A photographer’s camera clicked and whirred as it shot a picture of a model standing in front of a 10-foot white screen. Dressing assistants flipped through racks of clothes all tagged with identification labels with long numbers. They helped a small crowd of female models get dressed in the right outfit. Buttons and zippers were fixed; Loose threads were clipped; Hair and makeup were checked. When everything looked perfect, the model was put in an assembly line and waited for her turn with the photographer. Bright studio lights hung overhead on a truss ten feet up. With all the clothes that needed photographing, Soyeux ran its photoshoots like clockwork.

Viviane stood in the middle of this line of girls walking back and forth getting their pictures taken. At today’s photoshoot, the clothes were bright and colorful being that they were all from the summer collection. Short dresses, airy dresses, shorts, tank-tops, crop tops, loose t-shirts, sandals, sunglasses and all things summer were lined up. Viviane herself wore a white romper with an off-the-shoulder cut and three-quarter length sleeves. A large, blue floral print was screen-painted onto the white romper background. Viviane looked sweet enough to cause cavities in teeth.

When it was her turn, Viviane stepped in front of the camera and, like a light switch, turned on a radiant glow with a captivating smile. The photographer called out her instructions. “Look this way. Perfect! Turn your foot inward, head down. You look amazing! Small twirl, please. Beautiful!” After about half-a dozen poses and about twice as many shots, Viviane was done. She headed back to the racks of clothes at the end of the line.

Just because Viviane finished her turn did not mean the assembly line stopped. Viviane hunted for her next outfit, but there were too many racks of clothes and too many tags with model’s names on them sticking out everywhere.

“Excuse me,” Viviane asked a dressing assistant, “but do you know where I can find my next outfit?”

“Viviane Fox, eh? Your next rack of clothes is over there behind the curtain.”

“Thanks!”

Viviane weaved around the crowded floor of the dressing area which was stuffed with even more racks of clothes and other models all trying to keep up with the photography carousel. She squeezed her way back to her assigned rack of clothes behind the privacy curtain which was mostly pulled all the way open. Along with her clothes, the area behind the curtain overflowed with boxes, props and whatever junk they could shove into this space.

I don’t know why they even have a curtain. None of us use it for changing.

It was true. All the models just changed their clothes out in the open, unashamed of being seen in under garments. Only women were allowed in the dressing area so they were free to be immodest. Viviane found her next outfit and without hesitation, stripped off her previous outfit down to her bra and panties and put on her next outfit. A roomful of nearly naked women would have raised eyebrows, but not so in the world of fashion modeling.

The photographer called for a 15-minute break and the highly organized line of girls scattered like salt spilt from the shaker. Already dressed in her next outfit, Viviane took this time to check the messages on her personal communicator. A couple of her sassy model friends bounded over for a chat.

“Hi, Viviane! Doing anything after today’s shoot?” asked one of the models.

“Oh! I just read that the results of my last experiment on the Qevatron Collider are ready for review. I have to get back right after this to study the data. I’m working on measuring the quantum properties of leptoquark particles at the lab.”

“Ew! I don’t understand a thing you said, but just the way it sounds is telling me not to ask any more about it!” the other model replied.

“I know! Viviane, you’re too pretty to be that smart,” said the first model.

Viviane’s nose crinkled at the comment. “Don’t you think that’s a bit sexist?”

“All I’m trying to say is that you need to take a break from all that heady stuff and just have some fun. Geez!”

The second model, sensing tension in the air, tried to change the subject with foolproof gossip. “Did you hear? Aveline’s concert is coming to the city and there’s a chance of working on her concert while it’s here. I heard they’re casting for models to work on some promo ads. They’re auditioning tomorrow and the day after. Want to go and try out?”

“Aveline?” Viviane asked, “The pop singer?”

“Yes, Aveline! She has songs in the top 10 for the past few months. Didn’t you know? What rock have you been living under?”

“Come on!” Viviane said, “I know about her! All the teenagers are crazy about her these days.”

“Not just teens,” said the other model. “If we can’t work for her, we’ll buy tickets to her concert anyway.”

Viviane did not have time for sugary pop-concerts attended by throngs of teenagers. She had important data to look at. “I think I’ll pass. I’m investigating quantum phenomena at the National Laboratory right now and I really don’t need any more distractions.”

“There she goes again. Talking right over our heads!” complained one of the models starting up the drama again. “You know, you don’t have to show off your braininess to us.”

“I’m not trying to! You know, my Ph.D. is going to be in Physics, not fashion. I really find the subject of quantum behavior fascinating,” Viviane tried to explain to her two quote-unquote friends.

“That’s why you’re weird, Viviane! How can you be so pretty and brainy at the same time? It doesn’t make sense!”

“I don’t know! It just comes naturally to me! Why can’t a pretty girl be smart?” asked Viviane.

“Even if you are that smart, no one is going to believe it except for us, your co-workers and friends. We know what a geek you really are,” said the first model.

Viviane pursed her lips with indignation. “Gee, thanks guys. You really know how to make a girl feel self-conscious.”

“Well, what about next week?” asked the other model. “The famous photographer Acel Yu is doing the shoot, you know. Don’t you want a chance to be discovered and maybe work in haute couture? Or are you going to be happy modeling for a catalog company forever?”

“Of course, I’m going to be here for the shoot!” Viviane bristled at her friend’s questioning. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Just because I’m studying for my Ph.D. doesn’t mean I don’t have dreams of becoming a successful model. Why can’t a smart girl be pretty?” It made all the sense in the world to Viviane that girls could be both.

The photographer announced that break time was over and everyone should get back to the shoot. The models scurried to get back into their assembly line and continued like robots with the job of catalog fashion modeling.

At the end of the photo shoot, Viviane received her paycheck from the Art Director who oversaw the entire shoot. She was the real boss of the photo studio.

“Thank you,” said Viviane. Her feet were sore from standing all day.

“Don’t spend it all in one place,” said the sarcastic Art Director.

Viviane looked at the small numbers on the paycheck and frowned. How long can I do this for? Can I really be happy modeling for a catalog company forever? Viviane determined to look her best and give it her all at next week’s shoot and hoped she could impress Acel Yu.