Whitney Port as BarbieI kind of hate to admit it, but I'm a little obsessed with the reality show on MTV, "The City". I think the draw is of course watching the day-in, day-out workings of a glamorous magazine in NYC like Elle. This is because erm, I'm a girl and I love magazines. And who wouldn't want to sort through the accessories closet at a major fashion publication?
However, having worked in reality TV before, I must admit there is something about the show starting to become a cause of concern for me, now that it's in its second season.
For one, why in the world is the show's star, Whitney Port, now a fashion designer? During the first season, she had a fabulous job in PR at DVF, at which it seemed like she was excelling. That is, until thwarted by show "villain" Olivia Palermo, a supposed real life "Gossip Girl". Palermo took credit for an assignment away from Whitney, and Whitney later quit her job and ran. Or maybe she was fired? Who knows.
This does not send a good message if left unaddressed, which it wasn't in the show. All of a sudden, she's not working at fabulous DVF anymore. What happened? Was she fired by DVF herself? Does it matter? Well, probably to poor Whitney, but she doesn't know this yet, because there are like 10 cameras trained on her a day during shooting. And who cares about having a real job when you're on camera, or so goes the logic in starring on a reality show. Career advice: When intimidated on the job, it's ideal not to run away in fear. However, when a "gaff" like that is broadcasted for hundreds upon thousands of people (ok, teenage girls) to watch, that's when the real intimidation begins.
And now, poor, poor, Whitney is working at People's Revolution with the brash-but-scary and probably unstable Kelly Cutrone. People's Revolution is a little chintzy in comparison to DVF, and does not appear as if the best career move. Not only that, but Port decides to become a fashion designer of all things, with career aspirations to supersede DVF, perhaps?
Port better watch out for advice from a PR firm that is in all honesty, looking to get more airtime rather than dole out career recommendations. I mean would Port get this much attention from this mentor and leverage to try out fashion design if she weren't on the show? Cutrone does not seem the type to operate without a motive. I doubt the thought of designing clothes would've even crossed Whitney's mind without the devil in her ear, which makes me wonder what it will leave her with after everything's locked and loaded.
Look at Heidi Montag from The Hills. It doesn't look like one reality producer might have suggested to her it's a bad idea to get 11 plastic surgery operations in one day. "That's not fair," Reality Producer might respond. "It's not like I talked to her that day." Yes, but Reality Producer, it's everything you said to her on the million, gazillion days you were with her before that which probably led her to think butchering herself was a good career move.
And then, of course, there's Olivia Palermo, the real life "Gossip Girl" herself. Palermo does not like to work, and it seems unfair to depict this as she hops through fabulous jobs in the city. Let's face it: It is helpful to know someone that has the the "hook-up", especially the more glamorous the job. That said, some are also hired from merit alone. Palermo is not one of those people.
This is not a happy message to convey to young ladies watching with dreams of living and working at a high-profile job in the city. According to the show, if you are pretty with expensive clothes, you will not have to work at your job and everyone will love you. The worst thing that can happen is your boss might try and bring you down because she's jealous.
A wondrous fairy tale, but one sadly untrue. Even models have to curry favor to the whims of designers, like wobbling around on six-inch heels and trying not to humiliate themselves by falling down on a runway (though often a well-paid risk). Palermo will probably return full attention to her position as a socialite after the show concludes, and maybe Port will take up this occupation, too. However, that is not reality. While in "The City", a superficial facade could get you a reality show, that's pretty much it.
