“It feels so amazing. Not only am I the winner, but my look is going to be sold through Diane von Furstenberg. And to win two in a row? That is awesome!” Leanne’s voiceover narrates as she hugs Korto backstage. Alone, Leanne softly tells herself, “I won with immunity. I did it.” Back to the judging - Heidi tells Kenley “good work” and Kenley leaves. Suede is also in, and leaves. It is down to Joe and Stella. Joe looks frightened. Maybe he’s still thinking of Stella’s vampire? Stella looks defiant: her chin juts forward, her stance is wide, she leans back, her hands folded in front of her.
“Joe?”
“Yes,” he answers obediently. “Your look had us confused. There was too much going on. The back was a disaster. Stella, you gave us three pieces, and did none of them well. The entire look was a major misstep.” Hearing this, Stella nods a bit, but it’s unclear whether from stubborn defiance, anger, or boredom. Her stance and expression is that of a surly teenager. “I don’t care” is written all over her face. Well, not actually. But imagine it is. Joe grits his teeth waiting. “Stella? You’re out,” Heidi announces. Stella cocks her head and rolls her eyes. She looks surprised but her thought bubble might read, “I am so out of here.”
Heidi excuses Joe from the runway. He practically heaves and grovels in a Renfield-like way. Perhaps Stella’s costume inspired him after all. Now alone, Stella looks a bit forlorn. She accepts Heidi’s goodbye kisses, then begins a speech. “I think my ego was way too big to be here anyway. I’ve learned, and I’ve grown. And thanks,” Stella says, all while holding Heidi’s hands. Gee, that’s sweet, Stella. Maybe if the fashion business treats you coldly, you can open a line of greeting cards. Heidi thanks Stella, no doubt relieved to take her hands back, and watches as Stella exits the runway like an Oscar winner. “Thank you, judges. Thank you.”
Backstage, Stella’s buddy Kenley cries - again - and hugs Stella. “I’m good,” Stella assures the group. Stella sums up her own performance this season in the third person. Tim asks how Stella is and gets an “I’m fabulous.” “Then I’m happy to tell you to go upstairs and clean up your space!” Tim grins. It’s hilarious. Tim assures her they will “really miss” her, and Stella amps up the BS meter with a good old fashioned, Hollywood “I love you and adore you and you’re fabulous.” Whatever happened to Ms. Rock and Roll Bones and Leather? “Buh-bye” Joe says quietly. Leanne blows Stella a kiss. And then... and then... Tim looks skyward (it was a very discreet eye-roll) and says, “Well, that was an ebullient departure!”. Oh, Tim. The Man with the Golden Vocabulary.
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