SPOILER ALERT!! - My Episode 5 recap for People Magazine
This week’s episode starts out with a clip of someone being called an idiot. Who’s the idiot and why, we ask? Turns out we will find out at the very end of the show.
Idiot-calling aside, the test shoot this week is all about chemistry. Naomi teaches a lesson on how to sell a pair of Christian Louboutin heels alongside a male model and she’s looking for confidence, performance and charisma in the girls.
The Drama Begins: When Margaux (Team Coco) is up, Naomi states her weakness is having no personality. To set the record straight, just because you’re not a loud or aggressive person does NOT mean you have no personality. Being humble, professional and demure are also personality traits – just not ones that register to Naomi apparently. But it’s Stephanie’s performance that has us all on the edge of our seats in the best way possible.
Not to be outdone, Sandra shows up with a rose in her hand and goes in to kiss the male model on the neck. Naomi immediately throws herself into a fit of hysterics, falling out of her seat and running across the room laughing. Sandra is humiliated by her mentor and tells her so before storming off set.
Naomi chases Sandra down to tell her off, claiming “no one is here to laugh at you” (previous scene excluded). Miss Campbell is furious at Sandra for walking off the set and so decides that she’s not returning to set either. Nigel is left to announce the winner alone and Stephanie is rewarded with a shiny new pair of Louboutins!
Video Girls: The girls are back to create a short video campaign for online retailer OpenSky.com. Team Karolina discusses the benefits of using an all-natural pomade on their children, which results in a genuinely engaging clip.
Although at first Margaux has a little trouble with fluidity, Team Coco pulls out a funny skit about a chic tuxedo blazer. Team Naomi decides to sell a bean bag and uses every ’90s infomercial trick of the trade, but it’s just not authentic. In the end Team Karolina wins – a great decision on the client’s part.
Stephanie did an amazing job this week, so it’s only right that I send Margaux into the elimination room for the first time. Naomi is still furious that Sandra walked out on her and so sends her to join Margaux.
And about that name-calling…: When asked why she would be a better representative for Ulta Beauty, Margaux says that a model has to be professional at all times. I concur — there is no room in the modeling industry today for a model who has anger management issues and can’t work well with others. Sandra has not been professional in the course of this competition and Karolina’s choice is a no-brainer: Margaux stays.
Naomi is furious. “Margaux is a threat, that’s clear!” says Campbell. “Now Karolina’s team is gonna lose.” Why, I wonder? Because little old Margaux came back? She flatters us! She also subtly infers that her girl Sandra was never a threat at all.
Karolina receives the full wrath when she walks in the room and is called a “complete idiot.” In all the time I have known Karolina, she has been many things — sweet, honest — but never an idiot. For the record I think being reasonable and a good sportsman are enviable qualities.
Naomi then turns to Margaux, who at 22 years old has been in school full-time until last year. “Margaux’s been working for eight years,” Naomi says. “Don’t you think she should have been someone by now?!”. The whole tirade is really harsh. We’re supposed to be role models, helping these girls, not tearing them down.
The fact is, Margaux may not be rich or famous but she is someone, she’s a great model and more importantly a genuinely good person. Whether she wins or loses matters less than how she plays the game and that, I feel, goes for everyone.
