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ABC NEWS SPECIAL: SECRETS FROM THE WORLD OF FASHION & BEAUTY (TV)

Summary

A news special collecting various ABC News reports about fashion and modeling.

The first report covers stories about drug addiction and abuse among models. One example is 19 year-old runway model James King, who recounts her own struggles with heroin addiction. She quit high school at the age of 15 and moved from Omaha, Nebraska to New York City to take up a modeling career. She recounts that her career took off quickly and within a year she was prolific and highly-paid. However, she became beset with problems: her boyfriend died in 1997 of a heroin overdose and she checked herself into a rehabilitation facility to treat her own addiction, feeling that it was adversely affecting her life and work. Another model, Beri Smither, talks about her experiences going in and out of rehab, talking about her frequent binges and cocaine usage; she notes that because of her skill, most of her colleagues chose to ignore her drug problem. Her agent, Michael Flutie, recounts when Smither finally contacted him for help, and notes that many in the industry ignore or downplay drug problems such as hers. One example of this is Amy Wesson, one of the most highly-paid models in the world; although she denies it, Flutie identifies her as a drug addict as well. He recounts that he tried to get her to rehab, but she refused and signed with another agency, causing him to press charges against her. Critics accuse Flutie of being a hypocrite for being a former drug user himself, and believe he brought his lawsuit in order to attract publicity. Multiple affidavits in the case support Flutie’s assertions that Wesson was deeply physically impaired by her drug usage. King criticizes the industry for not providing a proper support network for young women who become involved with drugs, as well as a lack of proper guidelines for working minors.

The next report is about makeup artist Kevin Aucoin, who has worked with a number of celebrities, including Janet Jackson, Julia Roberts, and Lisa Marie Presley. He commands a high salary and is sought after by many high-profile models and celebrities. He discusses his childhood feelings of inadequacy about his personal appearance and his philosophy to approaching makeup artistry. He recounts growing up as an adoptee in the small town of Lafayette, Louisiana and discovering his homosexuality, which caused difficulties in his tight-knit community and his family. He suffered from bullying as a child due to his homosexuality and his interest in makeup. At this time he suffers from depression and starts to practice makeup artistry on his little sister. After attending beauty school he moves to New York City and soon becomes noted for doing the makeup of models appearing on magazine covers. He talks about his work with celebrities, recalling in particular his work with actress Elizabeth Taylor. Despite his success, he confesses that by the age of 25 he suffered from a nervous breakdown and attempted to commit suicide. At this point he checks into a treatment facility and attempts to confront the various issues plaguing his life. As part of this he tracks down his biological parents, who turn out to be devout Pentecostals with a lifestyle drastically different from his own. Linda Wells, editor-in-chief of Allure magazine, talks about the qualities that make Aucoin unique in the fashion industry, citing his talent for both elaborate “transformations” and subtlety. In more recent times Aucion’s family has come to accept him for who he is, and often visit him in New York.

One report concerns the practices of modeling agencies. Katie Ford of Ford Models, Inc. discusses which physical characteristics are generally sought out by modeling agencies for their models. Thousands of young women apply for modeling positions but most are rejected for not falling into highly specific criteria. Reports have recently surfaced about deceptive tactics utilized by modeling agencies in order to exploit prospective models. This includes prohibitive fees incurred for photo shoots and misleading advertisements for inexperienced models. As a means of exposing such practices, three “20/20” interns go undercover as prospective fashion models; Ford’s experts have already deemed all of them unsuitable for such work. They then answer a help wanted ad from the agency International Model and Talent, which former employee Stuart Banks criticizes for being deceptive and obfuscating. The interns visit the agency and, via hidden cameras, record their interactions with owner Steve Howard. He asserts that his agency can refer the interns to any number of modeling jobs, first requiring them to pay a fee for a photo test. A few days later they return, and an employee tells them that they have been put in the “accepted box;” Banks reveals that the company accepts virtually all applicants despite its claims to the contrary. They are then told that they must pay a higher fee in order to put together a “full portfolio” which it claims is necessary to secure a high fashion modeling position. They are then persuaded to composite the photos from this portfolio for yet another fee, totaling nearly $1,000 each. Ford and other experts state that such portfolios are unnecessary, and that International Model and Talent is merely trying to scam applicants. The agency also claims that they book a number of famous or high-profile models, although Banks reveals that these claims are almost entirely false, and that the only jobs they do book tend to be scarce and low-paying. Experts recommend against signing with any agency asking for money up front, as they are likely con artists such as International Model and Talent. Similar complaints are leveled against modeling schools, which industry experts say is wholly unnecessary to securing a modeling career. One intern attends such a school, which asserts that one must be taught proper runway behavior and etiquette. Classes tend to be expensive and educate students on what Model’s Guild representative Donna Eller calls “instinctual;” she states that modeling school preys on people’s vanities and insecurities in order to make a profit.

The last story concerns the growing prevalence of plastic surgery in Argentina. Argentinians have undergone surgery to alter their physical features in numbers never seen before; famous figures such as sport stars and politicians have had plastic surgery, counteracting the potential social stigma against people who do so. Even Argentina’s president, Carlos Menem, is noted for his extensive cosmetic surgery. It is believed that attractiveness is often equated with success in Argentina to a greater degree than in some other nations. Nose alterations, breast augmentations, and liposuctions are all commonplace. One of the leading proponents of cosmetic surgery in Argentina is Dr. Jose Juri, nicknamed “the Magician” for his prolific work in the field. He attributes the popularity of cosmetic surgery in Argentina to a desire among the public to advance professionally and personally; he believes that the vast majority of people in the country could benefit with some degree of surgical alteration and that it is “impossible” to be happy without it. Public hospitals perform such operations for lower-income Argentinians, subsidized by the government; they attract long waiting lines, particularly for nose alterations. Many defend these operation as unnecessary but helpful in promoting a better social life. The Argentinian desire for self-improvement comes in the wake of the country’s overthrow of the brutal dictatorship that once ruled the country; some regard the move to plastic surgery as a symbol of independence among the newly democratized population. Beauty-obsessed programs have become a staple of Argentinian television, including comedy programs parodying the public’s newfound fascination with cosmetic surgery. Some, such as photographer Dulce Libidinski, characterize their surgical alterations as a means of fitting in with others, believing that unattractive people are ostracized and isolated to some degree. Plastic surgery is embraced and thought of as a status symbol for many Argentinians; there are also signs that appearance plays a strong role in employment opportunities. Men engage in surgical alteration as much as women, particularly with regards to nose alterations. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: July 23, 1998 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:56:53
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:54333
  • GENRE: News
  • SUBJECT HEADING: News; Drug addiction; Fashion; Models, Fashion; Talk/Interview
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1998
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials – Ball Park hot dogs
    • TV – Commercials – AT&T phone service
    • TV – Commercials – Allstate insurance
    • TV – Commercials – Blockbuster video rental stores
    • TV – Commercials – Century 21 realtor
    • TV – Commercials – Cinnamon Grahams breakfast cereal
    • TV – Commercials – Eureka vacuum cleaners
    • TV – Commercials – Glade air fresheners
    • TV – Commercials – L’Oreal hair coloring
    • TV – Commercials – Mazda automobiles
    • TV – Commercials – Pepcid AC heartburn relief
    • TV – Commercials – Red Lobster restaurants
    • TV – Commercials – Route 66 jeans
    • TV – Commercials – Sears department stores
    • TV – Commercials – St Ives skin lotion
    • TV – Commercials – Thermasilk hair care products
    • TV – Commercials – Tidy Cats cat litter
    • TV – Commercials – Tresemme hair care products
    • TV – Commercials – Tylenol pain relief
    • TV – Commercials – Windex cleaner
    • TV – Commercials – Wisk laundry detergent
    • TV – Promos – “20/20”
    • TV – Promos – “ABC News Special: The American Game”
    • TV – Promos – “Good Morning America”
    • TV – Promos – “Maximum Bob”
    • TV – Promos – “The World Fashion Premiere from Paris”
    • TV – Promos – “Vengeance Unlimited”
    • TV – Promos – “Whose Line is it Anyway?”

CREDITS

  • Janice Tomlin … Executive Producer
  • Michael Goshin … Coordinating Producer
  • Rudy Bednar … Senior Producer
  • Jon Meyersohn … Senior Producer
  • Tracey Durning … Producer
  • Michelle Smawley … Producer
  • Melissa Cornick … Producer
  • Carla DeLandri … Producer
  • Rochelle Rogers … Associate Producer
  • Diane Petzke … Associate Producer
  • Stanley Spiro … Director
  • Moira McCann … Writer
  • Elizabeth Vargas … Host, Reporter
  • Nancy Collins … Reporter
  • Arnold Diaz … Reporter
  • Deborah Roberts … Reporter
  • James King … Interviewee
  • Beri Smither … Interviewee
  • Michael Flutie … Interviewee
  • Amy Wesson … Interviewee
  • Rebecca Romijn … Interviewee
  • Kevyn Aucoin … Interviewee
  • Thelma Aucoin … Interviewee
  • Linda Wells … Interviewee
  • Niki Taylor … Interviewee
  • Katie Ford … Interviewee
  • Paul Fisher … Interviewee
  • Stuart Banks … Interviewee
  • Thomas Papageorge … Interviewee
  • Donna Eller … Interviewee
  • Jonathan Friedland … Interviewee
  • Jose Jury (See also: Jose Juri) … Interviewee
  • Dulce Libidinski … Interviewee
  • Enidio Rodriguez (audio id only) … Interviewee
  • Oscar Trudillo (audio id only) … Interviewee
  • Cindy Crawford … Interviewee
  • Erin Biddle
  • Steve Howard
  • Janet Jackson
  • Joanna Jacobs
  • Carlos Menem
  • Lisa Marie Presley
  • Julia Roberts
  • Jeff Tansel
  • Elizabeth Taylor
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