Drop Dead Gorgeous

I have just finished watching BBC3’s new drama – Drop Dead Gorgeous.  It’s your basic geeky girl from an impoverished background who gets spotted and signed up as a model and begins her life as a model.  As contrived and predictable as it sounds, it is actually a very well-acted drama and a story so familiar to many real-life models.  Ashley, has been awkward and insecure about her height all her life and it’s her twin sister Jade who’s the known-beauty and exudes confidence.  However, when Ashley is spotted in a mall, her life changes dramatically and everyone around her doesnot necessarily react positively.  From watching the first episode, it deals with a lot of issues that one might not see on so called reality shows like America’s Next Top Model.  Jealousy from peers, family (in this case her sister Jade), concern about parents about their daughters being overexposed and manipulated,starstruck parents who readily agree to let their daughters do anything and how coming from a poorer background can really make a model vunerable.  I was thinking this was going to be one big cheesefest but with such down to earth and realistic performances from the cast, I think I’m going to be hooked every Sunday night.  It might even turn up on Bittorrent if any non-UK people want to catch it!