Fashion blogger Tillie Adelson of MyStilettoLife learns firsthand about the dishonest side of reality TV auditions.
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Frostbite. I literally cannot feel my feet. However, I’m going to push through—this is my chance the one I’ve been waiting for—to be a star! I’ve patiently been waiting in line to be a contender for the next season of House of DVF, a new reality show where one competes for the coveted position of DVF Brand Ambassador. Sadly, it’s the middle of February, so I am standing out in the freezing cold with no end in sight. Suddenly wondering how I arrived here.
I suppose since the years I attended UCLA and lived there during the rise of MTV’s generation-defining so-called reality show, The Hills, I have had visions of seeing myself in the spotlight … by just being myself. I always loved acting and performing, but when reality TV hit the scene, I took to it (and I have always been an early adopter of new trends in media and pop culture). During and after The Hills, there was Project Runway, which put all sorts of ideas in my head about living in New York City and pursuing a career in fashion. So in a serendipitous and whimsical moment I was moving to New York City and living the life I saw on TV—the “reality.” I quickly found an internship at a celebrity fashion house where I performed mundane tasks in exchange for a glimpse of the fashion industry.
All of that happened, and none of it happened, all at the same time. I was now living NYC, working as an intern at a glamorous fashion house where I went on coffee runs and walked the designers’ dogs, but was also riding in elevators with Anna Wintour, seeing a live filming of ‘The City’ (The Hills spinoff), and even attending a taping of Project Runway. Yes! This was fashion in NYC. I was going to make it.
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My lofty ideas of becoming a star, in some capacity, were still far away but I was determined. After attending Parsons the New School for Design and working various internships and finally working a paying job in fashion (albeit not very glamorous—but getting a paycheck started to seem more glamorous than anything else). After a couple of years of working and wondering, How can I make my mark? I finally started my own fashion blog: My Stiletto Life, and immersed myself in the blogging world—a medium that was on the rise—fast. Blogging seemed to agree with me and I started to realize that my dreams of becoming known for just being me may actually materialize.
I finally started my own fashion blog: My Stiletto Life, and immersed myself in the blogging world—a medium that was on the rise—fast. Blogging seemed to agree with me and I started to realize that my dreams of becoming known for just being me may actually materialize.
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That is when I first heard of House of DVF last year. It was a new reality show that would be a competition to become DVF’s next Global Brand Ambassador (whatever that meant). At this point, I had been working in fashion for several years and this seemed to be a perfect fit for me. Of course, my penchant for reality TV and fame was still insatiable.
I auditioned for the show very last minute and it was too late to be pursued. So I patiently waited a year and once I heard the show was going to have a second season, I was determined to audition (again) and be a part of it—be the next DVF Global Brand Ambassador!
I enlisted some friends to help me create a casting video—which was no small feat. Once the video was done, I filled out the lengthy application form with details about my personal and professional life. Once I submitted all these items, so began the waiting game.
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Fast-forward about a month later: I received a very exciting email.
Congratulations!
You have been chosen to interview in person for a chance to be the next Global Brand Ambassador for Diane Von Furstenberg and to appear on ‘House of DVF,’ Season 2 …
This coveted position allows you to travel the world living the jet set life, represent the DVF brand at cultural happenings, store openings, premiere fashion events and contribute to philanthropic endeavors. It is an amazing experience, a once in a lifetime opportunity, learning everything from design, marketing and PR from a visionary and powerhouse designer!
We’re searching for bold and business savvy young fashionistas, who are sophisticated and polished with a great sense of style. We want people who have fashion credentials and are ready to work with and learn from the best in the business!
It was an unconscionable experience, but I really learned some things about myself and what my reality is now.
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I was going to be interviewed, according to the subject line, “in person.” They were taking a personal interest in me! February 14th, 2015 was the date to arrive at the DVF headquarters in the Meatpacking District. I had grandiose ideas of being among a selective group of girls (and some men) who had been picked for their experience and personalities to be on the show.
I arrived at 11:30, half an hour before the call time of 12 PM. I saw a long line forming across the street from the DVF studio. Of course that MUST be for something else, I thought. No such luck; that line was where people stood for their in-person interview. There were already about 100 people in line and I was already sensing that what I presumed to be a small, exclusive group, was really just an open cattle casting call. It was about 19 degrees out at best. As I was waiting in line I found out that this was the line just to sign the on-camera waiver. Once we finished in this line, we had to go across the street and stand in another line. After about an hour I finally crept to the front of the line to sign the waiver and, curiously, they only give me a stamp on my wrist … no number or any kind of identification for being there as a contestant. I very quickly realized that this whole thing is not what it said it was, an in person interview, but was rather a publicity stunt for the show. The production crew was running around filming DVF coming in and out of her office while we were waiting in the freezing cold—for what we thought would be an interview.
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Three hours later, it started to snow. My feet couldn’t be felt any longer and DVF had finally decided that we could all come inside her studio to continue to wait to be interviewed. Oh thanks DVF, I thought, after three hours in 19 degree weather you’re going to let us all in. Once we got inside there was still no organization, and it remained to be seen if we were even going to get interviewed at all. After I noticed that producers were cherry picking who they want to actually get interviewed, I finally had enough. This was not what I thought it would be; indeed, it was disingenuous and disheartening. I had always held high expectations for people in this industry and I truly felt that a woman and a brand like DVF’s would not conduct casting in such an unprofessional way.
It was an unconscionable experience, but I really learned some things about myself and what my reality is now. I am working as hard as ever to continue to build my personal brand, while continuing with my 9-to-5 career in fashion. I am networking and constantly meeting new people in the fashion community and keeping my eyes and ears open. I now know my reality and it will not be valued by whether I am going to be the next DVF Brand Ambassador—and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Photo: Flickr – “Walk Under the Stars”/Jason Mrachina