There is a healthy buzz about Milan Fashion Week that renders it unparallel to any other city. The myriad of designers billed to show at Milan know it, the swarming cadre of press sense it, and the hoards of models who line the streets in anticipation of casting success envision it.

For a model, sauntering down the catwalk of a show in Milan can catapult one’s career into a separate stratosphere. As relatively new models, Madeline and Austria are itching to break into that plateau while Cato is one phone call away from realizing it.

Model.Live has definitely opened my eyes to the rigours of what it takes to actually be a model. It is by far not a walk-in-the-park, whimsical, fairy-tale profession as many would imagine. Stardom is not guaranteed and the mere act of booking shows neither. The truth of the matter is for an unknown starlet like Madeline and Austria breaking into the regimented ranks of blue-blooded models is a tough surmount. Sadly, it’s the designers who have a part to play in perpetuating this Patrician order of models. It’s what delayed Thakoon’s show for a good one hour.

After thirty castings over the course of three days, Austria does not land a show and neither does Madeline. Our heart goes out to Madeline, particularly in a singular scene in the car where she seems to choke up and requests the film crew to cut the tape.

The reasons for Madeline’s misfortunes in Milan are not so clear, but for Austria, her IMG manager’s feel that her lack of shows stems from her whittled down confidence and lethargy. Rumour has it that Austria was only 14 years of age as of February this year.

And just to let you know…Cato did receive the phone call, went on to walk Prada for the second season in a row and starred in shows for Dolce & Gabbana, Just Cavalli, and Alessandro Dell’Acqua!