Last week Rachel, Katie, and Riyo moved into their new Manhattan apartment. They were told that Tara Conner, the fallen Miss USA, would be joining them and their reactions were less-than-thrilled. Jealousy, defensiveness, insecurity, and apprehension surrounded the apartment as Tara knocked at the door. It’s locked, and Rachel doesn’t seem like she’s going to answer it. Eventually she does, though the episode would have been better if she made Tara climb the fire escape instead.
Tara is nervous about the meeting: she doesn’t want to steal Rachel’s Miss USA thunder as a former titleholder, but also because of that little incident involving Katie ratting on Tara to the Miss Universe Organization about her drug use.
Rachel and Tara embrace as if they were old friends. These pageant queens sure are good at being fake. Riyo is at her computer and blushes when Tara calls her pretty. Can Riyo be anything less than adorable? Tara explains to Riyo and Rachel that she is going to start working in the organization. She doesn’t want to be Miss USA – Rachel doesn’t want her to be Miss USA either – and she will be the girls’ event manager. “Because I’m a pillar of wisdom,†she self deprecatingly says. Is it bad that I would love to have a recovering coke head be my event manager? I bet she’d at least be “high energy.”
Tara, Rachel, and Riyo are sitting on the couch in what appears to be a completely staged conversation. Rachel asks her if her relationship with Katie feels forced (like this conversation?). “It takes way too much energy for me to harvest anger,†Tara says. “She has constipation of the brain and diarrhea of the mouth.†Also on the couch we learn that Tara has 9 tattoos, including a crown tattoo on THE INSIDE OF HER MOUTH. Why would she do that to herself? If I had to get a tattoo on the inside of my mouth, it would be a small note to my dentist apologizing for not flossing daily. Yes, I know its important, but I’m busy!
Around the corner, Katie and Josh just left a restaurant that apparently had questionable service and head towards the apartment. Josh is going to meet Riyo. “Is she hot…does she have cans?†OK, I can see what my opinion of Josh is going to be for the remainder of the episode.
Katie comes into the house and gives her best fake beauty queen greeting to Tara. The mood shifts, and Tara comments that there’s a big elephant in the room. I’m assuming she’s talking about the drug scandal and not Josh’s horrible facial hair. Katie tells Tara that she’s so blonde, tan, and skinny. “Everyone’s telling me that I’m skinny right now, and I am the happiest girl,†Tara laughs.
For Josh’s birthday, the queens all go to Rosa Mexicano. For those of you unfamiliar with Rose Mexicano, it’s a high-end Mexican restaurant at Lincoln Center (and the Upper East Side) that makes guacamole at your table and serves pink, frozen pomegranate margaritas. In college, my classmates and I used to sneak out to get a drink, and I can tell you from experience that those margaritas are dangerous. ANYWAY, the last time Tara, Katie, and Josh went there, it was a huge disaster. Katie accused Tara of flirting with Josh, which really hurt her feelings, and then bragged that she was going to hurt Tara in return by calling the Organization. On one hand that’s really bitchy, but on the other hand Tara did have a problem so maybe it was for the best.
At dinner the queens talk about their plans for the future. Tara is going to finish her book and Rachel wants to run a philanthropic organization. The next 5 minutes at the table are painful to watch, because it becomes blatantly obvious that Josh is a tool and that Katie will probably never see it. He puts down Rachel’s interest in philanthropy because it won’t make money (?), he makes fun of Katie’s Miss Teen USA performance, and he makes a spectacle out of ordering a drink in front of Tara. For what it’s worth, you are allowed to drink in front of recovering alcoholics, but you’re a tool if you do this soon after their rehabilitation.
The next day he’s still being rude and gives Katie a hard time about ordering a lot of food the night before. They get to talking about Tara, and he doesn’t think they will ever get along. I agree with him; when these fights happen between friends the damage is usually irreversible. Oh, and I should mention that Katie is plucking his nose hair and massive eyebrows as they talk.
The beauty queens have a photo shoot today. It’s unclear exactly why they have to take photos, but I guess it’s for promotional material. The girls get made up and Riyo’s hair is permed out making her even MORE adorable than before. Katie invited Josh because she wanted him to see what she does for living. Katie is in a bikini and she has a rocking body. Goldfrapp’s “Ooh La La†is playing in the background when she is told that she will be working with a male model. They embrace in front of the cameras and I’m surprised she doesn’t cut herself on his abs.
Of course at that exact moment Josh enters the studio. He’s a little territorial and makes the entire pace uncomfortable. Tara tries to defend Katie, but she is having difficulty convincing him to brush it off.
“I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me,†she pleads with Josh. He says that he’s not mad, but then he has a mild hissy fit about having to witness her with another man. No one in the studio is sympathetic: they think he’s ridiculous for being upset and that she’s ridiculous for letting it affect her. I don’t want her to cry because she’s wearing such heavy eye make up, but cry she does. She is told that there are things she’s going to have to face in this business and she’s going to have to get used it.
Tara and Katie are then asked to model together. The photographer yells to the two former friends, “Pretend you like each other.†Josh leaves unceremoniously.
Next week’s episode better have more Riyo.
October 18th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
That boyfriend has got to go. He’s is rude, ignorant and an eye sore. Why is she with him? If my boyfriend ever sad any of the things he does, he’d be licking the curb.
October 18th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
what’s the name of that model?
October 18th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Katie’s boyfriend is such a jerk. Get over it! That shoot was not about him, it was about Katie and her job! He is going to have to realize that not everything is about him, and that she will have to do that in her career.
October 19th, 2007 at 2:05 am
i also wanna know who male model is…
October 19th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
WHAT IS TARA CONOR DOING THERE? This is Rachel’s year! Rachel is gorgeous, educated, smart and just a wonderful role model. It really is ridiculous that Tara is there. If she’s supposed to be “working for the organization” then why is she in bathing suits and in these shoots? It’s disrespectful and gross.
Give us a break.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Poor Katie, Josh is a jerk and totally embarrassed her on national TV. I hope she watches the show & sees how rude & horrible he really is.
What do you think of that male model … why isnt he on TV more!?!?!?!?
October 19th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
I think Katie is a total @%@$@. she should dump that dumb ass and enjoy living in new york and being miss teen usa, Its an honor to wear that crown and she seems so ungreatful it makes me sick. She is suppose to be a role model but yet shes being a @%@$@ on tv, wow we need some respectful title holders! I hope hilary is nothing like katie!
October 19th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Katie’s bf is such an ass. He’s lame and don’t know what the hell he is saying most of the time. Rachel is so pretty. I hear she and Nick Cannon are a thing.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:50 am
Tara is the most brave person to come out of rehab with her head held high. Just imagine going to rehab except that the whole world is watching you and putting you under a microscope. I know I couldn’t do it and I’m pretty sure not too many people could.Welcome back Tara and congratulations on your sobriety.Oh yeah and as for Josh… It’s his girlfriends JOB to take pictures and work for the organization…why cant he just accept that and be happy for her?I support Tara 100%.
October 20th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I think it’s great that Tara is there to help show these girls what she went through and how to avoid the troubles she had. Tara congradulations on your sobriety. As for Katie ditch the boyfriend,he’s an a$$,if I were your beau I would be more understanding. In fact Katie if your reading this I’am avalible.
October 21st, 2007 at 1:25 am
All I have to say about Josh is….. EWWWWWWWWW! Oh, and the George Michael look only works on GEORGE MICHAEL!
October 21st, 2007 at 2:48 am
The models name is Caleb Halstead, I recognized him while flipping threw the channels and had to make sure that was him, and sure enough it was.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:00 am
Josh needed to go. I hope Katie doesn’t have any regrets about having him around when she had this one year to be in NY for herself. Also, he isn’t even all that. I would say if his attitude was better he may be a little more attractive, but he has a nasty attitude.
October 21st, 2007 at 6:09 pm
im so glad everyone can see how pathetic katies boyfriend is but shes not all that great either. she turned tara in cause she THOUGHT that she was moving in on her boyfriend. at least tara has the common sense to see what an ass he is. i love tara and im so glad she came back.
October 21st, 2007 at 6:10 pm
love tara
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:44 pm
although katie is young, naive and at times annoying, she is very pretty and could do ALOT better then her so-called boyfriend josh…come on katie, it’s time to move on.
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:18 am
what’s the name of that last song that was playing during the photoshoot (when the girls were taking a picture together)? i always hear it on mtv shows, but i can never find it.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:18 pm
gurl break up with that #*~*? and be free with
the male models you know some sexy bitches.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:28 pm
teila i just want to give the best wishies that you pick the right person ok i am a fan of the show okkkkkkkkkkk
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I can’t believe how bad Katie’s boyfriend, Josh, treats her. When he said he didn’t think she was pretty enough to win her title and answered questions wrong. Why would you start dating someone who said that to you?
Josh was really acting stupid when he was jealous at Katie’s shotting, because she had to model with a guy. She’s just doing her job.
Katie needs to find a guy who supports her, not cuts her down and makes her cry.
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Yea, why is Tara there? She’s taking away from the new girl that’s been crowned. If I was Rachael I would be pissed.
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Why am I hearing that Rachel n Carson Daily is an item, 1st Nick Cannon now him. Rachel is the best on the show, she smart and beauty personified. Apart from that, a great role model. Gotta luv her. You gotta hand it to Tara for coming back with her head held high. Riyo needs to talk more, so viewers can get to know her. And Katie, well she’s okay. I dont believe shes immature, but she has to grow up a little. AND JOSH IS AN ASS.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
JOSH ISNT AN ASS!!!!
October 24th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Katie should be replaced with the 1st runner-up. She’s so immature. She looks like an idiot talking to her loser boyfriend all the time. As for Tara, Trump is using bad judgement keeping her there. She’s dragging the Pageant down by her continued presence. Tara, be gone!
October 25th, 2007 at 1:07 am
I think Tara is being pretty good you know.. so far.. still don’t think Trump should of given her another chance, KATIE IS SO IMMATURE THOUGH. I mean come on. belching!! burping in front of Riyo’s sponsors. GROw UP!
October 25th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Josh is such a great bloke! TV always sensationalizes things. I reckon he would be cool to hangout wiht. GOOD ON YA MATE!
October 25th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
i just finished watching the 3rd ep and katie is DEFINITELY a teeny bopper. she is ridiculously immature, and i feel bad for all the other ladies who have to deal with her. and to make things worse, she talks, and she talks a lot.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Katie is the youngest so of course she’s going to be a little more immature than the other girls, but I don’t think she’s that bad at all. I think that Rachel was a little hard on her.
Rachel & Carson an item? Where did you hear that? I heard about Nick Cannon & Terrence Howard..
October 25th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I can’t believe these girls represent The United States.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
I love Rachel’s silver dress! Does anyone know where or whom it’s from?
October 26th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Katies boyfriend, Josh, really needs to get over himself and stop being selfish. If he cant handle Katies modeling career, he needs to move on:
October 27th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I must admit that I am really disappointed by this show. It depicts women and girls who participate an pageants as immature, uncritical, disrespectful and concerned with frivolous things. No one is perfect and I’m sure living with a bunch of girls on camera stirs up drama, but the show is perpetuating the negative stereotypes of pageant girls. I have even been known to have by doubts about pageants before I became involved with them, but…I will be competing in a national pageant next year for the first time and am PROUD to say that my competitors are classy, intelligent and absolutely FIERCE about excelling in all that they do - whether it be scholastically, career-wise, or community oriented.
October 28th, 2007 at 3:04 am
Okay, Terrence Howard is kool, Nick Cannon, Rachel can deffently do better. I heard she was wearing Nick’s shirt wen they left a night club together, and she was sucking face with Terrence Howard recently.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Does anyone know what brand Katie’s brown pruse/bag is? I love it!
October 30th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
What is the name of the song playing while katie is modeling with the male model