“What do you think?” I asked.
“I’m still not used to you with the shorter hair,” Mom said as Tanna, the host, walked in.
“So nice to meet you, Landry,” Tanna said, shaking my hand. “Thank you for coming so last minute. I normally don’t do prep questions because I like the conversations to feel natural on camera, but due to your age, I don’t want to make you nervous. Basically we’re going to talk about your experiences on the show and how your feel about modeling and what you want to do in the future — that sort of thing. Again, because of your age, if I ask you anything you don’t feel comfortable with, then just touch the side of your hair and I’ll switch up my questions. I can’t imagine going on TV at fourteen, so I want this experience to be as positive for you as possible, okay? Any questions?”
I shook my head as Mom thanked her for being so considerate about the interview.
Tanna asked me if I wanted Mom to be in the studio for the interview.
“No, she’ll make me nervous,” I said.
“Your call,” she said and we walked over to the studio.
Someone walked over to me and handed me a tiny clip thing with a long wire attached and told me to pull it up through my sweater and they’d attach it to the top of the collar. Then they put a pack behind me for the microphone. The set was a table with a chair on either side of it. I had been expecting to sit on cushioned chairs next to each other, but these were more like dinner table chairs. The table idea was nice because I could hide my hands if they started shaking or something, and it would shield me a little bit, too. I sat down across from Tanna as her makeup person powdered her face.
“You okay there, Landry?” Tanna asked.
Nope, not in the slightest. Needed a bathroom trip, but seeing as I was wired into the chair, that wasn’t going to happen.
“Yeah, um, this might be a weird question, but how do people sit in these chairs? I mean, when they do the interviews, do they sit with their backs against the chair or are they leaning more on the table?”
She blinked. “You know, I never thought of that before you asked.”
Well, that’s what happens when you’re an over-thinker.
“Landry, you do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. Again, if you are uneasy about any questions, just touch your hair. Do you need any water, sweetie?”
Seeing as I was trying not to wet myself all as we sat there, I didn’t think adding additional liquids was a wise choice, so I shook my head.
“Okay, the stage manager will count us down and then we’re on.”
“Wait, where do I look? At you or the camera?” I asked. Last time I faced the interviewer the whole time, but this was a longer segment.
“You just look right at me and pretend we’re sitting in my living room having a regular conversation. Don’t worry, you’ll do great.”
The stage manager began counting us down and Tanna did an intro.
“We’re here today with a local teen model who auditioned for the American Ingénue contest back in the fall and was called back for a Wild Card episode. We’ll talk to Landry Albright and find out what the competition is like behind the scenes and how she juggles school with her blossoming modeling career.”
Blossoming modeling career? If Yasmin had said that I would have thought she was making fun of me for having next to no career. I prayed Tanna wouldn’t ask me what jobs I had booked since the show, so I wouldn’t have to say none and embarrass myself.
“So, Landry, welcome to the show. Tell us all about your experience.”
And just like that my mind went blank. I couldn’t remember a thing from the first three rounds of the original competition other than taking anti-diarrhea medication. Come on, brain, think, think.
“Well… I… got a makeover.” Seriously? That was the best my mind could come up with? Well, at least I hadn’t starting spouting off about the cheating and lying and backstabbing backstage.
“That sounds interesting. Tell us about that.”
They sheared off all my hair and left me feeling exposed. “It was a bit nerve wracking because you don’t get a say in what they’re going to do. They pick the hairstyle and they are the experts, but it’s a big adjustment. I normally have long hair, past my shoulders, with bangs, but they cut it into a short bob—”
“That must have taken some getting used to.”
“Definitely, but in modeling, you don’t make those calls. The stylists do,” I said adding, “But they were all wonderful to work with, and I enjoyed the experience.”
“Now what is it like behind the scenes with the other models? Is there any backstabbing like you hear about on the gossip sites?” she asked. “I know the modeling industry can be brutal.”
I hated lying, but I also didn’t want to make the competition look bad.
“There’s always a little rivalry and gossip in anything that’s part of a competition, but we tried to stay as professional as possible,” I said. Wow, that came out sounding so adult. Tanna seemed impressed and I felt I had handled it pretty well.
“It’s admirable that you all were able to do that. Now tell me, how do you stay grounded in an industry where looks play such a big role?”
Oh man, this is the kind of question my mom would have the perfect answer for. What would she say?
“Well, my mom and my agent always remind me that modeling is a business and I have to look at it as a job and not take things personally — like rejection. Someone might not like my particular look for a show or whatever, but you can’t take it to heart.”
“But are you able to do that — not take it personally?”
I shrugged. “I’m only starting out, so I haven’t had a lot of jobs, but sure, sometimes it bothers me, but my favorite model, Talisa Milan, says if you want to work in the entertainment field then you have to have a thick skin and know that rejection is a big part of it. I don’t like it, but if this is what I want to do then I have to deal with it.”
“You are so mature for your age. I wish I had been half as mature when I was in eighth grade,” Tanna said.
Me? I hoped my mom was watching this in the green room.
“Is there any jealousy from girls at school—”
I put my hand up to smooth my hair and signal Tanna who stopped just like she promised she would.
“Speaking of school, how do you juggle your homework assignments with your jobs?” she asked. I exhaled with relief because Talisa had often talked about interviewers who were nice behind the scenes but changed when you were on camera with them.
“I almost never miss any school for work, and my mom makes my homework my priority so if I do have a job or something lined up for the weekend then I don’t go out that weekend with friends. Schoolwork comes first,” I said.
“That is refreshing to hear. Now you mentioned following Talisa Milan’s career advice, does this mean you want to pursue modeling after you graduate?”
“Well, my parents want me to go to college—” I hoped no top modeling agent had heard that and was thinking he/she was going to make me a star until he/she heard mommy and daddy were going to make me go to a university instead of taking the fashion world by storm. “—so we’ll see where that takes me. I’d like to go to school and work, but…” I started to flounder, not knowing how to finish my sentence.
“Well, you have a few years to decide that. Do you know what you might like to study in college?”
“I like to write and English lit is my favorite class.”
“Thank you so much for being on today, Landry. Up next, we will be cooking up a spicy new gumbo in the kitchen with Chef Lorenzo. Stay tuned.”
“And we’re clear,” the director said.
“Wonderful job, Landry,” Tanna said. “I had another model on a while back who was a senior in high school, and she wasn’t half as professional and mature as you came across. Good luck to you.”
I started to say, “Thank you,” but Tanna was up and walking halfway over to the kitch
en set. The production assistant came to unhook my mic and took me back to the green room.
“That was great, hon,” Mom said. “You did such a good job with those questions. Way to dodge the gossip part. You might have a career in politics the way you handled yourself.”
“Don’t be too impressed. I sweated through the seat of my pants. Seriously, look. My butt is soaked and don’t ask me to lift my arms. I am soooo nasty right now.”
Mom laughed. “I did the same thing the first time I had a big presentation in college. Soaked right through my pants. You are so my kid.”
“Lovely. Why can’t I inherit, like, a yacht or something from you? No, I get your anxiety genes.”
“Ah, but speaking of anxiety genes — I came prepared with another type of ‘anxiety jeans.’ I brought you a change of clothes in my bag. Complete with,” she lowered her voice and leaned in, “a fresh pair of panties.”
“So you knew I’d stress out that bad?”
“No, but I always bring backup underwear and pants on my work presentation days, so it’s second nature for me,” she said.
“Wait, you still get nervous doing those even now?”
“Yup, fear never leaves me. I just learn to put those feelings in their place and push through it. It’s not easy, but I try to think of the reward versus the worst case scenario.”
“All I can think about is the worst case scenario,” I said.
Mom nodded. “But that’s not such a bad thing though because it can help you to prepare and be ready for anything that’s thrown your way.”
“I never thought of it that way before.”
I took mom’s tote bag into the bathroom and changed. When I came out, there was an older woman waiting outside the restroom.
“Excuse me, Landry, is it?” she asked.
“Yes?”
“I’m Perri. You did a nice job on the set today, young lady. You handled yourself with a lot of poise and maturity.”
“Thank you.”
“You mentioned you might want to study English when you go to school because you like to write,” Perri said.
I nodded, and she asked if she could speak to me for a moment. My mom went to check her messages while Perri took me back to the green room, which was empty. She sat me down.
“When I was your age, there weren’t a lot of women, hardly any, who were doing TV production work. I got talked out of pursuing it because everyone said as a woman I’d never get hired and it was a long shot, so I ended up getting a job working in the factory in my hometown. It was good work and I had a steady paycheck, but it always bothered me that I let other people talk me out of something I wanted. Then when I had my fiftieth birthday, it hit me. Why can’t I still pursue it? And you know what happened?”
I shook my head.
“All my friends said just about the same thing except instead of saying I was too young and a female, now they were saying I was too old to start a new career path. Now think about that for a minute. I was supposed to put my dream on the shelf because other people thought I was too old? Now when I was younger, I listened, but now I was older and wiser and I said, ‘That’s your opinion, but my opinion is that I can still try and go after it’,” she said. “Anytime you want to pursue something risky, people will try to talk you out of it. They may even think they mean well, but you just let them say their bit, nod your head, and then if it’s truly in your heart, you go on and pursue it. You understand?”
I nodded. I told her that reminded me of what my dad said about his friends trying to talk him out of applying for med school and how my mom had people say she shouldn’t take the job in Grand Rapids.
“It’s a hard life when you pursue something people don’t understand. If you want to do that, then you have to be prepared to hear all sorts of comments trying to talk you out of it. But you just keep your focus here,” she said putting her hand out in front of her. “Keep looking straight ahead and stay in your own lane. Don’t worry about what someone is doing over here. Know that you have your own plans and goals and you just keep focusing forward and you’ll be all right, you know?”
“Thank you. I—I have a lot of friends who… well… they discourage me a little bit from all of this. And sometimes people talk about me when I do things like this. Like, I didn’t even tell a lot of people at school I was coming here today because they say stuff like, ‘Oh, who does she think she is going on TV?’”
“Mm-hmm, people can be jealous, and jealous is an ugly thing to be.”
One of the production assistants came in the room and told Perri they needed her.
“Landry, you have a good head on your shoulders, and I think you will be just fine as long as you don’t worry about what other people are saying. They can talk all they want, but you don’t have to listen,” Perri said as she stood up. “Good luck to you, honey. I will be rooting for you.”
“Thank you. And I’m glad you didn’t listen to all those people who tried to talk you out of everything.”
She leaned forward and winked. “Me, too.”
Chapter 17
After we left the station, Mom told me she had a surprise for me and she pulled up to the mall.
“As proud as I am of how you handled yourself in these interviews that you’ve done, I’m even more proud that you went ahead and did them even though you were terrified,” she said. “Anyone would be scared to go on TV and talk, and the fact you get shy on a good day and still went ahead and did it shows you are maturing. So I have decided you can take a little of your modeling money — just a little bit — to pick something out. Now I’m only giving you fifty bucks here because you haven’t made that much yet, and I’m expecting you to use it somewhat wisely.”
“Thanks for reminding me I’ve made next to nothing,” I said.
“Well, other than babysitting and pet sitting, there aren’t a lot of avenues for a kid — sorry, young adult — but just don’t spend it all on bubble gum and lip gloss, ‘kay?”
Bubble gum and lip gloss? I was not a little kid… although I had to admit I had planned to cruise the Little Rose cosmetics counter until she said that. Now I couldn’t do that without looking superficial. Whatever. Part of me wanted to look at clothes, but a bigger part of me wanted to hit the bookstore.
“I think I want to use it on books,” I said.
“Sounds good to me. We can get lunch at the bookstore, too.”
We walked into the store, and they had a new display of brightly colored covers with gorgeous etchings on the front — all classics.
“Mom, look how beautiful these are. Feel how soft the covers are! I have to get a copy of Jane Eyre.”
“But you have a copy — a hard cover one.”
“Yes, but look how pretty. And look at the font. It’s so different from my book.”
“Hon, it’s the exact same story.”
“Mother, I don’t know how to explain why, but I need this one — oooh, etchings! Each chapter heading has an etching. And look — a map. Mom, it has a foldout map, too.”
“You want to spend sixteen bucks for a pretty cover and a map?”
“It’s so much more than just a pretty cover. There’s a new introduction and notes. It’s just… so… awesome.”
“If it means that much to you then how about I buy it for you and you pick out another classic you haven’t read before?”
“Best. Mother. Ever,” I said. “Now which one to choose. Some of these we read in class and I hated them. This one here was total dullsville.”
Mom picked up the book about surviving in the wild.
“I hated that one, too, at your age. Read it again in college and, yup, still boring. How about Jane Austen? Or another Bronte sister?” she asked.
“Tori read Pride and Prejudice, but she wasn’t sure I’d ‘get’ it,” I said, making finger quotes and frowning.
“Well, I think you’d like Austen. But let’s go with a different one. Persuasion was my favorite in college.”
“You th
ink I’m ready for that?”
Mom nodded and said she’d buy it for me, too. Wow, two books and so far I hadn’t even made a dent in the money Mom was letting me use. I ended up going over to the young adult section and saw they had the new Skylar Halston book. I was obsessed with Skylar Halston mysteries and had been reading them for years. As I was thumbing through the new book, a salesperson came around the corner.
“Did you see our new Skylar Halston display?” she asked.
I saw where she was pointing and my mouth dropped open. Not only did they have all the books, but they had something new and exciting — Skylar computer games. I pulled out my cell phone and called Peyton. She answered on the first ring.
“How was the interview?” she asked.
“Forget about that. I’m in the bookstore right now and there is a display with… wait for it… Skylar Halston computer games.”
“Shut up. Shut up right now. No way!”
I picked up one of the boxes and starting reading the back to Peyton.
“Skylar, Sterling, and Caramel go to visit an old friend at her new bed and breakfast for the weekend, but little do they know that the inn they’re staying at is haunted and the guests keep disappearing. Can Skylar solve the mystery or will the B&B guests be D.O.A.? Find out in Breakfast Comes with a Side of Apparition.”
“We must own this,” Peyton said.
“I’m definitely getting it, but there’s a second game on a haunted miniature golf course. Putt Putt and Lies. Should I get a second game or the Skylar Halston themed pencil case with a tiny spy glass on the zipper pull? I can’t decide, but I don’t have enough for all of it.”
“Take a pic of the pencil case and send it to me.”
I sent her the pic and she said it was adorable.
“Yeah, but if I take it to school… Yasmin and those girls think those books are for, well, you know, they’re sort of over it,” I said.
“But it has a tiny magnifying glass. Wait, in the picture, it shows something behind the pencil case. What’s that big notebook looking thing?”
Landry in Like Page 11