Original subtitles

Hello. Was that your dad?

Yeah. Why does your voice get lower?

My dad's been asking to see me

for a while,

but I don't want

to freak him out.

CASSANDRA: I just want you to get over the shame.

Cece. If I said I wasn't

attracted to Laith, that would be stupid.

ARISCE: If anyone's gonna have Laith, it's me.

I'm kind of the seductress

of the group.

Oh, my God.

What's going on?

Arisce kind of freaks me out.

Is it making you nervous?

It's a little uncomfortable.

But she intrigues me.

The future doesn't have a lot in store for me and Laith

if he doesn't make more moves.

(laughs)

CASSANDRA: New York City.

Do you smell that?

It stinks.

New York is a city full of bitches,

and I need to be the only bitch.

ISIS: Miss I write open letters

to Kendall Jenner.

Miss I haven't done anything

since America's Next Top Model.

Oh, I got a text from my ex.

She was, like, the first chick that I ever dated

before I even transitioned or anything like that.

Are we gonna get to meet your ex? No.

Let's follow her.

NEWSMAN: The deadliest mass shooting

in American history.

I'm in shock.

DOMINIQUE: It makes me feel angry.

They win when we hide.

Welcome to the high life

That next level

That next level

Yeah

Everything I do is big...

CASSANDRA: New York City.

That's the bridge that the trains come

into New York on.

You smell that, the pollution?

Um, it's not pollution.

It's the New York City hustle.

It's the grind.

It's the, "Let's get

this done, baby." Yeah.

Everything I do is big

Pedal to the metal

Fast lane

Running like the rebels...

DOMINIQUE: We're in the fashion capital

of the world

to introduce Slay Models to the New York market.

Like I've never been

outside of SoCal, basically.

I'm excited.

This is the city very much of paying your dues

Uh-huh. and then you can leave and go do

your own thing because you made it here.

And I already made it here,

so I don't need to come back.

Isn't New York more of, like,

a fashion capital than L.A.?

Oh, most definitely. Yeah.

Then wouldn't you

by that logic be more

excited to be working here?

To do... okay, never mind. No, I'm a commercial girl now,

which means I don't like the New York weight

of 121 pounds

at six feet tall.

And, uh... Hey, that's not true.

Girl.

It's true of the younger models.

Now I understand why you don't like it.

What? (laughs)

(both laughing)

ARISCE: I... do not like New York.

I was in New York for three years

and I've always just put in my 110%.

And I could pull that off for three years,

but after that I got tired.

I was like, I'm going to the beach

and I'm gonna be some surfer guy's girlfriend.

And so I moved to L.A.

New York is a city full of bitches

and I need to be the only bitch.

We can't all be queen bee, bitch.

So, you're queen bee in L.A.? No, here's the thing.

It's queen bees with no f---ing credentials.

ISIS: I'm just like, girl, shut up.

Like, if you're really all these things,

you don't have to say it.

Because I don't have to throw all my credentials around.

You don't know what I've seen or where I've been.

I prefer L.A.

I prefer L.A.

I still love New York.

It's been two weeks since I left New York,

and I'm really excited to see my husband.

This is the longest we've been

apart and it's hard on him.

You don't sound too happy.

I know. You want me to be back home, right?

Being in L.A. has been great for my career,

but it hasn't really been that good for my marriage.

Let's ride, let's ride

Get out of the way.

ARISCE: We're here.

DOMINIQUE: Hey. How are you?

What's up? I'm good.

Hey. (laughs)

So, we're here in New York

because Fashion Week is coming up in September,

and this is the best time

to attract new clients.

Sit down.

I'm so excited to see all of you here.

It's an important week for us, so, please take it seriously.

So, the first thing on the agenda,

you have a show

with Hood By Air.

So, that's exciting. Oh, you've been working, Cece.

That's what's up.

Hood By Air is a leading designer

who decided to use our models as part of their presentation.

CASSANDRA: And they've worked with Kanye West.

CECE: Rihanna. CASSANDRA: Rihanna.

Drake. CECE: Yeah.

There's a fitting for that.

Please, make sure you get there on time.

Another thing that we have is, nobody panic,

I'm looking into new models.

We're here looking for new models

because it's always

about growing and expansion.

If you can't find them in New York,

where can you find them? That's true.

So, Dominique, you have to come with me and Cassandra.

We need you there.

Dominique just isn't one of my models now.

She's with management,

and I value her eye.

Can I go see my family now?

Oh, my God, all right.

Everybody check in.

I will see you tomorrow.

Yay! CECE: Go home.

Okay.

I am home-- sort of.

Mwah. Thank you.

Tell me where you're going

Tell me where you've been...

DOMINIQUE: Al and I have a traditional marriage.

He really believes that

I'm supposed to serve him.

For a very long time, I tried to make sure

that the work I was getting fit around my husband's schedule,

so I would be at home when he needed me there.

So, when I decided to join Slay Models as management,

it was a really huge shock to my husband.

I'm leaving New York.

I think he'll be happy to see me, but this is a work trip

and Al is not accustomed to me being a working woman.

So, I'm nervous to see how this will go.

Hey, you.

AL: Oh, hey.

I missed you.

(dog whining) I missed you, too.

Turn around, let me see.

Yeah, I missed you.

Let me make sure you're okay. (both laugh)

He wants a hug, too. Come here, you. Come here and tell me

all about it.

Tell me all the bad things that Daddy did.

I am so exhausted.

I am so happy to see you, but I'm tired.

(smooches)

He missed you.

(laughs)

I missed him, too.

I missed you, too.

Oh, gosh, but listen.

Work was amazing.

I shot with Irving Parker.

Ooh, I got... I walked in on a shoot

for Richie Rich and...

You don't know who Richie Rich is, honestly.

Anyway... anyway. (laughs)

It doesn't even seem like you want to know.

I can look at your face.

I can tell. You just...

But it was fun.

It was exciting.

I was... I was shooting.

So...

It's something that I always dreamed of

and it's happening for me,

so you should be just a little bit happier for me,

you know, and...

When Al is dismissive over my success,

it hurts.

I just feel like he's not

on the same page with me.

I know you don't like that,

but I'm getting to work.

If Al doesn't show me that he's willing to grow and change,

then I don't know if our marriage is going to survive.

Hey.

Ready to try on some clothes?

DOMINIQUE: Oh, most definitely.

It has this jacket with a hood.

This stuff is real amazing.

Hi.

The fitting is what's done

before any runway show

to make sure everything fits perfectly.

If it doesn't fit all the way,

they will tailor it to you.

Catch.

Thanks. (Arisce laughs)

Since our date in L.A.,

me and Laith have talked

on the phone almost every day.

We'll see what happens.

This is cute.

Oh, look.

(shouts) It's so fun.

(coughs)

Stop talking about yourself.

Stop, uh, stop projecting, bitch.

(Arisce laughs)

ISIS: Arisce, you managed to get in that skirt today.

I'm so proud of you.

I know.

Like, someone's really mad

I showed up with the wrong person.

I'm so not mad you showed up with anybody.

Are you sure, honey?

Definitely. You're sure you're not just a little mad?

I'm definitely not. I'd be mad.

Isis was a little abrasive,

but that's on her.

Like, I have, like, 19 guys

in my inbox.

Are you mad about them, too?

Just because you know this one.

Those pants are really cute

from the back.

Those are really hot. LAITH: From the back?

ISIS: No, from the... look at the back.

Seriously. LAITH: 'Cause you're...

you're checking out my ass.

It's okay. Get the hell out of here.

I don't... I don't like butts.

You know you like this.

I don't know why you're fronting.

I think Isis has a little crush.

She teases me too much.

She makes it obvious. (laughs)

You're always trying to make it seem like me and Arisce

have something, but I see you...

I'm not trying to make it like you and Arisce...

You and Arisce are making it

like you guys have something, not me. Uh-huh.

I've seen your eyes wandering.

Arisce showed me around in L.A.

We started texting and talking a lot more often.

I think we are

becoming closer friends.

Could there be more?

Maybe.

She doesn't have a man.

Girl, I don't want your man, honey.

Yeah, you do. Get the f--- out of here.

LAITH: Stop fighting over me.

I was just about to say,

have you dated them? (laughs)

Ain't nobody fighting over you. Yeah.

ISIS: Nobody's fighting over you.

No? This is between me and Arisce.

What are you talking about?

Me and Arisce are very competitive,

and I think that this situation

just brings out how competitive we are.

Miss I write open letters to Kendall Jenner.

Miss I haven't done anything since America's Next Top Model.

ISIS: Are you kidding me?

You're almost as funny as you look.

Uh, I was going to say the same thing about you,

but no one's looking.

Ladies, ladies.

ISIS: You know, I would think

you would stand up for your girl,

'cause obviously she's not big enough to take care of herself.

LAITH: Oh, my God.

You're going in right now, Isis.

You need to chill.

I got a text from my ex.

She was, like, the first chick that I ever dated.

Are we gonna get to meet your ex? No.

Do you still think that moving to Los Angeles

was the right choice?

What's the real reason you left New York?

Looking like a queen tonight

Uh-oh-oh

This feels so right.

The cab driver that I had was telling me

all these places to see,

like giant bridge to Brooklyn.

LAITH (laughing): The Brooklyn Bridge? Yeah...

and the giant park

that's in the middle of the island.

(laughing): Central Park? Yeah.

LAITH (laughing): Okay.

All right. And, um...

The Big Apple.

LAITH: We are in The Big Apple.

So, there's no, like, big...

apple? Oh... okay.

(laughing): Not that I'm aware of.

Why do they call it The Big Apple?

I have no... I don't really know.

'Cause everybody wants a bite, honey.

REN: For a modeling job to take me

all the way to New York, it's exciting.

When I was homeless,

my best aspirations possible

was just to have a roof over my head.

But working in New York with a modeling agency

for a famous designer,

it's absolutely crazy.

I have no idea where it can take me next.

ISIS: Well, well, well.

Hello.

Hi, what are you guys up to? How goes it?

Sorry to break up the action going on here.

(laughs) Ooh.

I'm about to go have a rendezvous

with my friend Gisele.

Tell her I said hi.

Think about it. REN: Have fun.

(laughing): Wow.

You guys enjoy yourself. Uh-huh.

Ren. Catch you later.

Don't let them let you be a third wheel.

Oh, please go.

So we can go and explore, right, Arisce?

Y'all have fun.

REN: Come on.

I'm staying in my hotel room.

You know this place better than any of us.

Come on. LAITH: Yeah, you know it better than me...

How does that designate me to do anything for you?

Do you really trust me

to wander around New York City by myself?

I just touched down

City full of bright lights

New York, home of all the great night life

Home of Yankees and Mets and the fly fashion

And be careful with the cabs, 'cause they're driving

Real fast and... Downtown L.A. is like a miniature New York.

ARISCE: Okay, if you say so. And there's more water towers.

ARISCE: I see a little bit of myself in Ren,

where I used to be that bright- eyed, bushy-tailed thing.

Like when the city used to excite me.

It's kind of nice to be surrounded by that again,

as much as I don't want to admit that, 'cause then

I have to admit that I have feelings. Yuck.

This is Columbus Circle.

I wouldn't normally bring you here,

because it's a tourist trap. But I know all about it,

because Ford Models is right back there.

Lord knows I know all about that.

REN: New York's exciting.

You get to see all these new opportunities,

all these big, huge buildings.

Everything's made out of different architecture.

Everything looks different. The colors are different.

I don't see why Arisce could hate a place like this.

-(laughter) -Anyway, there's Christopher Columbus.

He did terrible things to people and somehow got a statue for it.

(Laith laughs)

Is someone on the phone? Oh, no.

You get a text, honey? Sorry, yeah.

I'm trying to talk to you. No, I got a text from my ex.

Oh. I'm planning on hanging out with her when we're over here.

She was like the first chick that I ever dated

before I even transitioned or anything like that.

I really, really hope to see my ex,

because she's never really seen me, like, physically

as I am now.

I don't really associate with anybody from my past.

And ever since opening up to my dad, I feel like

that's something that I maybe should start changing.

Do you guys want food? LAITH: It's a horrible system.

You can have food. You have the best system in the world.

ARISCE: It's a horrible system, no...

I'm gonna go to a food truck. Bye. Get out of here, no...

ARISCE: What do you know about her ex?

LAITH: I don't know anything about her ex.

From what Ren has told me,

she has blocked out most people from her past.

Her wanting to meet up with someone from her past

makes this person pretty special.

So I want to see who this girl is.

Are we gonna get to meet your ex?

No. (laughing): Why not?

'Cause. Keeping her from us?

If you ever hung out with your ex, would you just be like,

"Hmm, I should invite Ren."

Hopefully it's just gonna be a great experience seeing her.

And at this point, it's not really

my ex anymore, but somebody that I really, really

did and do still care about. Now that I'm in New York,

I'm just like, "Hey, I'm around your general area.

Do you want to, like, actually hang out?"

That's nice. I think that'll be nice.

Mm-hmm. LAITH: I can totally relate to, you know,

meeting up with someone that hasn't seen you, you know,

post transition.

You're hoping that they don't look at you any differently

and that they are accepting.

Just me and her, not you guys. ARISCE: Okay.

(laughing): Okay. I was not begging to see your friend, okay?

You better stop getting it twisted.

Laith asked. I did not ask. Yeah.

ISIS: I'm so glad we get to, like, hang out a little bit.

I love Gisele because she's very New York.

She reminds me of home

and she will always keep it real whether you like it or not.

I want me, you and Dominique to get together again.

Because we go so far back. And Laith.

Arisce.

Are you serious?

I don't know, he, like,

he's playing it down, and at first... Oh, you're causing trouble.

No, no, girl.

I've seen a little something.

I'm not-not spreading any gossip.

Laith acted like it's nothing,

but I seen a little neck-rubbing action going on yesterday, so...

To me, my advice is stay focused

and stay away from all this drama and all that.

So are you getting jobs through your agency? Like...

I feel like, I don't want to just

go on castings that have to do with trans,

because that doesn't define who I am.

Will he only book you for trans things?

See, I don't know, but I hope not. That's the thing.

Right, right. It's irritating.

I get it's a niche right now and it's a fad,

so I get it, but at the same time it's just like,

can you give me a variety?

Being with a trans agency,

I do feel like maybe I will be typecast.

But I'm a model before I'm trans.

I don't want my career

to revolve around just being trans.

I'm way past that point in my career.

So do you still think that moving to Los Angeles

was the right choice for you?

I mean, I mean...

it's still so early, you know?

Give me six months and ask that.

I'm definitely hoping

that I did make the right choice, you know?

I think that... That's a big move

to make the wrong choice. Sweetie, don't have them

make you do jobs that you wouldn't do on your own

just because they want you to do it. Yeah.

ARISCE: I'm just interested in shopping right now.

That's all I want to do.

Have you done any shopping? I haven't done any shopping.

At all? I've been working.

Those shoes do not look comfortable.

They're not, but they look great.

I gave up good feet for good shoes

a long time ago. (laughs)

(laughing): Okay. I'd rather be uncomfortable and attractive.

You can be attractive in a pair of comfortable shoes.

That's just not true.

Okay. You're outside?

Hi.

It's so hot.

It's pretty outside.

LAITH: Where are you going?

Places.

Places like?

Uh... You learned the city already?

No, I'm going out. Lates. (chuckles)

All right, enjoy.

Let's follow her.

She's clearly wanting to keep it private.

Are you sure that's a good idea?

Nothing's private anymore.

The only reason we're following Ren is because

we have nothing better to do.

Let's, uh, let's do some stalking.

I want to see who this girl is

and I also think we need to make sure

Ren keeps herself out of trouble.

She's in a new city. I don't need to see her

get hit by a car.

(laughs)

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I'm really kind of anxious

right now about seeing my ex.

I dated her before I transitioned

about three years ago.

I was this scrawny,

skinny, tall, awkward, lanky dude.

But now it's completely on the flip side.

How are you doing? Hello.

Uh, yeah, she should be coming soon.

Thank you.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And she's sitting over there.

She's right there.

She's alone? She's alone.

She has a good pair of sunglasses

and she has no one.

(chuckles) You're so mean.

Sometimes.

I was gonna say I thought you said I was nice.

What's the real reason you left New York?

'Cause I know it can't be just the noise.

You can get used to that.

It was the money. The money wasn't there.

People pay you in clothes.

That's it? Just money?

It's more than that.

There's always more, but like...

What is it? That's what I'm asking you.

When I meet someone that is kind of closed off,

I always think that there's a reason why.

And maybe that's what draws me to them

because I want to find out.

Well, my New York, like,

it happens to a lot of people.

You're surrounded by all these adults who you think

are looking out for your best interest. Yeah.

Which, mine were like agents.

And they're all telling you, "You look amazing."

And you don't realize, like, how sick you are

until you're out of it.

New York models, like, they have to be...

11 pounds lighter than me.

I was six-one and like 121 pounds.

You know, and I booked everything.

So you get addicted to it,

because you're addicted to the success, Right.

and the praise.

I worked a lot, but I was also

working myself literally to the bone.

I suffered from both bulimia and anorexia.

I felt comfortable sharing that with Laith because

he's not like any other guy I've ever met.

And we're interested in each other clearly,

so why not open up to someone?

I tried to be that New York model for three years,

and then...

I had to get out.

Like, I was like, this is not healthy.

This is not working.

I think underneath all that fierce sassiness

is a, uh, a hurt person that put up a wall

and this is how she

protects herself from the world.

Now that she's

opened up to me and I know her better,

I think it's just strengthening our relationship.

(phone beeps)

ARISCE: She's still by herself.

It'd be really sucky

if the person she really wants to see just didn't show up.

I don't think she did.

I don't usually care what people are doing

or how they feel. Yeah.

But she looks kind of sad.

Tell her we're here.

Being stood up

has to be mortifying.

It had to be really hard,

especially for someone that she knew,

maybe loved once.

And, uh, nowhere to be found.

What's up, Ren?

Oh, yo. (laughs)

What happened?

Are you still waiting?

Um... (sputters)

She, um... isn't coming.

(siren wailing) CECE: We had woken up

to the terrible news of Orlando.

NEWSMAN: The deadliest mass shooting in American history.

DOMINIQUE: It makes me feel angry.

I think I might have to bow this one out.

ARISCE: They win when we hide.

I just...

Hi.

Of course. How are you?

REN: I can't believe those losers

followed me all the way down here.

I'm okay. Where's your friend, honey?

She, um... isn't coming.

She's in the hospital.

She's having some health issues

and stuff that she's dealing with.

It's kind of sad.

In the hospital? Is she okay?

Um... general anorexia.

Oh, we were just talking about that. We were literally just talking about that.

It's why I left New York, like, in all honesty.

I had two eating disorders,

both bulimia and anorexia.

How did you finally get over it?

Actually, like,

I kind of have my sister to thank for it.

I, uh... she's my dentist.

And she was doing my teeth,

and they were so worn down that she-- so she told me

she was gonna tell my mom.

I told her, I said,

"Look," I said, "don't tell Mom if I promise to get help."

Right. And so I went and got help.

You saw a ther... you saw a therapist? Yeah.

Anorexia and bulimia are both

control diseases, that when you have

control issues... You have control over your body.

Yeah, when nothing else is in control.

I didn't have control over my career

or what I wanted to look like

or how I felt or how I was treated.

So that was how I had control.

Hearing Arisce actually open up to me

and be a human being for once,

it's really heartwarming, I guess,

hearing some compassion from the beast.

ARISCE: I felt like I could share that with Ren

because she had a very vulnerable moment.

We had to help her.

I'm not a nice person, okay...

but I'm a good person.

Nice is different than good.

(police sirens wailing)

NEWSMAN: Police have identified

a single shooter in what is being called

the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

The suspect entered the nightclub

with an assault rifle and began shooting,

ending the lives of at least 49.

911 calls from the victims are being released.

I just wanted to check in on everyone,

how everyone's doing.

I mean with everything

that's happening in Orlando...

We woke up to the news of Orlando.

We were all shaken.

That could very well have been us. Yeah.

Easily.

And I really wanted to go and check in on everybody's

emotional temperature of where they were, because

we have the Hood By Air event

and I know we're nervous because of this.

I started my transition in Orlando. When I started

living as a girl, I moved to Orlando.

That's where I became Cassandra.

It's, uh... I don't even know what to say.

I'm, like... I'm in shock.

REN: We saw a stream of it online actually.

Some guy was just streaming,

I could see... people kind of running out of it.

And hearing the cell phones going off

from family members calling that... you know

that phone's never really gonna be answered again.

ISIS: It's terrifying.

This is real life and it's just hard sometimes

to know that you have to, like, give other people hope,

but at the same time, like, you're still scared.

It opens the door for copycats to say,

"Oh I hate... I hate gay people, too. Let me go

do something terrible like that." Yeah.

DOMINIQUE: Someone that's actually close to me

was in the club at the time

that it, um, occurred.

And... her account of it

is much worse

than anybody could possibly imagine.

It's heartbreaking.

It makes me feel angry

and... (exhales) and, um...

it's like, well, when does it stop?

She was having a good time. She was with her friends.

She was enjoying herself

when the shootings began.

And even though she survived,

it just made it so much more

personal for me

to actually know someone,

someone that celebrated my birthday with me, someone that

I would call and talk to.

It kind of knocks you on your ass.

It's-it's scary, but reality is, like...

you have to continue

to live your life, and... and that's how

we're going to overcome this.

Because what people want is for us to, like...

Disappear.

ARISCE: We're on the right side of history now,

where we're on the come-up and we're not going back

in the closet that society tried to put us in. No.

Not at all. And they win

when we hide.

If we all lived in fear,

we'd still be our old selves.

I don't live in fear. I refuse.

CECE: We're all here.

We have to find strength

in one another. I'm sorry, but...

I commend y'all for the strength that you have, but

I don't know if I can make it through this one.

DOMINIQUE: Orlando, my personal closeness

to it reminds me of 9/11.

And when I woke up the morning of 9/11

and I saw everything as it unfolded,

I couldn't leave my house.

I just...

(sighs)

For someone to attack people, and for me to actually know

the people there,

it devastated me.

I've known a lot of loss in my life.

It caused me to become agoraphobic,

and that's a battle for me every day.

And with this,

it causes those things to resurface.

I...

Going out and being in public

and not knowing

and already having that angst

that has been there before,

I-I think I'm-a to have to bow this one out.

I don't want to go to clubs. I don't want

to go to any parades.

If some guy just doesn't like me...

Yeah. And just decides, "I know

Keep, keep walking

And keep walking

DOMINIQUE: Today, Cece and I are casting

for Slay. CECE: Yeah, just clean.

I don't really want to be here right now.

However,

I know that I have to be here, professionally.

But being a part of the Hood By Air show tonight

with all those people,

that's another question.

I would much rather be at home with Scooter and my husband.

Can I see your walk?

DOMINIQUE: Oh, my God.

Thanks, Devon.

(sighs)

Are you okay?

DOMINIQUE: I'm fine. Yeah?

Can I talk to you for a second?

Are you okay?

No, no, no. I want to talk to you about something.

Oh, okay.

CASSANDRA: I know that

Orlando has affected all of us,

but I know for a fact that it's hit a really,

really deep spot with Dominique.

And I'm afraid that she's gonna want to run and hide

and kind of disappear.

I cannot

let her do that.

Girl, what's going on, like, real?

To wake up and see that mass shooting and then to know

that there were people in there

that I... I knew, it... it's just...

it's wrecked me.

I really, honestly,

I just want to go back home.

But, Dominique, you're too good

to be locked up in a house, afraid.

You know and I know that

we can't let them win.

It's not even about letting them win.

Another thing I was worried about

was walking through the street,

and some guy just doesn't like me... Yeah.

And just decides, "Okay, you know what, I know you're trans,

so I'm going to put a bullet in your head."

I just don't want to go outside anymore.

I just don't want to be outside. Okay, Dominique.

Right now you're devastated. You should be.

(sighs) But I'm saying,

you need to just take a moment for yourself,

and I get it. But, Dominique, you...

you have a greater destiny than cooking meatloaf.

Okay?

Well, I don't make meatloaf, but... (laughs)

What do you make? (both laugh)

I get it.

CASSANDRA: I know work is the last place

Dominique wants to be right now,

but I know it's where she needs to be.

Thanks, Cassandra.

CASSANDRA: She needs to show everyone

that, through all of this struggle,

we will overcome.

And then we have Liam.

CECE: Hi, Liam, how are you?

Good. How are you? He's so handsome. Hi.

Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too.

Oh, wow.

CECE: Transgender male models are difficult to find

simply because of height.

DOMINIQUE: Can we see you walk?

Relax your face.

He absorbs that color. Wow.

DOMINIQUE: I love that smile.

CASSANDRA: I think Liam

has some great qualities, and I definitely feel

that Laith needs to not just be the only

hot guy in the agency. He needs some competition.

CECE: So, Liam, tell us about you.

Um, I am originally from Des Moines, Iowa.

(Cassandra gasps) CECE: That's it.

This is... we're done here. No!

We're done here. What?

Is someone an Iowan?

I'm from Des Moines, Iowa.

Shut up! Lincoln High School.

I went to Valley, so West Des Moines.

You stuck-up rich kid... I know. (laughs)

I totally wanted to bang all the boys, though, but...

CECE: You went to high school?

I dropped out in the tenth grade,

but really are you from

Des Moines, Iowa? Yeah, yeah.

Laith who?

CASSANDRA: I feel that Liam just needs

a little guidance from someone

a little more experienced. And he's from Iowa,

so we have a lot in common.

Model experience, not the other kind of experience.

Haven't you ever seen The Graduate?

(chuckles)

Thank you so much. CECE: Thank you.

He's handsome, he's so cute.

I liked Liam.

I wanted to see him as part of the Hood By Air presentation.

He's beyond cute.

CASSANDRA: Are you really from Iowa? Yeah.

ISIS: So pretty, right? LAITH: It's a great place to see the city.

Definitely.

LAITH: We had some time before

Hood By Air, so we decided to take Ren to Dumbo Park

and have her see the skyline from there.

Can't even read what it says, but...

there's a sign up there.

After hearing about Orlando, it was devastating,

but I think it's brought us all closer as a family.

So do you like New York now or no?

New York, I have mixed feelings. It's always gonna be

a mixed bag. You know what I mean? I think you...

you're just holding on to what you went through.

When you're coming in here green, it's a rough trick.

(phone ringing)

Hold on. It's Cece.

I'm amazing. How are you? You're on speaker.

(laughs) Hi, Cece.

Hi.

Thanks, Cece.

Huh?

(laughter)

Told ya. I always get what I want. Now you guys know.

(laughs)

REN: They're f---ing?

That...

(laughing): Ren! ...is alleged.

(laughter) Okay?

ARISCE: Last night Laith and I

were at my friend's wine bar,

and, uh, this tabloid comes out

in Next Magazine about me and Laith

"canoodling."

We had fun. I think we had a lovely time.

ARISCE: So, when someone has something to say

and it's all, like, speculation,

that's a lot of fun.

CECE: I love you kids. Love you, too. Bye.

I didn't hear him. What magazine was it?

Next. Next.

LAITH: Dating is something

that I'm not 100% comfortable with.

And then to have that thrown into the public eye,

I just don't feel ready.

So what was that? That's hilarious.

I don't know. We got paparazzi-ed.

How? I don't know.

I don't have a publicist.

I want-- I want to see--

I need to read the rest of this article.

Laith, he's so private. God, Laith is private.

I don't give a f---.

But Laith freaked out. He was like,

"Can you believe they said that?" I was like, who cares?

Like, they're not wrong.

We're going with the flow. Okay.

We're going to go to the club afterwards.

You're going, too. No, I'm not.

No matter how hard they try, they try

They can never hold me down

I do this with my eyes closed

This presentation by Hood By Air is very important.

This is the night that everybody will see Slay.

So this is Jasmine.

Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.

CECE: New York is where the big dogs are.

I'm surrounded by all these

major fashion players like Spiegel.

If we get Spiegel as a client, that would change the game.

CASSANDRA: They're huge.

And size matters.

ISIS: We're at Hood By Air.

Like, we're doing a Hood By Air presentation.

That's pretty f---ing awesome.

We're going to probably go to the club

afterwards to celebrate.

You're going, too.

No, I'm not. Yes, you are.

What else are you gonna be doing, Dominique?

With everything that's happening,

that has happened,

I really just don't think

it's time for me to be in that kind of space yet.

With what just happened

in Orlando, the very last place

that I want to be is in a club.

I'm here to work. I just need to finish

this presentation, and then I'll be back in my safe space.

But, Dominique, you have to, like, live.

Like, I understand that, but you can't

let that control your life.

None of us are, and it's-it's a lot for us, too. But, girl,

I mean, the thing is... It's... You know what?

Right now with everything that's happening,

I just don't want to be in these tight spaces.

I'm nervous sitting here right now.

Security

is all hyped up. What if your...

what if your husband comes?

Come on.

All right. Let's make a deal.

Okay. If my husband

decides to meet me there,

then I'll go.

Hey.

There's an after-party, and all the models

are going to a club to celebrate.

I really don't want to go,

but I'll go if you're able to go.

Yes, there will be drinks.

Lots of 'em.

Well, that didn't take you too long to answer.

There's still a part of me that is worried.

It's not gonna be easy, but

having Al at my side will make me feel a lot safer.

All right, really appreciate it,

thank you.

Oh, I love you!

LAITH: Liam is a potential new member of Slay.

We definitely need another dude in this thing, so...

if he comes through, that'll be great.

He looks like an old country boy, and I think

America would like him.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,

presenting Hood By Air.

CECE: After everything that had happened in Orlando,

seeing the models on the runway-- this was our big,

triumphant,

"we're not going anywhere" moment.

(cheering, applause)

Congratulations. Oh, thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Amazing. Thank you so much.

They really are.

Thank you. Seriously, thank you.

Please.

Yeah, please.

It feels really exciting to have these

potential clients coming to the doors of Slay.

After all the hard work,

it's starting to pay off. It's happening.

It's happening, it really is.

I'm so proud of all of you.

It's been a lot of work, and...

this makes everything worth it.

You're gonna cry. (laughter)

Stop it. It's okay to be alive inside.

I love you. Thank you for all your hard work, and...

to more.

Yay.

We have to go out tonight, and we have to celebrate.

Thank you, Cece. All right.

A job well done today.

Yes! (cheers)

Everybody cheers. Cheers. Cheers.

ARISCE: Ren dances like a white girl.

I at least know eight-counts. I can't

jiggle nothing if it don't jiggle.

Al hasn't shown up yet, and I'm really nervous because

I really don't want to be in a bar in a club.

I just don't feel it.

You're really cute, by the way.

You better work it.

Cheers!

Thank you.

Al shows up, and I'm

really happy to see him.

But I know that

there's something wrong.

I like it.

DOMINIQUE: I notice that he has been drinking.

I try to ignore it because

at times Al feels a bit inferior to my friends because

he looks at us as models and in the entertainment industry

and he's an auto mechanic,

so he doesn't feel like he fits in.

DOMINIQUE: I realized that Al was

way too drunk to be supportive of me.

DOMINIQUE: I believe that Al is acting out

because I left New York.

But I cannot have him act this way

in front of my coworkers. This is my job.

This is-this is my career.

DOMINIQUE: Al, please go home right now.

DOMINIQUE: Can you not do this?

You need to back off. Whatever.

Calling yourself... No, no...

Stop! She's my friend--

I'm not gonna sit there while someone disrespects my friend.

DOMINIQUE: Can you not do this?

So, after the Hood By Air event,

we're all celebrating at the club,

and I've asked my husband to come support me.

But when he arrives,

it's quite clear that he has been drinking,

so I ask him to leave.

DOMINIQUE: I can't believe this is happening right now.

DOMINIQUE: What are y'all doing?

No. Can you not do this?

CASSANDRA: Al was drunk

and out of control.

And if there's one thing I am, it's a girl's girl.

And it was my job to protect her.

You're calling yourself that.

AL: Yes! Because I am! 'Cause I am!

What? Wait, wait, wait-- what-what just happened?

Shush!

Okay, you know what, stop!

She's my friend--

I'm not gonna sit there while someone disrespects my friend.

But listen, no matter what,

that's her husband. Her husband

doesn't treat her right.

Hey! Hey!

CECE: Cassandra, go inside.

Go inside!

Let's go. Come here.

You should be. That's all you got.

Come here. What's going on, Al?

Why are you fighting?

Do you want her to not do this?

Do you want her to not... No, no, no, no.

Because I need her, too, Al.

Don't make her sad. You know that I love you

with all my heart.

All that she talks about is you and Scooter.

But I need you to-I need you to understand that I'm at work.

But you cannot...

Listen, you cannot expect

for me to not be me.

Hey, and me is sometimes

being the way I am.

Listen... But I'm not

gonna let you f--- up my career.

Pull it together. I'm not doing this.

Don't regulate what I wear.

Okay, bye, Laith.

I need you to be on board.

I'm worried about what's going to happen to my marriage.

You are going on a date tonight.

ARISCE: Dominique is wasted.

Cassandra, I'd like you to sit on something.

I need to go back to New York.

We have a go-see with Spiegel.

Welcome to the Spiegel catalog company.

ARISCE: Spiegel's wanting to have

a trans model as the cover.

Landing this would be epic. You got the job.

It changes history.

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

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

Did you see that? That was incredible.

Amazing. I love this.