The Fashionista Diaries
Encyclopedia
The Fashionista Diaries was a reality show that aired on SOAPnet
in the summer of 2007 as a part of SOAPnet's original programming. The show could also be seen on ABC
's website and is available for download on iTunes
. The show followed six assistants in the competitive world of fashion and beauty in New York City. The assistants worked all summer, culminating with New York Fashion Week
, where they would also learn who would be given a full-time job.
as they were expected to work together.
magazine.
was executive editor. While they both took part in getting Andrew and Rachel acclimated at the magazine, Stephanie was their primary mentor. It has been suggested that Jane magazine opted to take part in the show hoping it would do the same thing The Hills did for Teen Vogue
in terms of boosting magazine circulation.
It's the assistants first day! Bridget is anxious to get started at Seventh House PR, while Nicole is apprehensive, worrying that people will be "maybe mean." They meet director Mandie Erickson and publicist Matt Kays. Mandie quizzes the girls about fashion week and quickly establishes herself as curt when she calls Nicole out on wearing flip flops. Mandie asks the girls about their favorite designers. Bridget names Stretsis, while Nicole naively praises Juicy Couture.
Next we meet Tina and Janjay, who will report to Kathleen Pierce, VP of Communications at Flirt! Cosmetics. Tina says that she's optimistic about finding her dream job, and Janjay asserts that more things can be accomplished with fewer people. Kathleen tells the girls that she expects them to "immerse themselves in the brand" immediately.
Finally, we meet Rachel and Andrew. Rachel says that she will try to mask her "awkwardness" and Andrew tells us that he entered the fashion world to meet girls. At Jane, editor-in-chief Brandon briefs the assistants about the magazine and questions their familiarity. Andrew admits that he's only picked up an issue or two before coming and Rachel gushes about how it's her absolute favorite magazine. All of the assistants are told that they'll be working with each other during fashion week, as well as other events over the summer, and so it is important that they forge a relationship.
Rachel and Andrew are sent on their first assignment. They are told that they must be photographed naked for the "naked issue" of the magazine. Before they take off their robes, Stephanie tells them that they've been "Jane pranked" and will write the prank page for the next issue.
Janjay's first assignment is to create a trend board highlighting spring makeup looks. Tina is asked to put on makeup reflecting the spring look.
The assistants meet for the first time over drinks. When Andrew learns that Bridget is looking for a place to live in New York, he suggests that she move in with him. She accepts the offer. Later in the episode, Nicole becomes discouraged while working an event. She doubts the sincerity of the partygoers and is feels unsettled when Mandie does not acknowledge her.
Episode 2: "Where's Nicole?"
Bridget is frustrated when Nicole does not show up for work. Nicole tells her friends that she couldn't get out of bed to go to work and contemplates whether or not she's subconsciously ruining this opportunity for herself. Tina and Janjay clash at a meeting. Rachel and Andrew pitch story ideas at a meeting and must compete for a spot in the September issue. Sparks fly when Bridget and Andrew go to a party for charity.
Episode 3: "It's Not Always Glamorous!"
Episode 4: "Pick Me!"
Episode 5: "Thank God You're Here!"
Episode 6: "The Party's Over"
Episode 7: "It's a Super Saturday"
Episode 8: "What a Super Saturday!"
Episode 9: "A Game or Bust"
Episode 10: "The Survival of the Fittest"
actors, notably Leven Rambin
of All My Children
("Where's Nicole?") and Bree Williamson
from One Life to Live
("It's Not Always Glamorous!").
SOAPnet
SOAPnet is an American cable television channel that broadcasts current and past soap operas and primetime dramas, along with some original programming. The channel launched on January 20, 2000, and is owned by Disney-ABC Television Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
in the summer of 2007 as a part of SOAPnet's original programming. The show could also be seen on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's website and is available for download on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. The show followed six assistants in the competitive world of fashion and beauty in New York City. The assistants worked all summer, culminating with New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week
The semi-annual New York Fashion Week, branded Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek in 2009, is held in February and September of each year in New York City. It is one of four major fashion weeks held around the world .-History:The first New York Fashion Week, then called Press Week, was the world's first...
, where they would also learn who would be given a full-time job.
Format
Each episode would include an evaluation of the assistants' performance by their supervisor(s) at their respective organizations. The evaluation was either individual or in a couple. All six assistants would also meet each week to "catch up" and as their respective supervisors noted in the first episode ("Big Dreams"), a camaraderie between them would be important during New York Fashion WeekNew York Fashion Week
The semi-annual New York Fashion Week, branded Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek in 2009, is held in February and September of each year in New York City. It is one of four major fashion weeks held around the world .-History:The first New York Fashion Week, then called Press Week, was the world's first...
as they were expected to work together.
The Assistants
Bridget Helene and Nicole Amendolare worked at Seventh House PR. Nicole soon resigned and Laurie Hugill was hired to fill her position. Tina Patient and Janjay Sherman worked for Flirt! Cosmetics. While Andrew Kanakis and Rachel Jacoby began as assistants at the now-defunct Jane magazine (as one episode would chronicle), they would eventually land assistant positions at CosmoGIRL!CosmoGIRL!
CosmoGirl was an American magazine based in New York City, published from 1999 until 2008. The teenage spin-off of Cosmopolitan magazine, it targeted teenage girls and featured fashion and celebrities. It was published ten times a year and reached approximately eight million readers before folding....
magazine.
Jane Magazine
Brandon Holley was editor-in-chief at Jane magazine at the time that it folded. Stephanie TrongStephanie Trong
Stephanie Trong was the executive editor of the magazine Jane, which had a circulation approaching one million until it shut down in July 2007....
was executive editor. While they both took part in getting Andrew and Rachel acclimated at the magazine, Stephanie was their primary mentor. It has been suggested that Jane magazine opted to take part in the show hoping it would do the same thing The Hills did for Teen Vogue
Teen Vogue
Teen Vogue magazine began as a version of Vogue magazine for teenage girls. This US magazine focuses on fashion and celebrities and offers information about the latest entertainment and feature stories on current issues and events.- Description :...
in terms of boosting magazine circulation.
Episodes
Episode 1: "Big Dreams"It's the assistants first day! Bridget is anxious to get started at Seventh House PR, while Nicole is apprehensive, worrying that people will be "maybe mean." They meet director Mandie Erickson and publicist Matt Kays. Mandie quizzes the girls about fashion week and quickly establishes herself as curt when she calls Nicole out on wearing flip flops. Mandie asks the girls about their favorite designers. Bridget names Stretsis, while Nicole naively praises Juicy Couture.
Next we meet Tina and Janjay, who will report to Kathleen Pierce, VP of Communications at Flirt! Cosmetics. Tina says that she's optimistic about finding her dream job, and Janjay asserts that more things can be accomplished with fewer people. Kathleen tells the girls that she expects them to "immerse themselves in the brand" immediately.
Finally, we meet Rachel and Andrew. Rachel says that she will try to mask her "awkwardness" and Andrew tells us that he entered the fashion world to meet girls. At Jane, editor-in-chief Brandon briefs the assistants about the magazine and questions their familiarity. Andrew admits that he's only picked up an issue or two before coming and Rachel gushes about how it's her absolute favorite magazine. All of the assistants are told that they'll be working with each other during fashion week, as well as other events over the summer, and so it is important that they forge a relationship.
Rachel and Andrew are sent on their first assignment. They are told that they must be photographed naked for the "naked issue" of the magazine. Before they take off their robes, Stephanie tells them that they've been "Jane pranked" and will write the prank page for the next issue.
Janjay's first assignment is to create a trend board highlighting spring makeup looks. Tina is asked to put on makeup reflecting the spring look.
The assistants meet for the first time over drinks. When Andrew learns that Bridget is looking for a place to live in New York, he suggests that she move in with him. She accepts the offer. Later in the episode, Nicole becomes discouraged while working an event. She doubts the sincerity of the partygoers and is feels unsettled when Mandie does not acknowledge her.
Episode 2: "Where's Nicole?"
Bridget is frustrated when Nicole does not show up for work. Nicole tells her friends that she couldn't get out of bed to go to work and contemplates whether or not she's subconsciously ruining this opportunity for herself. Tina and Janjay clash at a meeting. Rachel and Andrew pitch story ideas at a meeting and must compete for a spot in the September issue. Sparks fly when Bridget and Andrew go to a party for charity.
Episode 3: "It's Not Always Glamorous!"
Episode 4: "Pick Me!"
Episode 5: "Thank God You're Here!"
Episode 6: "The Party's Over"
Episode 7: "It's a Super Saturday"
Episode 8: "What a Super Saturday!"
Episode 9: "A Game or Bust"
Episode 10: "The Survival of the Fittest"
Controversy
Critics have spotlighted the show—a reality show centered around fashion—as being misplaced within SOAPnet's lineup. They have also questioned why current soaps or older soaps could not have been replayed in that time slot instead. This sentiment was expressed by some SOAPnet viewers on the show's message board as well. The show did feature cameos by ABC DaytimeABC Daytime
ABC Daytime is a programming block on the ABC Network which has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.-Schedule:...
actors, notably Leven Rambin
Leven Rambin
Leven Alice Rambin is an American actress. She is best known for playing look-alike half-sisters Lily Montgomery and Ava Benton on All My Children and her recurring roles in; Grey's Anatomy, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, One Tree Hill and CSI: Miami.-Biography:Rambin was born in...
of All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
("Where's Nicole?") and Bree Williamson
Bree Williamson
Bree Williamson Roberts is a Canadian actress.-Career:A graduate of the University of Toronto and sibling of successful business woman Tarra Williamson , she has been playing the role of Jessica Buchanan on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live since February 5, 2003...
from One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
("It's Not Always Glamorous!").