird: "Actually they say that beautiful people are smarter because like, everything is more symmetric, even their brains." I guess Cato got all the beauty and the brains out of the two sisters.

I'm still waiting for the drama though. Where are the tears when Cato is forced to fly to another continent away from her boyfriend, Simon? Where is the tension between her and her model-hating parents?

Only near the end is there hope, when Cato says that Simon can trust that she won't cheat on him or do drugs. A premonition for what will come in the future? I hope so.

Watch the first episode here.

Update: COACD has IMG's show card of Cato