Carol Alt - This Years Model

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C A R O L A LT

Contents

I thought I was safe a minute ago when I

Welcome to the Porter House, sir. Im Melody Ann, and

Im running up Eighth Avenue in sling backs, no easy

Melody Ann Croft no longer exists. At least, by the

Ever been so tired that sleep is a fantasy, an

When the car service sedan pulls up in front of

As it turns out, Francesca isnt kidding. By the time

They fired me! I wail to Jade on my cell

Jade never ceases to amaze me. Turns out not only

Mac, darling, I have fabulous news, Francesca croons

over

my

My meeting with Albert Lazar is a carefully cultivated sham.

Im alone in my room, which is starting to feel

Run, go, hurry, come on, sit down, stand up, shut

Entering JFK airport, the members of Delicious Models must seem

As it turns out, Jade was not abducted, though that

Its been a very long, very trying, very naked, very

When a supe deigns to shoot for the paltry editorial

Its snowing in New York. The first snowfall of the

JFK International Airport

February 14

6:19 AM

I thought I was safe a minute ago when I literally sprinted past Cinnabon, but an empty stomach can really play tricks on the brain. Only now theres a whole procession of chocolate, peanuts, licorice, and assorted Gummies leaping onto the counter to slink and sashay and sell it, sell it, sell it. Call it candy bar couture. Unfortunately, food is my nemesis, and the one thing you cannot escapeits everywhere! Tearing my eyes from the evil array of temptation at Hudson News, I stride toward the puzzle booksI dont need sugar; I need some sudoku to occupy my mindand nearly collide with this kid. Tall for her age, but still a baby. She stares at me and its as though my Puma tracksuit has been stripped away and Im standing there in that gilded Oasis bikini, the one they let me keep.

Oh... my... God!

Reflexively, I look over my shoulder, sure she has spotted a 2

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terrorist in the act of setting off a shoe bomb, when I realize Im the one who has caused her to shriek with what sounds like genuine excitement.

Hi, Mac!

She says my name with such familiarity that I look at her for a long moment. Then, embarrassed that I dont recognize her, I ask, Do I know you?

Know me? God, nowhy in the world would you know me?

I blink, then realize that Im having that moment. The one in which you find yourself confronted with celebrity and are about to make an absolute fool of yourself in the name of getting an autograph. Except in this case, Im the celebrity.

I glance down at my sweat suit. I suppose I could be better dressed for it.

I cannot believe youre even talking to me, the girl chatters on. I cant believe Mac Croft is even standing in front of me!

You are absolutely my favorite model! I know everything about you. And you know what? Youre so much prettier in person.

Thank you. Thats sweet of you to say. Im not sure this is a compliment since my business is taking pictures. Shifting my crammed carryon from my right to my left shoulder, I assess her like Ive come to do with any female over age twelve.

Occupational hazard. Youre really pretty too.

Oh, thank you! You are so nice. My brother would diehe thinks youre incredibly hot. Ha on him! I was bugging him, so he gave me money to buy magazines for the plane. I told him he should come with me! She beams at me. Hey, where are you going? If its okay to ask.

Good question. Where am I going? Sure, its okay, I say, stalling. These last two months Ive been on a plane twenty-T his Y ears M odel3

nine times; I feel like Im aiming to get into Guinness. It takes me a moment, but I finally remember. Montana. Im going to Montana.

Really? Montana? Were going to Californiawe have a week off from school. Montana doesnt sound very glamorous, if you dont mind me saying.

Glamorous? Maybe notbut its a big job, the kind you might go to Siberia for if thats what the client requested; an exclusive for Mountain, the new Calvin Klein perfume. Its the kind of job Id never refuse, though I suppose there are better ways to spend Valentines Day. Six hours from now Ill be bareback on a horse, in a mans armsIvan Gladst, I think thats who they bookedsurrounded by snow and braving the kind of windchill factor that puts icicles on your eyelashes. Ill be freezingnot that youll be able to tell in the final picturesbut I suppose Ill thaw out when they cut that check for $100K.

Hey, can I ask you a question? My fanIm still getting used to the idea that I have a fanis wearing a bad Burberry knockoff over pajama bottoms shoved into soiled Uggs, a look so very, sadly wrong and yet so darling I want to pat her on the head. Do you think I could model? Tell me honestly.

Sure, I say. Youve got great bones, great hair. How old are you?

Thirteen. Im already five eightand still growing.

I bet well be working together soon. The funny thing is Im not lying. In fact she kind of looks like the girl who beat me out for that Juicy Couture ad. Whats your name?

Uck, Shyla. She shakes her head and puts on an air of sophistication that doesnt fit. What were my parents thinking?

I intend to change it eventually.

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Why? Unique names are all the rage in the business,

I say.

She smiles, becoming a kid again. Hey, can I get your autograph, Mac? Because Ive got the Sports Illustrated right here.

And there I am, in all my gloryartfully airbrushed tan, which has made even the scar on my right forearm disappear, my hair a mass of choreographed tangles, the Oasis bikini clinging wetly to every curve. Wow, Shyla, you know what?

I havent even seen it myself yet, I admit. I just flew in from Europe and

I cant stand it. Youre on the cover and youre so fabulous you havent even seen it. Shyla absorbs the unbelievable truth.

Im so glad they put you on the cover instead of some cheesy celebrity, like Beyonce or whoever. Youre a supermodel. And you have the best body ooh, sorry, I dont mean that in a gay way. Wait, heres a Sharpie. God, this is going to be such a collectors item.

I move a bit farther into the corner, trying not to take over the store with my first random celebrity moment. So, Shylathats S-H-Y-L-A? I take the pen. You want to hear something ironic? When I was your age I was seriously into tennis. I even dreamed Id be in Sports Illustratedbut I never thought it would be this way.

Really? You mean you didnt always want to model? That is so interesting. Oh, I wish you were on our plane to L.A. Then we could sit together and you could tell me all about Fashion Week and the European collections. Shyla sighs. But then you probably fly first class.

Today I am in first, courtesy of Calvin Klein. But I worked my way up to flying first class. Wouldnt she be shocked to learn it isnt always like this for every model and that even T his Y ears M odel5

now, after months of struggling and starving and pounding the pavement in search of the next job, I still find myself in coach when the client cant afford to upgrade the ticket. If the job is prestigious enough, I would allow them to shove me into the overhead compartment if it meant the difference between getting the job and not. Handing her back the magazine and marker, I glance around, trying to get my bearings, trying to remember what gate Im going through and wondering if Ill even be able to grab a puzzle book before they announce pre-boarding for first class customers.