Saturday, September 22, 2007

CodeBastard Redgrave Releases MachinimaCam HUD v0.1 PRO


MachinimaCam HUD v0.1 PRO is now available at OnRez.com



I am just so tickled that this has hit the shop and is available for all you budding and veteran Machinima video artists.

MachinimaCam Pro is simply one of the best, if not the only machinima oriented scripted camera on the grid. While simple, MachinimaCam Pro is an evolution over the usual followcams and scripted cameras avaliable on the market.

MachinimaCam HUD v0.1 PRO is now available at OnRez.com

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Opportune Release Timing?

After waiting for some form of compensation for their hard work and then summarially being dumped from the Simone Super Role Model group, Simone has managed to within 2 weeks release a slew of gowns and assorted items.

Of course, not surprising we weren't offered these items, since she wasn't releasing her lines to us while we were still grouped.

IMHO Simone withheld releasing these items to keep from having to deal with an uproar from her "worker ants". Saying NO to being given another release would have brought a lot of rumbles from the peons doing her slave labor.

Again, shame on you Simone!

Are you going to distribute these items to the models?

ARE YOU?

90 models are entitled to these items into mid-July!!!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

The Rules The Expectations The Sham


In game i captured each screen of the initial presentation the was placed at the landing spot of Simone's store.

The images below are in jpg format, should load for anyone, they average about 135K.







Now rereferencing the post I made below before this one... Simone notcarded us with the following statement -
Amazingly, some of you just want to model, even now. Let me please make sure you understand me clearly. I don't need models! NEVER DID! That ain't the point, NEVER WAS!
Does anyone, anyone at all, see any reference to what Simone said to us in the above statement, in any of the images from the powerpoint presentation we were given?

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Sample of Life with Simone

Thought I lost this notecard that was tossed at everyone on 2007-07-19 09:12:28 PM LST. But.. I didn't. :) Direct from Simone, a re-run to make you grind your teeth.

1) There will be no private classes at your leisure. I have told TWO of you that I would make special arrangements to accomodate you because of your personal situations. THat's it, that's all, there ain't no mo'. You two need to get a hold of me.


2) Nothing happens for Virtual Angels that the corporate brand SIMONE! DESIGN doesn't make happen. I hope I am making myself clear. You want to help this charity? Then consider helping the brand throwing money and effort hand over fist at the charity. The BRAND is what is paying for the lawyer, the accountant, and the professional charity organizers to help create VA in reality. So it would be appreciated if the attitude of supporting the brand being akin to stepping onto a fresh steaming road apple ends here.


3) Amazingly, some of you just want to model, even now. Let me please make sure you understand me clearly. I don't need models! NEVER DID! That ain't the point, NEVER WAS! If you're approaching other designers to model and don't have time to support the brand, PLEASE don't make the mistake of thinking I don't KNOW!

4) If it's a pain in the ass for you to devote some of your SL time to this group, please let me show you the exit sign! It's costing me DESIGN time to train you, to organize you, and to track you down to verify what you're doing!

5) For those of you in VA, Nazz will be giving me the rundown on your activities. Believe me when I say he's a bigger 'richard' than I am about making sure things happen!

6) For those of you who think attending the events others have organized is 'enough' of an effort.... OFGS people. Do I REALLY need to address this one?

7) Most of you are working hard. A few of you are working twice or more times what you should be, and I can't thank you, or apologize to you enough. I do vow, however, to get rid of the noise-making, poop-talking dead weight in record time.

Simone

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Kudos to The AvaStar for their article

I would like to thank the staff of The AvaStar, in particular Carrie Sodwind, who decided the story was newsworthy enough to research and finally to submit to the paper.

I also thank the models who confirmed my comments and contributed their own information to the research, as well as here in this blog.

The latest issue of The AvaStar can be found at http://www.the-avastar.com/, the latest issue, #39.

True to form, from the article, and obviously unable to comment, at least truthfully,, apparently not wanting her lies to be printed in black and white, so they can't come back and bite her in the butt.

Simone denied many of the charges against her, but refused to comment officially.

She joked: “If you think I am going to comment on that yer smokin‘ a crack pipe.”


Thursday, September 13, 2007

What It IS All About

I wish to thank all of you who have IM'd me their thanks for bringing this situation to light. From those in the group, to my friends and to complete strangers, it lifted my spirits and and bolstered my resolve to pursue some sort of justice for this issue.

No one ever said that ANY of us HAD to like any of the 3 designers hosting the competition. Their ability to be personable as an AV was not required, though I suspect was expected by most of us. hy and Calico managed to be honest, sweet and supportive. Not so Simone.

All three make their living earning SL Lindens converted to RL dollars. The models earn just clothing. Once drawn, it costs nothing to reproduce that blouse, dress, hairdoo, there are no manufacturing runs, bolts of cloth to be ordered, etc. None of the RL issues of merchandise production.

Once launched a piece of clothing, or whatever is created, is pure profit. Stick a pic in a vendor ... cha ching!

What does cost is advertising your place of business. In SL traffic equates to money. The more traffic your area has, the more likely it comes to the top of a search of Places. Since people have a tendency to go to the more high trafficed areas they find, being up in the seach food chain is much sought after.

Simone told me that when models's events were not going on her store was dead., traffic practically nil. The many times I popped into the store NOT during a scheduled event I saw an average of 3-5 customers wandering the aisles.

With the models there during the events by virture of forced attendance, the traffic numbers went up and so did her search ranking. So visa vi our work, our TIME, in some cases our real dollar investment, traffic was raised for Simone.

Models became promoters, event coordinators and campers for Simone. And finally UNPAID promoters, event coordinators and campers for Simone.

The models were there to promote Simone! Design, not to merely model in shoots and on the catwalk, but to devote many hours in organizing weekly events. Promotion, inception, design, attending. This involved the TIME and money needed for artwork for posters and event props, building, buying of or creation of them. Time out of the models lives and game time, money out of their virtual pockets and RL credit cards, to receive digital goods that cost the designers nothing, or as in the case I have brought to the public eye, NOT RECIEIVING DIGITAL GOODS they were entitled to.

Personally, I am lucky that I don't have to give a hoot about the actual real world cash outlay from day 1 of this competition to it's dissolution last week, it is really a minor annoyance in the big picture of things.

What I will never be able to get back is the TIME that I and so many other models gave to this "exercise in futility".

TIME = life.

Over 4 months of our collective gaming TIME, which is a considerable amount of TIME to freely give to someone making Linden and real world dollars/money off me and many others. This TIME involved 90 models, then later dwindling down to 62 models giving their TIME, their dedication. Sustaining through the stress to continue to put out day after day, week after week.

For what?

Nothing?

Clothing was started to be withheld until she could weed out the "dead weight". Then it just became "No!!!" when asked if she would be distributing the releases.

Is this fair?

Is this living up to the competition?

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

I do not care if you are a Simone fan or hate her guts. I do not care if you love her clothes or hate them. I do not care if you think I suck for writing about this.

What I do care about is the fair and equitable treatment of the 90 models of the competition she started and ended.

I do care that these 90 models invested their TIME, money and considerable in game and real world collective talents to earn real US DOLLARS for Simone who in turn could not even give these models a digital texture map to adorn their avatars with.

Monday, September 10, 2007

And to tenshi's comment

I find it interesting that someone who was not in the Super Role Models group could find discrepancies in what I wrote. Sighting that my article holds no weight on further reading.

I could have sat here and written page after page which included names, dates, quoted text, group notices, copies of notecards, etc. And with permission from the other models I just may still do so. I didn't because 1) I didn't think people would sit through the entire read and 2) I chose not to involve more than myself and the principals at this juncture.


I suppose some might think this is just a way for me to get my jollies in game.

If that were the case, why is it I have managed to be in game since Jan. 8th, 2007 and not had a single confrontation. I would dare say you would be hard pressed to even find someone who could come up with anything I did that could possibly or remotely deemed undehanded, mean, spiteful, nasty, back biting or unethical.

Suddenly what?

I am a model gone bad?
Frothing at the mouth?
Insane?
Suddenly not to be believed?
Why?

Because I am pursuing the illustrious Simone?

Because I think the models of the Super Role Models deserve their due?

You said ..

It seems that there's a real discrepancy here... and that maybe, on first
glance, your story is believable but on further mulling, your story is complex
but holds no weight.

Please feel free to elaborate.

Diva Hunting on the Grid

Moo Money asked "Don't you have better things to do with your time in SL?"

Indeed I do.

I would much rather be enjoying the game than having to pursue a foul mouthed, back biting, middle aged, self proclaimed fashion diva across the grid to get her to own up to her responsibilities to the models she milked, bilked and abused.

It is apparent that you are still swathed in the golden glow of her favor. Once you step out of line, become to much of a pain in the butt to for her to tolerate, or she has used you for what she can, your golden glow may just turn into a golden shower.

I never said she wasn't business savvy. After all she had 90 models running continuous events to drive up traffic in her stores and the Linden dollars in her wallet.

Why not ask silentsparrow and Calico Creations why the three of them parted company and on such bad terms if you are wanting to delve more deeply into her savvy capabilities. Hell, ask Simone! I warrant it's because she was trying to steamroll right over the two of them. Badmouthing their products. Discouraging models from using them to finally demanding - after the dissolution of the triad -- that we not be seen in her store or at any of her functions wearing anything from either silentsparrow or Calico Creations.

Ask.

Rebuttal to Anonymous

To uhmmm the brave poser er poster named.. uhm.. "Anonymous"

As for my attending the menswear fashion show at OnRez Island, I did arrive and distribute a copy of the initial post of this blog. I knew that if I waited until approaching Simone that I would maybe have, on the outside, 2 minutes to speak and to distribute the notecard.

I also knew I would be banned in a similar fashion from her sim.

I did not at any time disrupt the show. I stood at the side of the catwalk waiting patiently for it to end. Simone made her appearance in drag as SimDude. I did not cast jibes or make comments to her during the show. I did not IM her. At no time did I interrupt the proceedings. As I was waiting for this finale I was tossed into the ozone, ejected, banned and sent what I suppose was meant to be a demeaning IM from Simone insinuating I worked as a waitress.

I would say that I was ejected because she did not want to be asked in front of the people there how she intended to stay true to her word to the 62 ladies she had just tossed away.

She did not want to say in front of those people she had no intention of making good her commitment to the models who had dedicated time and money to her business and questionable charity.

Anonymous, you can't say I didn't surmise correctly the tact that would be used. Sometimes a little underhandedness is required. Our forefathers did it to secure this nation. Not that my goals are that lofty by any means, but sometimes staying within the confines of "etiquette" just won't get the job done.

I also didn't hide behind anonymity. I stood there for the people to see. I stood there, held my ground. I stood there in anticipation of a chance to say what I felt had to be said.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

YouTube - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep



YouTube - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

Fabulous new machima video from my dearest friend Codie (CodeBastard Redgrave) who has once again manages to do the amazing in game by creating a new invisible HUD for in game video creation.

Love ya Red!

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Simone "Style [sic]"

Addendum

I attended the last show by SImone at the OnRez Island and distributed this note and stood by the runway. I said nothing. I was waiting for the show to end to speak to her. Suddenly I was unceremoniously ejected and banned from the sim.

[19:02] You are no longer allowed here and have been ejected.
[19:02] Simone Stern: be a bitch on your own dime toots. I dont come to your job and tell you when the fries are done, do I?
[19:03] Simone Stern: You have been ejected from 'Simone Design Group' by Simone Stern.
[19:04] Mairead Fitzgerald: lol afraid?
[19:04] Simone Stern: No, just not going to deal with your childishness.
[19:05] Mairead Fitzgerald: pay up simone
[19:05] Mairead Fitzgerald: if ya got a copy of my notecard it is going to everyone
[19:05] Simone Stern: Fuck you, laze as. If you'd kept your end of the deal, the geroup would still stand.
[19:05] Simone Stern: *mute*

My end of the deal. Hmmm... model? I did that. Come up with events? I did that. Attend events? I did that? DO graphic work? I did that. Donate web space for Virtual Angels? I did that. Teach modeling classes for SImone's models? I did that.

Did I recieve anything for the past 6 weeks of doing that? No.

Did any of us? No.

[19:15] Simone Stern: Ignore MAiread. She's mad she got fired for doing nothing, and now wants to try to rip at me through the charity.
[19:15] Simone Stern: Just ignore it.
[19:15] Mairead Fitzgerald: BS Simone
[19:15] Brace Coral: wow thats pretty low.
[19:15] Bradford Blanco: definitely
[19:15] Avalon Birke: {{{Simone}}}
[19:15] Bradford Blanco: how childish
[19:15] Mairead Fitzgerald: I was always at the ready for you so were lots of ladies. But you want something for nothing
[19:15] Beverly Montgomery: :( what happened
[19:16] Mairead Fitzgerald: read the blog
[19:16] Mairead Fitzgerald: ask the models
[19:16] Bradford Blanco: {{{ Simone }}}
[19:16] Simone Stern: People asked me to fire her months ago, but I stuck up for her, and now she's taking this all out on me. *shrug* Guess that's what happens when you're in the kead.
[19:16] Mairead Fitzgerald: fire me? must be why my pic is all over your store Simone
[19:17] Haroldthe Burrel: Whatever went on is between you and Simone. The charity group is NOT the place for this
[19:17] Mairead Fitzgerald: http://morefrommairead.blogspot.com/
[19:18] Simone Stern: Yep. SOme peoples' kids.
[19:18] Mairead Fitzgerald: it's on the blog
[19:18] Simone Stern: SHe was at the modeling show a moment ago spamming people here with her little grief cards. Not once did she ever try talking to me about it. Ya think she's got an agenda? :O)
[19:19] Simone Stern: I muted her :) Cant hear a thing :D
[19:19] Simone Stern: AR her too. :)

Of course I have an agenda. The entire modeling staff of Simone! Design has an agenda. I just happen to have, as Simone once told me, a thicker skin than most, and don't tremble at the sound of pixel drop from Simone's mouse. My agenda is being used as slave labor, being unpaid and not given more than a blink of an eye's notice of the disolution of the modeling group.

It wasn't just me let go, it was everyone. All the models who pu tin months of hard work, some harder than others, we know who they are. And none of them being paid their due.

SHAME ON YOU SIMONE!

And she just can't stop ---

[19:26] Simone Stern: Sad sad little persom who gtiefs a charity group that is set up to help sick people, over a pixel job she wouldnt even work at. :) Sorry, all.
[19:27] Simone Stern: and they wonder why I canned the group? =/
[19:28] Simone Stern: it wasn't. whatever she said, it was directed at defaming my character.
[19:30] Simone Stern: Well if she was about problem solving, it never woud have come to me ending the group?
[19:30] Simone Stern: Instead I found myself chasing down full grown women to accomplish tasks. *shrug*
[19:30] Simone Stern: SO I quit chasing.


Odd. I just talked to Simone not 48 hours before and she raved about my idea for a show and asked me to pass it along to Calamity.

[19:30] Bradford Blanco: Simone, your reputation speaks for itself, the only person who came off looking bad was her, imho
[19:30] Simone Stern: Instead I found myself chasing down full grown women to accomplish tasks. *shrug*
[19:30] Simone Stern: SO I quit chasing.
[19:31] Simone Stern: Now a few of them have the audacity to be pissed off. :)
[19:31] Bradford Blanco: LoL
[19:32] Simone Stern: Granted, some of them worked their ASSES off, but in the end, even they couldnt pick all of the work up and do it. So, it was just time to end.
[19:34] Bradford Blanco: well, i dont really know, so i cant speak to it, but calling you a b**** in a group forum, YOUR group forum is inapropos to say the least, again, imho
[19:42] Simone Stern: *shrug* Well, I called her a laze ass, so I guess we're even.
[19:43] Simone Stern: Sides, I am a bitch. Ask Harold.

I never swore at Simone. OK I said "BS Simone". But never called her a bitch. Shoulda. Coulda. But I pride myself on now having to use profanity as a rule to get my point across.


Starting Off With A Rant

Yesterday, Simone Stern, one of the more notable clothing designers in SecondLife, dissolved the "Super Role Models" group, unceremoniously and without any prior inklings of this being in the works, stating she "no longer had the time to devote to this project".

After this show, Model group is hereby disssolved. Calamity, Alex, those of you who have given so much, Talena, Jojo and Tsu, the others I am forgetting to mention here, thank you. However, this group cannot be sustained on the work of a few. I simply haven't the strength to keep begging, or to keep picking up after you when you decide (for example!) your virtual prostitution is more important than the role you play here, or you leave more work for me as a result of apathy.


A little background, for those not in the loop...

Last May of this year a modeling competition was formed by a triad of three of Secondlife's fashion divas. This included the design houses of Simone! Design, Calico Creations and silentsparrow. Thirty models were to be selected as finalists and the rewards were

1) Modeling for a year for the designers
2) All new creations from the three designers be given to the 30 finalists for the next year.
3) 12 of the finalists were to be featured in a hard copy fashion calendar, one per month of the year.

The competition lasted a month and involved over 200 models. The first round was a face to face with the designers and their assistants, with a short interview. Those selected moved to Round two, another face to face with more in depth questions asked by each of the designers. Round three was a mystery round. The official presentation stated we would be asked to perform something.

Round three is where the real chaos began.

As this was a modeling competition most of us "ass"umed it would be an ability to modify our shapes on demand, demonstrate our ability to perform a quick change, something along those lines. We all waited, wondering what we would be asked to do. When at last the time came, the ones remaining in round three were gathered and told they were to form groups of 5 and that each group was responsible for developing and holding an event representing either one or all three designers.

The FIRST question on everyones mind involved in this was how were we being judged in this round? As a group instead of individually? Groups formed, fell apart, some participants barely participated, in fact I know of one who never did a thing, was removed from a group, but was still a "winner". Go figure. Of course, the fact that she was a noted "fashion blogger" is probably what kept her ass from being dumped.

For a month the groups planned then ran their events, all of us of course attending each others functions, some dazzling, some too complicated for words, some boring, it ran the gamut. But, in all we brought our friends and promoted the designers grid wide, seeking out the SecondLife paparazzi to cover these venues.

Then at last at the end of June we were told the designers were gathering and making their decisions, we waited.

An announcement came to the group that the decisions were made. To watch our group tags to see if were in that top 30. Low and behold, yours truly was graced with the "Super Role Model" tag. As time went by we soon discovered we ALL were given the tag, no one was eliminated. 62 models.

More confusion ensued, the Simone Stern announced that we were all so lovely and capable she could not make a decision to eliminate any of us. She said she knew that there were a lot of us and assured us that she would keep us all working.

Working. The KEY word here. Remember it.

Classes were formed to teach shape modification for photo shoot and catwalk modeling as well as catwalk classes. Classes were referred to as "boot camps".

Photo shoots began as well as preparing for the first catwalk show. All was right with the world of the Super Role Models.

Then one day an annoucement comes forth, that teams are being organized. These were an assortment of marketing teams which included art, media, web (blog/site), Virtual Angels (Simone Stern's developed charity), coordinators of the models, events, etc. We were once again told to group, apply to TWO of the above assortment of groups. Once done, we were asked to develop "in store" events for the designers.

The nightmare begins. Within two weeks the groups were dropped and reformed. A number of the models who were team leaders became disgruntled and left the SRM group when they found their teams had been eliminated without so much as a word to them about this beforehand.

Fashion shows and events were being coordinated constantly. There would be as many as 10 events during any given week. And we were all EXPECTED to attend them all.

But all was not well in the land of smoke and mirrors. One day an annoucements lands that the houses of Calico Creations and silentsparrow are no longer involved in the great modeling adventure. We were all taken aback by this announcement.

Simone Stern quickly announced it was business as usual but now we would only be concentrating on her line and that of her charity, Virtual Angels. She said she would make sure we were all kept *working* even if she had to farm us out to "lesser" designers. By the way, this did not happen, in fact, during one of her many tirades Simone informed us she did not want to see any of us walking the catwalk wearing another designers clothing or our pictures gracing any photo shoots of clothing that was not hers. Another note here, no where in the rules or guidelines for the competition did we agree to "exclusivity" to these designers.

We were also informed we were not allowed to wear the designs of Calico Creations and silentsparrow when particpating in any Simone Stern events or within her store.

Everyone wondered what was going to happen with perks - the new creations to be given to the models over the next year. I decided to approach Simone on the subject and she said yes, the other designers were obligated to fulfill their commitment to the finalists, but she could not control that. I asked if it was alright to speak to them about it and she was okay with that. So I approached both and both said they would of course fulfill their commitment to the models.

Calico Creations and silentsparrow organized a joint group for the models for easy distribution of the new releases as they came out and made good on their promise. I helped them get the models listed into the group and as a result I was removed from my role as modeling instructor by another Simone coordinator. Simone did not inform me of this herself. I thought, fine, that is 20 hours of gaming time I can once again use for "playing the game".

More focus began to be put on establishing regular weekly venues to be held within the confines of the Simone! Design store which ran the gamut from the game Deal or Dare to various dance venues such as "Under the Sea", Salasa Night, Furry dances, etc., etc. All designed to draw people to the store as well as the models. Driving up the traffic numbers for the store.

Unfortunately, the models were the only ones attending these events, for the most part. Occassionaly a shopper would straggle by and get caught up in the beckoning web of welcomes from the models and linger for awhile. Usually though, it was the models, grinding away on a dance ball. Over time, it ended up being roughly the same 5 or 6 models in attendance, the rest not bothering to attend or popping in for 2 minutes before "real life" called them away.

Simone had to turned us into unpaid campers. In fact worse, it was the time and effort put into each event PLUS the event itself for the models. Simone found camp chairs beneath the dignaity of her store, but obviously slave labor was okay. Warnings , threats and tantrums spewed forth from Simone on a regular basis, usually formulated in the wee hours of the morning, assaulting the group as they stumbled into the game bleary eyed in the morning. Everyone "hopping to" to at least give the appearance of being busy or some attempting to keep below the radar and never being seen.

One notable occurrance during this shake up time, a model approached her team and then Simone, informing each that she would be unavailable for the next couple of weeks because of RL family obligations related to business AND her distraction and worry over a friend recently diagnosed with cancer who was going into surgery.

Result, dropped from the group. After a few days of thinking about it, she approached Simone one night on the floor of the store, asking her why she would do such a thing. Simone, being true to form, called her a "Stupid TWAT", told her to "Shut the fuck up" and booted her from the sim, banned her from the sim, and removed her from the Virtual Angels group as well as her own group for announcing her designs.

Eventually the modeling calls ceased, the designs kept coming, we were not getting them from Simone anymore, but Calico Creations and silentsparrow were good to their word and distributing theirs to the group.

All activity ceased for 2 weeks as Simone held her quarterly super yard sale. People got to enjoy playing the game again during this time. After the sale, Simone issued warnings and threats about the group getting back into their activities or they would be booted.

Low and behold, suddenly the Virtual Angels group takes a hit, Simone demanding that more time be spent on this, so a bustle of activity begins planning an auction, and weekly dances, raking in some big Linden dollars for this "undeclared" charity. I offer free site hosting for the charity as well as assist on graphic design work for the events. All of us on the VA team are told we must EACH come up with THREE MAJOR events and ONE WEEKLY event and issued a notecard detailing everything we are responsible for from inception, holding, accounting, publicity and the way we are to report on it prior to and after the functions.

Six weeks has gone by, none of the new designs from Simone! Design have been distributed to the group even though the core group was still working on projects for her. In fact, the show before last that we did, we had to BUY the clothing we were assigned to wear for the runway. Simone as it turned out was unavailable that day due to an illness, but like troopers, we managed to pull off the show without more than a slight time delay. Eventually, we all got reimbursed for the items, but really... this is NOT how it works for ANY modeling service.

In all, the past 4 or so months involved with the Super Role Model group, has been a trying experience for all involved. Sure there were the good times when there were photo shoots and fashion shows. The things models DO and do well. But there was also the back biting, the rumors that ran rampant, the forced labor, the disorganized way things were handled 90% of the time, the nearly daily wee hour of the night rantings of Simone, the onus of ejection lingering over the heads of all.

I got involved with this because I wanted to model, to learn, to enhance my gaming experience. I warrant that if you ask any other of the group they will tell you pretty much the same thing.

Simone wanted people to promote her store 24/7 without regard for any other in game or real life activity these models might have. If that real life or gaming experience interfered with your time able to be spent on the promotion of Simone! Design or Virtual Angels, you were history.

Simone exploited 62 models.

Simone has not lived up to her commitment of the competition.

Simone kept 62 models from actively *working* in their field.

Simone turned her models into unpaid store campers.

Simone used the models for store promotion ideas, web work, writing, photography and more without payment.

Simone is raising $L to convert to real cash to open a real life design house and store, with the labor of all these unpaid models that she just threw "out of work".

At the beginning of the competition, those 200+ models BOUGHT clothing, usually 3 or more outfits each, for their participation in the competition since we were informed "off the cuff" by Simone, that anyone trying for one of the coveted spots had better not being wearing someone else's designs.

For 4+ months 62 models worked, some more than others, at promoting the store. For almost half of that they have seen no perks from Simone.

Read above, do the math.

I have left out a LOT of details, the friendships lost, the arguments with RL loved ones over time committed to these projects, the list goes on and on, but this was meant to be a book, merely an expose' on how a top designer managed to dupe the fashion world for self promotion.

Make of it what you will. Many are actually relieved it is finally over, others are dazed and confused, and even a few are still managing to remain loyal.

It's your game time. Enjoy it!