You thought you knew beauty. The girls gracing the covers of Vogue, the women who walked the catwalks only of the greatest designer names, the gazelle-like models who strutted runways in barely-there lingerie.
Then came Heaven's Empire. A whole new...
My first day as a model with Heaven's Empire was little more relaxed than the previous. The moment Kensa and I arrived in the agency we were serenaded by assistants and designers, all begging for her signature on a document or my presence in their department.
For a woman who came across as so sleek and polished she might seem cold, she seemed surprisingly aware of how I was feeling a little overwhelmed. She guarded my schedule for the day, directing me to various rooms. My first stop was the IT department, where, to my surprise, I was gifted with a pale gold iPhone engraved with my initials on the back.
"It's the real thing, but heavily modified. Better security, sharper camera lenses, more storage space, as well as unlimited calls, texts and data, compatible with networks worldwide." One of the employees informed me, passing me a laptop and wireless headphones to match. "We made a deal with Apple. They give us all the new releases, they're virtually begging to; what better advert could they have than their devices in the hands of the most beautiful women in the world?"
I had no answer to that. I didn't feel any different to the girl I'd been yesterday, but I knew now that everything had changed. Now I was a Heaven's Empire model. I was one of those women, living the jet-setting life, whose face would, within a few shorts months, have become one of the most globally recognised.
I wasn't sure how to feel about that, but my new found fame was the topic of discussion for the rest of the day.
"The papers have already got wind of you," someone from the press department informed me. "The Daily Star and the Sun have both got some info that suggests we've recruited a new one. By this afternoon I expect they'll know your hair colour. Your life in the shadows ends here."
I had hours of media training which followed that remark. Everything from the smallest bits of etiquette to how to look good on camera.
"Talk like a politician." The interview coach told me. "Polite, and careful; don't talk badly without a cause. But you must be charming too - you must be memorable or they'll forget you."
I learned what never to say, how to sit elegantly, which way to turn a difficult question around and which reporters would portray the agency favourably and which wouldn't.
I was exhausted by the time that was over and somewhat relieved when I found out my next session was with Mario. The first part was rather punishing, as I had to practice my runway walk until he was happy - I might be a perfectionist, darling, but I am the man who makes the clothes; who better to give you advice? - which was not for what felt like hours.
The second part was more relaxed, though; he browsed racks of clothing, musing about what I could wear well - this jacket, Stasia, so Spring 2004 or now this... very 2012, flawless and the epitome of haute couture. As we reached shelves of shoes he gave me a lesson in the different types.
"How many can you name?" "I'm sorry?" "Types of shoes." "Oh... umm... stilettos, sandals, platforms, wedges..." I was running out of ideas. "Boots, flats, trainers...?" Mario did his best not to grimace, selecting pairs of shoes from the shelf and holding them up in turn and giving their different names and features. "Mules. D'Orsay. Slingback. Peep toe, round toe, almond toe. Mary Jane. T-strap. Ankle strap. Oxford."
I received the same lessons on dress shape and collar design in the days that followed; Mario seemed determined to make up for my years outside of the world of fashion in as little time as possible. When I wasn't learning the proper names for different skirt designs I was pouring over portfolios of his greatest works:
"That was the very first December show."
"And that's Ciara?"
"Yes - wearing the gown she closed the show in. We always save the most magnificent couture dresses until last."
I spent the most time with Mario over those first few days, but a few hours in Kensa's office too. She had her own portfolios, this time not of models but of faces associated with the agency that I should know.
"That's Geoffrey Grey, retired head of the fragrance department, though he's not really retired. You'll see him around the office, he's always working on something. And here... that's Francesca Lawrence."
"The heiress and ex-model?"
"Quite right. She's an actress, a philanthropist too, very vocal when it comes to women's rights. She didn't model for us - bit of a shame that she didn't sign, but we were a very young agency back then - but we're still friendly to her. She sometimes wears Heaven's Empire on the red carpet."
"And this man?"
"Blaise Watt. Fantastic photographer, we're trying to get him to work here, and here only. He's coming to the December show, I believe, so if you meet him, do try to get him on side."
To say the first week was hectic would be an understatement; I had to go from never having modelled before to being flawless in front of the camera. And by the following Monday, it seemed, I had done it, for I was called up to Kensa's office.
"We're going to announce," she said simply, clearly already decided on the matter. "You'll have to enter the spotlight one day or another, and we can't hide it from the press for much longer. Better that the photos circulating are the ones we've taken."
She showed me the proposed photo, taken from the selection that had been made on the Casting Day, which showed only my face. It wasn't photoshopped, only lightly filtered, she assured me. It would be posted to the Heaven's Empire Instagram account, official website and app simultaneously. At the same time, she explained, my own Instagram account - the public one that fans of the agency could follow, would be activated and announce the same message.
"Happy to go ahead?" She asked. I swallowed. This was the moment when I had to decide if I was ready to show the world my face.
"Go for it," I said decisively. She clicked at her computer a couple of times, picked up the phone and called someone, and clicked again. At once my phone pinged with a notification.
New post from account @anastasia.du.kane:
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The caption read: It's official! It is a pleasure to announce that I have signed with Heaven's Empire #HeavensEmpire
