All language subtitles for Strut.S01E01.1080p.WEBRip.x264-ION10

DOMINIQUE:
I am a strong,
independent woman.

My walk is destructive.

ARISCE: I've been in Vogue.
That's the fashion bible.

That explains
my diva fu----- attitude.

ISIS:
I was a finalist on Top Model.

LAITH:
I want to be the perfect man.

REN: I'm unfiltered.
I just say it how it is.

DOMINIQUE: They want a girl
that's six-two, 35-25-35.

They didn't ask
if you have a penis or not.

(whooping, applause)
CECE: Slay Model Management

is the world's
first transgender model agency.

Nice.
CASSANDRA:
It's an uphill battle.

People don't even know
what being transgender is.

CECE: We are a model agency
first and trans second.

I'm just gonna tell it
like it is.

It's the nose.

The stakes are high here.

We are in competition
with each other.

Don't trip.
(sarcastic laugh)

Do you even want to be a model?

It just seems like
you just don't even try.

I don't want to try.
You're ashamed of me.

I just want you to
get over the shame.

I have a brand.
It's just not gonna happen.

(guests gasping)

DOMINIQUE:
We've always been here,
and now you know.

Welcome.

*

*

(phone ringing)

(groggily):
Hello?

CASSANDRA:
I'm waiting down here, Ren.

20 more minutes.
I'm getting dressed right now.
Which is... I can't...

My name's Ren. I'm 22, and I'm

a "model."

CASSANDRA (in distance):
Get down here!

My general philosophy
on life is

do what you like, do who
you like, and go with the flow.

I consider myself a tomboy.

I like video games, flannel,
plaid, cute girls.

I like tall girls,
sometimes short girls,

brunette girls, gothy girls.

Ren!
My name is

Cassandra Cass.

And part of my job
includes picking up the models.

Wrangling models
is not the easiest job.

Hurry up!

Ren is

visually stunning.

She's tall.
She moves like a gazelle.

Ooh!

When it was first born,
of course,

and learning to walk.

Get in the car.

We see something

really extraordinary in Ren.

She could definitely be

on the cover of Vogue.

And now we're late.

We're not late. We'll get there
when we get there.

I think Ren kind of takes
a lot of this

for granted.

I don't get... We're putting

all this time and energy
into you,

but your actions
don't show you care.

No offense, what you're
wearing looks like crap.

It does not.
You look like
you smell like

hot dog farts.

I mean, do you
feel beautiful?

REN:
Back in high school, I thought

that I wouldn't ever
really be able to transition

because I had a really...

(voice deepening):
really, really deep voice.

Uh, eventually, I actually
started just practicing...

(higher pitch):
practicing, practicing,
and then practicing

until I could get it
to a comfortable tone.

You know, I never
even anticipated any of this

from the beginning.

But you know what, Ren,
this is your chance.

This whole modeling thing seems
amazing, but, at the same time,

life's not been too kind.

I used

to be homeless,
and at the end of the day,

you kind of have to look
at things with a little bit

of skepticism.
Who knows if anything's

gonna work out, pretty much.

You got to play the part
a little.

You're trying
to change someone's lifestyle.

Lifestyle? I'm trying
to make sure
On the t...
on the turn of a dime.

you're on time.

Don't get so defensive.
I'm just trying to help you.

I know.

*

Hey, handsome!
Hey.

Hi.

I live in Harlem.

The attitude in Harlem is, uh...
it's all about swag.

This is my city.

There are women eating corn
in Iowa

who are gonna go bonkers
for Laith.

He is just so hot.

That smile could just melt
your panties.

LAITH:
I just took some photos,
put them on Instagram.

I just wanted to show my
friends. I didn't really expect

that anything would come of it.
But the next day,

it was all over social media.

I've gotten stopped
in the street a couple times.

Is this what a fan is?
Do I have fans?

This is cool.
(chuckles)

Since my transition,
I've been celibate.

Girls do flirt with me,

but I'm still trying
to figure out

whether I even want to date.

I'm still getting comfortable
with who I am.

I'm still getting comfortable
with my body.

I've only been transitioning
for two years.

I'm still acclimating
to my new self.

The negative comments that I
get on just social media alone

makes me want to disappear.

I want people to see me
as just who I am.

Trans comes secondary.

*

Hey, Cassandra.

My name is Cece,
and I am the director

and founder
of Slay Model Management.

Slay is almost a year old.

We want the really major
brands, and we want

the commercial clients.
That's where the money is.

I always feel
I have to work doubly hard

to get half the recognition.

One day,
it will just be a model agency.

Okay.
So, this week's gonna be crazy.

Okay.
Cassandra is my assistant.

She is trans herself.

So, I got a really
big cover for Laith.

CASSANDRA:
Oh, I love him.
So, this is a big deal.

Is he gonna have his shirt off?
Yes.

It's a swimsuit shoot.

Oh, I love it.
Oh, God.

You are an HR nightmare.

It's really hard

having models
both in L.A. and New York

which is why it's important
that Cassandra is on point.

So, we have this
model mixer coming up,

and this is really
kind of exciting.

It's our one year anniversary.

Everything is under control.

I have the alcohol,
I have the food,

I have
all the invitations out.
Uh-huh.

Don't forget to
invite Claudia.

CASSANDRA:
Claudia is a model at Slay.

Her ex-boyfriend hit on me.

She took that the wrong way,

sent me a bunch of really nasty,

nasty text messages,
calling me trashy.

CECE:
They're gonna have to get along

for one night.

This is one
thing I...

I really don't want
to worry about.

I understand.

Don't fail me.

*

* I'm on fire...

One, two, three.

Nice.

My name is Dominique. I've been
a model for about 15 years.

That's really great.

Oh, my.

When I'm in front
of the camera,

there's a dance

going on in my head
that no one else sees.

Like there's

nothing wrong in the world.

Perfect.
Up until

I got signed with Slay,

I was working as a model, but
I was doing it quite secretly.

I couldn't tell anyone

that I'm trans.

I was always afraid

if they find out,
you may lose the job.

CASSANDRA:
Dominique should've been
walking the runways

with all the huge supermodels

in the '90s.
But, unfortunately,

they were not open to our kind.

DOMINIQUE:
I've hidden myself,

I've been embarrassed,

but I've still kept at it.

And now the opportunities
are there,

because I have Slay
and the right representation.

Amazing.
It's like,
who cares if you're trans?

Now's my time.

Thank you so very much.

Thank you.
(kisses)

Hey, dude.
My husband and I

have been married for 18 years.

Hey. How you doin'?
What's up?

My husband sees me as a woman
that loves him.

Whatcha doin'?

Nothing. Checking
the oil level,

the wiper fluid.

He works as an auto mechanic.

Basic meat-and-potatoes guy.

We're two human beings in love.

But he's not about

to run around
and tell the world,

"Oh, my wife is trans."

I haven't met his coworkers.

He keeps his friends separate
from my life.

And sometimes
that does take a toll.

I got to work on this car
a little bit longer.

I'm-I'm...
You're always working.

I'm kind of getting hungry.

What do you want to eat?
I wanted

some steak, if I could.

(sighs)

*

MAN:
Next.

Hello.

Here's my book.

And you just
swipe away.

ARISCE:
Go-sees are

essentially a job interview.

I hate go-sees because
I have no business there.

How long have you been
in this industry?

A long, long time.

I'm Arisce Wanzer.
If you don't know

who I am, I can't help you.
I am a supermodel.

I've worked with everyone.
I've wanted to be a model

since I was about 14.

I saw the Victoria's Secret
Fashion Show, and I thought,

"I would love to be pretty
for a living.

Like, that looks fun."

I actually started
as a male model

and then transitioned at 19,

and I just switched over
to the women's board.

I've worked with Alexander Wang
and Michael Kors, V magazine,

Mario Sorrenti,
Patrick Demarchelier.

Good company.

Thank you.

Everyone knows me.

I've been in all the same shows

as major models.

But none of the major
recognition, just because

of the whole trans thing.

And that's where the fashion
industry has done us wrong.

Ooh,
that's pretty.

Thank you. That's my feature

in Vogue Germany.

I've been in Vogue.
That's the fashion bible.

I'm better than everyone else.

MAN: How tall are you?
Uh, I am six feet tall.

And if you don't mind,
how old are you?

I'm older than the last girl.

(chuckles)
All right.

I'm going out for the same jobs
as girls who are

as young as 15.

If you're after 25,

they're like,
"Get the hell out."

I just want to see
how you can move.

It frustrates me,
because they have

their mind made up before
you even got into the room.

Soften your face
just a little bit.

Thank you.

I'm getting that job.

I'm the most confident person
in the room, and it reads.

It reads on camera,
it reads in person.

She has a very hard look

for commercial.

She needs to soften
up a little bit.

I'm gonna get the job,
because I'm me

and they're them.

Next.

Mom doesn't want
to accept who I am.
(grunts)

You say it's not normal,
and it's

a sin, you're going to hell.

Sometimes I have to give
you some hard-ass truths.

*

CECE:
Slay represents some

of the world's top trans models.

Nobody else has done this.

How are you?
Good. How are you?

You look amazing.

Thank you.
How are you?
(grunts)

Isis is one of my newer models.

I love the hair.
Let me see.

Isis, of course,
has this background from

America's Next Top Model.

You look great.
Bam. (chuckles)

Thank you.

You got my drink.

ISIS:
My career

has been like
an emotional roller coaster.

I was on Top Model originally
eight years ago.

CASSANDRA:
Isis made it to the finals

of America's
Next Top Model.

And then
she was called out,

and they ripped her apart.

CECE:
These girls,

who were clueless,

they called her a drag queen,

they called her a man.

ISIS: That was the first time
I was kind of like,

publicly laughed at.

It's just scary.

CASSANDRA:
Once she left that show,
everybody knew

that she
was transgender.
Yeah, and it's different.

And she had to go back
to the real world,

and deal with all the pressures
and judgments.

She was so young, she didn't
even defend herself.

ISIS:
I took a lot of that bullying
and negativity,

and it was just such a big
depression after that.

And I quit modeling for a while
to really just

get strong within myself.

On the runway,
I was this fierce diva

who loved to compete,

but Top Model happened so early
in my transition,

I was very insecure
with my body.

But now, I'm ready to live up
to my full potential.

I'm glad I'm here.

ISIS:
I just moved from New York
to L.A.

And I'm doing this with all
of my savings, all by myself.

So that means, Cece need
to get me some work, ASAP.

I like to take some time
with every girl,

to talk about, like, where
they are with their careers,

and how we can help each other.

I signed Isis to Slay
because I still believe in her.

She's been out
of the limelight,

but Isis paved the way
for all of these trans models.

But I think somewhere along
the way, she lost her path.

What's the fast track?

How do we fast-track me
to, like,

try to get
some endorsements?

I have a brand.
Mm-hmm.

You know, most people
don't really understand

or grasp the concept.
Right.

Like I grasp the concept
of my own brand.

CECE:
Isis believes
that she's a brand.

And she is.
I agree, she's a brand.

But that brand fell asleep
for a little too long.

The truth is, it's
just not gonna happen

tomorrow or next week.

It's almost kind of like
starting again.

ISIS:
I've put in a lot

of blood, sweat and tears
into this industry.

Definitely earned my spot.

My favorite part
about the agency

is the development part.

ISIS:
I have a fear that

I'm gonna run out of money,

and I'm gonna be stuck,

and I just don't have anybody

to lean on.

It's just scary.

*

Hello.
Oh, hey.

What's up?

Look who's late.
Mwah.

ARISCE:
Ren is a model at my agency.

She's a child.

Next.

Hi.
REN:
Hello.

Um, so here I have

my general selection
of photos.

Do you have your
book with you?

REN:
Unfortunately,
I don't.

Oh. Okay.

You don't have an iPad?

Unfortunately, not.

'Cause these
are tiny.

You should
invest in one.

ARISCE:
The thing is, with new models,

a lot of them have no sense
of direction.

You get,
"Not so great on camera."

"She's not giving us anything."

Guess why:
she hasn't been anywhere.

You need to present it
differently than on a phone.

How long have you
been modeling?

Um, about six months.

ARISCE:
I've been in this business
for years.

When people hire a younger girl
over me,

I'm like "What are you doing?"

Don't you see
that I'm in, like,

different countries in my book,

and this girl's in the same
street in downtown L.A.?

Um, do you have
shoes with you?

Yeah.
Yeah, that would
be great.

ARISCE:
When they show up to castings,

and they still don't know
how to walk?

She didn't do her job.

Ren has to sell it,

that's what she's here for.

WOMAN:
Okay. There you go.

Better! Better.

Much better.

A word of advice to you.

You need to make sure you have
the tools of the trade,

and an iPad is definitely
one of them.

Okay? Okay.

MAN:
She's beautiful.

Really great
bone structure.

Yeah.

I think she's not
seasoned enough.

But the freshness

aspect is nice.
Yeah.

In a sense,

she's not jaded yet.

It might be good to have
something like that

in the mix.
We'll see.

Yeah.

*

* Ah-ah, I get it

* Ah-ah, I do it...

Double up.

One.

(grunts)
That's it.

Again.

One, two, three.

(grunting)

Again.
(grunts)

LAITH:
My dad was close to going

into Minor League Baseball,

and he also fought
in the Golden Gloves.

One.

LAITH:
I always felt like
I was an athlete.

I always loved sports,

and I wanted to be like him.

(laughs):
Damn.

I'm out of shape.

Every now and then,
he does say that

he misses his little girl,

and I always tell him,

"You never really had one."

(chuckles)

That was a
good workout.

You still got
the power there.
(chuckling): Yeah.

It was good.

You taught me.
(laughs)

I have a
photoshoot coming up

that I'm nervous about.

It's a cover,
and it's a big deal.

There's nothing
to worry about it.

If I were you, I wouldn't
even pay no mind to that.

LAITH:
I think my dad is taking
my transition the easiest,

which kind of took me
by surprise.

At one point, I thought
that me being who I am

was a source of shame
to the family.

No. I've always been proud
of you.

Your mother, too.
You know how she is.

LAITH:
My mom loves me,

but she doesn't accept me.

Not in the way that I'd like to,
at least.

This cover shoot is a pretty
big deal, and I hope that

it's something that she'd be
proud of.

Mom, I don't think she
understands what it does

to me when she
doesn't want to

accept who I am.

That she refuses.

She thinks that by her

accepting it,
she's sinning, too.

If you live your life, and...

and you don't harm anybody,

everything's gonna be fine.

LAITH:
As accepting as my dad is,

he doesn't really understand
what I go through.

*

The bitch is back.

How are you?

CECE:
I'm good. How are you?

Excellent.

Can you give me a water,
Cassandra?

Yes, ma'am.

I am the baddest bitch
who ever lived.

I get my badassness
from my mom.

She raised four kids... no man.

I was a little boy at the time.
(chuckles)

So, I'm here to defy all odds.

I want campaigns.
There.

Like, I'll say it.
I'll say it first.

I want campaigns.
I want campaigns
for you, too.

I want more campaigns.
I want a fragrance campaign.

Mm-hmm.
I want a
beauty campaign.

I want JCPenney,
I want Target.

Hell, I want Barnes & Noble.

(chuckling):
Okay?

Hey, I want Barnes & Noble
for you.

ARISCE:
High fashion doesn't pay.

But you get a Target campaign,
and you get $300,000.

You are not working anymore,

for the rest of the year,
if you don't want to.

And for any major retailer,
just to hire a trans person

to do something normal.

Go figure:
we buy toilet paper, too.

Get out.

So, first, I want all of those
things for you.

Okay.
You know that.

But sometimes I have
to go and give you

some hard-ass truths as well.

Okay.
This is like the difficult

conversation I need
to have with you.

Is it my lips?

They're too big?

It's the nose.

Why does America hate
black people?

You know what?
Whether you're Asian,

black, whatever,

everybody's supposed
to have this nose.

Mm-hmm.
It's terrible.

This is for business.

It's about her possibly
booking more.

CASSANDRA:
What she doesn't understand is

part of being a woman,
and being a model,

is being feminine.

She doesn't
take hormones.

And part of taking
hormones is...

Do you take hormones?

I take... honey, I...
I take hormones like Tic Tacs.

(laughing)

Like, what does that say
about me

for setting a new
beauty standard

for people who
do look like me?

It says you're
a good businesswoman.

This is bull----.

He said that I'm supposed
to change my nose.

I kind of agree
with him, though.

Bitch!

It's a swimsuit shoot.
I'm not ready.

Is there any way
to postpone it?
No.

This is the type of stuff
that makes me

*

I have to give you
some hard-ass truths.

Is it my lips?

They're too big?

It's the nose.

This is bull----.

I work so hard to love myself.

Like, you have to literally work
at it, every single day.

I'm not embarrassed
about my face at all.

My nose is the same exact nose
as my mom,

my sisters, my aunts.

I've gotten a lot of money off
of it.

And a lot of really hot guys.

No one ever said, "She's so hot,
I'd bang her, but that nose..."

No. They'd bang her.

I just want you to consider

seeing Dr. Pincus.

I don't want
a Cindy Lou Who nose.

I think those are gross.

And they don't fit
black people's faces.

I don't want or need

to get my nose done,

because I've gotten this far.

I've been featured in Vogue
three times.

How many of the other girls
can say that?

The answer is none.

Nada. Zip. Zilch.

Please think about it.

I am done talking
about this.

*

Hi.

How are you?

LAITH:
I met Dominique

through signing with Slay,

and she's kind of become
a mentor to me.

I call her auntie,
and I look to her

whenever I need advice
on things about modeling,

or even, how to deal
with a family

that is not always as supportive
as-as I'd like.

Excuse me, but I-I'm dumping
a lot of sugar in this.

(laughs)
Just FYI.

And I don't get it.
Yeah...

Then you're gonna go to the gym
and work it all out.

Yep.
(chuckles)

I-I don't understand it,
but that's you.

What's up?

Nothing much.

You tell me what's going on.

You know when your parents have
all of these things

that they want you to be
or become, or these ideas

of who you're gonna be
in the future,

and then you're not that?

And you feel like
you're disappointing them.

Yeah.
I felt the same way.

You talk about your mom.

You said she's supportive when
she wants to be, right?
Yeah.

I mean, she's supportive when it
comes to me as her kid, like,

Right.
I'm her child,
and she loves me.

But what she doesn't support,
obviously,

is who I am as... a man.

It is really difficult for Laith

to be comfortable with himself

when his mom still looks
at him

as her daughter.

When your mom
doesn't accept you,

it's very difficult for you

to actually, truly,
accept yourself.

So, it's a... it's a
religious thing, I take it.

Yeah.

She has her beliefs,
right?
Yeah.

And you cannot go against
another person's beliefs,

because then,
you would be a hypocrite.

Right.

But you still have
to tell her

how you feel.

Yeah.
Because you're
not hiding.

We are not hiding anymore.
Yeah.

I'm really nervous
about speaking to my mom,

because I-I think
I've disappointed her.

We try to talk about my
transition, and where I am now,

and she just shuts down.

And I think that really
needs to change.

You have a lot at stake.

You have a lot
in front of you.
Yeah.

And it's kind of hard.

Yeah.

But as times progresses,

and you become more comfortable

with you,
and you realize that

you're not as they so-call
this abomination,

or whatever.
Yeah.

You're a human being.

You're a beautiful man.

And it's...
(both laughing)

My mom's gonna get mad,

(chuckling):
but it's all right.

No, let's not get Mom angry,
you know how those

Caribbean mothers can be.
Just kidding. Yeah.

*

Did you

go by the agency today?

No, I didn't. Why?

Oh, okay 'cause
I was there.

I was gonna say,
we could've rode together.

But, um, I need a drink.

Chanel's a friend of mine,
and fellow mean girl

at Slay Models.

Get the glasses.
Ooh! Mimosas.

ARISCE:
We're the bad bitches.

Let's be real here.

We talk about everybody.

It's fun, but we tell the truth.

My fav.

Well, I talked
to Cecilio,

and he said that I'm supposed
to change my nose.

What? Why?

Because he said that

casting directors
weren't booking me,

or weren't pulling me
in for jobs

because they don't
think, like, my nose

is photographable
from the front.

My God.

Right? No, like...

Vogue.

Like, actually,
in Vogue.

I kind of agree with him,
though.

(laughs)

Bitch!

You've lost your
goddamn mind.

Give me my champagne back.

I think the industry
needs to change.

I don't think I need to change.

I think it looks fine.

It fits my face.

I give you body, legs...

I'm hilarious.

If you want to hire a nose,
hire a nose.

There's tons of nice noses
out there.

Stop bothering me.

(door opens)

Look who just barges in.

Oh!
Bitch, you ain't
welcome here.

I came by

because I was
a little concerned.

Me and Arisce
are pretty tight,

so I simply wanted
to give her my experience

with cosmetic enhancement.

I...
Construction?

Construct... I do feel like
I'm kind of like Rome.

Rome wasn't built in a day
and neither was Cassandra.

You saw I was mad?

I mean, what's going on?

Cecilio wants me to change,

uh, my nose.

Right.
No... and, uh...

I told her,
I agreed a little.

You... ain't been through
what I've been through, okay?

CASSANDRA:
I got to keep it real.

You want more

beauty work.

But if you want work,
you have to be realistic.

When I think

of Arisce's look,
I do not think delicate.

And I feel that
if she were to get

the rhinoplasty,
I feel it would give her...

Feminine.
a little
more femininity.

It is very
aggressive.

I think she needs
to chop that nose.

They're gonna pick
a younger model,

who's, you know, got
a more petite nose.

That isn't getting rid of,
you know, your being,

you know, black.

Where does it stop, though?

(laughs)

I'm conflicted with caring

about missing opportunities

about the way I look
just because

I want to get better jobs.

You know, I was living
in shame for 18 years,

not happy with myself.

I don't know.

It's really hard to make me

ashamed of myself after that.

CASSANDRA:
You know, I've had
a lot of things do

and I've done them
for myself, but also

I wanted to be
the fiercest woman

that I felt I could be.

CHANEL:
No, and...
I think I am that.

I just think you
should see a doctor,

and just get
an opinion.

ARISCE:
I don't know.

It's in the maybe zone,

but it's also the maybe not.

Yeah.
So, we will see.

Well, you know, you could always
go out and get a real job.

(sputters, laughing)

(all laughing)
Girl!

No.

*

CECE:
Hi, Laith. How are you?

LAITH:
Hey, Cece. What's going on?

So, everything's good.
Are you prepped

for the Attitude shoot?

You're going to shoot
with Leon Carrera.

Yeah. I looked

at his work.
He's fantastic.

Yeah, he's worked
with a lot

of really good models
and celebrities.

So, this is good.
Yeah.

Have you manscaped?

Manscape?

What do I need to manscape for?

It's a swimsuit shoot.

Manscaping is, essentially,

either removing all of,

or trimming down,
your body hair.

It's important
for an aesthetic look,

especially during a photoshoot
where you're in nothing

but, you know, tiny briefs,
or, uh, swimwear.

I don't think I'm...
I'm not ready.

I'm not.

LAITH:
Yesterday, I was totally

fine with the shoot.
Now, I'm being

told that I'm gonna
be shirtless,

and it's a swimwear
and underwear shoot.

I have 60,000 followers
on social media,

and I feel like
I'm constantly dealing

with all these
negative comments.

It's hurtful.

And I really don't want to deal

with that anymore.

I'm not ready.
I'm not...

I can't do it.
Not now, it's too soon.

Is there any way

to postpone it?

No, because...

we can't really tell clients,

"No."
I mean, we can't.

We can't do that.

I don't know if
this is gonna work.

I don't know.

CECE:
Laith is his own worst enemy.

Laith will knock down
everything about himself

and then he will
take it to heart.

It's a very self-inflicting
kind of thing.

It's not just about you now.

Next thing you know,
nobody's gonna want

to work with us because,

"Oh, don't use somebody
from Slay because they're late

or they don't show up."

If he doesn't show up

to this shoot, this will

forever affect his career.

Not everybody gets this chance.

This is the type of stuff
that makes me want to quit

modeling al-altogether.

Maybe it's...
this is not for me,

because I'm always freaking out

about these things,
and I don't...

I'm just not...
I don't know if I'm even...

I'm ready for all of this.

...people were popular...
Pause, pause, pause,
young lady.

You're not gonna
last if you act

like those flash-
in-the-pan girls.

Are you sure
Cece can't cancel?

*

Oh, wow.

You look like you're having fun.

Is that see-through?
Partially.

ARISCE:
So, Cassandra and Ren

walk in, and, uh,
Ren's in this new getup.

Obviously curated by Cassandra.

Did you get any taste
from this lesson? (giggles)
(mumbles)

REN:
I did the makeup myself,

but the dress she had to
wrestle me into, pretty much.

CASSANDRA:
I took Ren shopping

to up her model game.

I felt that she needed to be
in touch with her feminine side.

So did you give her any
of your extra blonde extensions?

Honey, I'm all natural.

What do you think about
the go-see the other day, Ren?

You think you got it?

I don't know. I think
they generally liked me,

just not the
unpreparedness.

But if they want me, they want
me. They don't, they don't.

That's the way
the cookie crumbles.

I'm excited and kind of psyched,
you know,

if I get the whole go-see thing,
but, if not,

---- doesn't always work out.

Win some, you lose some.

Where do you see yourself
in ten years, Ren?

Hopefully... happy,

with a girlfriend
and on a billboard somewhere.

Do you care about
fashion at all?

CASSANDRA:
Do you have Naomi Campbell

on speed dial?
(crickets chirping)

You don't know
who Naomi Campbell is?
You don't know who that is?

I've heard the name.

Okay, girl.
(giggles)

This is a career.
If you're doing this for fun,

get out--
you're taking jobs from girls

who want to make this a career.
You're annoying us.

You guys were growing up
as these things were happening
No.

and as, like, these people were
popular...
No, no, no, no, no.
Here's the thing.

Pause, pause, pause,
young lady.

You're not gonna
last if you act

like those flash-
in-the-pan girls.

I see them come and go
every single year.

Every single season,
actually.

I love this job.

It fits me as a person.

I manifested all of this, and I
worked really hard for it.

What I'd be nervous about
is not working anymore.

A little bit of education
can really benefit you.

It'll make you last longer.

I just feel like, so far,
throughout my entire career,

that it would not have
helped me whatsoever.

I don't necessarily aspire
to be a model like Arisce.

I don't need to know
every single, like,

celebrity or supermodel,

or where Tom Cruise
ate a sandwich.

It's not on my to-do list.

The best models are the people
who are passionate about it.

When I need to be on,
I can be on.

When I need to represent,
I can represent.

When I need to...
You always need to represent.

There's always
people watching.

Like, some kid's looking at you
in, like, Michigan somewhere.

Well, what if I don't want
to be a role model, though?

You signed up for that.
What if I just
want to live my life?

I want you to care.

You're trying to live
your ideals through me.

Everybody...
Do you even know
about my past? No.

You've never even asked
me what I've done

or what I've been through.

What do you think,
I just get you coffee?

(Cassandra chuckles)
Can I get a mimosa?

(laughter)
For the love of God.

Do you want to stay?

'Cause the girls who stay, care.

If she keeps that "I don't
care" attitude, guess what?

They're not gonna care either.

Because it's only cute
when you're young.

Comfortable Ren
in her comfortable existence.

Not knowing a damn thing
about the modeling world.

* Tell me where you're going,
tell me where you've been *

* I remember every day,
you know... *

DOMINIQUE:
Let's go.

Let's walk down this way
with Mommy.

I know you're not
trying to poop.

Come on.

Good boy!

(phone ringing)

Cece.

I'm well.
What's happening?

Yeah?

A what?

If you book a cover,

get your ass up and go.

That is a very rare opportunity

for transgender models.

What time is his calltime?

Dominique is a mentor.

I'm really hoping

that she can talk
some sense into Laith.

And I know that she knows
the value of being on a cover.

Because this is a big deal.

I'll be on my way right now.

*

DOMINIQUE:
I don't think Laith realizes,

for him to be brand-new,
and to be offered a cover.

I know models who have been
in the paint for ten years

that have never gotten a cover.

Good morning.

LAITH (over phone):
Yeah.

I'm downstairs.

What's happening?

I need you down here
and ready to go.

Laith's issues are not

about vanity,
it's about acceptance.

In my opinion, I believe that
Laith needs to talk to his mom,

and somehow find some common
ground between them.

You sure Cece can't cancel
and do this some other time?

You're not canceling.

Or reschedule.

For what?

My skin is not ready.

Look at my hair.

I am.

This whole week I, like,
messed up my-my diet, and...

I ate a bunch of cake and...

You have people that
organized this stuff for you.

Their time is
precious and important.

And as a model,

that's one of the disciplines
you have to learn.

There are many people out there

who would love to have
this opportunity.

Cancelling, and especially
at the last minute,

or just not showing up,
I fear for his career.

I'm gonna be shirtless.
It's a shirtless shoot.
Yeah.

It just seems like
you just don't even try.

I don't want to try.

So you're ashamed.

Did they mention
my nose this time?

*

Okay, we're here.

Mm-hmm.

DOMINIQUE: Don't worry about it.
LAITH:
I'm not sure what will happen

if I don't go through
with this photo shoot.

But I don't want to put

the agency's reputation
on the line.

Remember when you walk in,

attitude,
keep it together, okay?

I know.
Don't let them
see you panicking.

I... I'll try.
(chuckles)

All right, come on, let's go.

Laith. Glad to meet you.

Start with your face.

Yeah, I probably put way too
much stuff in there. (laughs)

Showing up to a photo shoot,
working with a new photographer,

I always want to make
the best impression possible.

Hopefully next time we meet,
my skin will be in better shape.

I promise.

If I have a blemish,
I don't want to be on camera.

I want to be as close
to perfect as possible,

so that not a lot
of editing is needed.

I-I feel like

I'm being judged
every moment of every day.

Start with just, like,
some, like,

James Dean-y eyebrow looks,
okay?

My feet...
Yeah, I just want
to see kind of, like,

the arm a little up, yeah.

I would prefer
if your body is still

hanging this way.

All right, let's see.

Little more.

You can do better than that.

Ready?
Give me a smile maybe.

Beautiful.
Nice.

* They say you listen
to what you're told *

All right, let's go.

Chin up.

* It's automatic

* It's automatic...

Okay, keep going.

That's very nice.

Beautiful.

You're doing great.

Gosh, the dude's...

abs and his chest.

There's not a soft,

cushy place

anywhere on his body.

It's like a bedrock zoo.

(laughing):
Okay.

Beautiful.
Yeah, there you go.

Beautiful.

And then very serious and sexy.

Chin up.

Go. Beautiful,
keep going.

Keep going, keep
going, keep going.

You're beautiful.

LAITH:
Thank God Dominique
pushed me to do this

because you see the final image

and you're like,
"Wow, that's me?"

(laughing):
Thank you.

I'm kind of on
a high right now.

Now that I'm feeling
so much more confident,

I think I'm-I'm ready
to talk to my mom.

Good job.

(laughs)

* Don't be afraid

* Just do it like
the first time *

* Do it like the first time,
don't turn away... *

Hey, Arisce.

Did you get my message?

I did.
Good.

I wanted to hear about
the go-see that we went on.

Ren got it.

ARISCE:
I lose work

to younger models all the time

and I don't have
a problem with that.

I have a problem with them
not being as talented as me.

I find it annoying when people
deign to do something

when other people
die to do something.

Did they mention
my nose this time?

They alluded to it.

I'll talk to Dr. Pincus.

Do I want to get a nose job?

Not necessarily.

But I'm gonna meet
with this doctor.

Maybe he'll give me, like,

the most beautiful face
I've ever had.

In which case
would be a nightmare

because I'm already difficult.

So if I'm even prettier,
I'm gonna be a real bitch.

Get home safe.
Text me.

*

LAITH:
All right.

I'm really nervous about

speaking to my mom

because I-I think
I've disappointed her.

I've been avoiding
having the conversation

because I know that

her views aren't
going to change.

You should come in with me.

Where?
To the church.

(scoffs)
Mom, stop.

My mother
is Pentecostal Christian.

I did go to church with her
a couple times.

They, like,
point at me and say,

"Oh, there's a demonic spirit
within this person.

Let's pray for her."

The last time it happened,

I got up and-and left.

I just want you to respect me
as the person that I am.

And that's what I do.

No, you don't.

You said it yourself,
you say, it's not normal

and it's a sin,
you're going to hell because...

I don't say that.

Yes you do, you tell me...
My Bible say that.

Does it?

I don't... I've never
read that in there.

People don't want to see
what they don't want to see.

You want to force me

to call you "he,"

but I can't.

It just seems like
you just don't even try.

I don't want to try.

So you're ashamed.

You're ashamed of me.

It was my dream

to see you growing up,

with a nice, beautiful dress.

That wasn't me.

This is who I am.

Mom.

Are you crying?

(sniffles)

I'm sorry.
See, this is...

You are suffering,
this is why it affects me a lot.

It's not... it's not easy.

I know.

You know the way that I think.

You know the way that I am.

You know the way that I grow up.

You don't know how many times
I threw myself on the floor

to pray so I can change?

Thinking that if I die,
I'm going straight to hell

because of who I am?

I know that only God can change
that part of your life.

But I like who I am.

I like what I see
in the mirror now.

This is what... I'm comfortable.

Don't think about
what mommy feel... how...

what mommy thinks right now.

That's not gonna stop.

When she's looking at me,
she's looking at

the little girl, Ashley.

It makes me feel like

I don't know who I am.

And I don't think anyone else
can tell me who I am.

Even though, like, I know that,
there is that need

to please other people,

especially my-my family.

And obviously the fear
of going to hell.

Give me a hug.

* What you got in your head
for me *

* Is it all in your head...

(sniffling)

I love you.

I love you, too, Mom.
(sniffles)

Oh.

*

*

So, this looks
really, really good.

I'm super proud of you,
look at you.

You made this happen.
Thank you.

CECE:
This model mixer
is a big deal for Slay.

It's our one year anniversary.

And having the entire agency

under one roof,

it's a good time
to go and celebrate

one another's successes,

everybody's work,

and just to catch up.

So my question is,

what is going on with Claudia?

A client pre-approved her

and it was a big account.

She just didn't show up.

Oh, my God.

I get really upset
thinking about it.

She's representing you.

Yeah.
And I know that I might get
a little protective...

Yes, but I need you
on your best behavior.

Claudia and Cassandra

have had issues in the past.

There's a lot of tension there.

Both of them have to find a way

to work with one another.

Come on, it's a party.

How hard could that be?

I mean, I think Claudia
is amazing,

but it really pisses me off.

And it's not like she's...

Oh.
CECE:
Hi.

Uh-oh, here she comes.
(chuckling)

You can't even
show up to a booking.

That's not right!
Claudia, you can't...

*

CECE: How are you?
CASSANDRA: Hi! Mwah.

* Raise a toast to the party

I do hugs.
Oh.

* Got you drunk on my body

Hi, Cassandra.
Mwah.

ARISCE:
How are you?

Hi. Where are the drinks?

(chuckles)
Mwah.

Hi. Where are the drinks?
Hi!

Hi. Mwah.
Hello. Where are the drinks?

Claudia is here.

Come on, slay.
Mm-hmm.

Slay for the-for the sake
of slaying.

Great top. Mwah.
Thank you.

I can't stop
looking at your boobs.

I'm like, you better work.

*

Well, thank you for coming.
Of course.

So this is our office.

CECE:
Hi.

I'd put my purse down, but I see
broke girls everywhere.

CASSANDRA:
Oh, my God.

I want Claudia to apologize.

Uh-oh, here she comes.
(chuckling)

So, how have you
been, Claudia?

I've been very, very good,

especially after
our last conversation.

Are you gonna say
you're sorry?

I'm not in any place,
certainly, to tell someone

what they should
or shouldn't do.

You called me "trash."

I know you to be...

What, Claudia?

She's not gonna apologize?

I'm furious.

You look very
pretty in that dress.

Oh, I know I do.

I love a good prom dress.

Do you?

I had when I was 16.

Which was how long,

long, long, long ago
I'm sorry, Claudia,
how old are you?

that you have lines on your face
and you look like...

Claudia, look at you!
Look at you.

You want to come for me?
You need to shut it.
You're on OkCupid.

You could never.

I don't want to come
for you, you're trash.
Ever. Look at you.

You can't even
show up to a booking.

How many times...

(guests gasping)

CECE:
Wait, what is going on?

Cece?

That's not right!
Claudia, you can't...

Are they wasting alcohol?
(laughs)

I don't partake in such drama

because I like to
throw my shade subtly,

behind you back
like a classy young lady.

CASSANDRA: That is insane.
That is ridiculous!
Can you stop her?

CECE:
This is terrible for Slay.

This behavior makes us
look like amateurs.

ISIS:
This is not what I'm here for.

(crying):
This is what I didn't want.

Trans women,

we have this stereotype
of being catty,

or wanting attention.

I'm still brand-new
in the agency

and this is definitely not
a good first impression for me.

Why would I want to
be around that?

* You know how we do it

This is fu----- ridiculous.

* You will learn tonight

Fu----- playing sh--.

Like what the fu--, man?

(crying): This is not
what I'm here for.

* I'm-a show you
it'll be all right *

* You will learn tonight...

*

They've never had a trans model.

You're gonna be
their first ever.

Uh-huh.

Excuse me?

I'm leaving New York.

CECE:
When you get a group of really
beautiful people together,

people will hook up.

I don't disclose that I'm trans.

So yours is a crapshoot-- you
don't know what you're getting.

Pretty much.

Sex is sex.

It just happens.

So have you ever dated
a special girl before?

ARISCE:
Our dating pool

is, like, this deep.

It is quite shallow.

More shallow than me.

DOMINIQUE:
When you transition,

people do lose friends
and family.

Hey.
I want to show him

that I can make it on my own.

Why do you think I'm jealous?

It's so obvious.

I'm not gonna sit there

while someone disrespects
my friend.

CASSANDRA:
You have a lot at stake.

Uh...

We could lose

our first major client.

CASSANDRA:
You have a lot to learn.

MAN: Keep in mind, you're
blocking the product right now.

*

Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH
access.wgbh.org

For more information on Strut,
go to Oxygen.com.

Did you see that?
That was incredible.

Amazing.
I love this.