🥐 create a family with a twist

[moonwriteen]

(tw: emergency medical situation)
Dion Celestino Rivera (34) is Kalayah 's paternal uncle. He is the oldest Rivera sibling and also the brother of Aggie 's mom. Dion 's heart melts every time he sees Aggie and Kalayah interract because it’s just so pure and simple childish fun . Dion wishes Kalayah and Agnes could have another cousin from his side - however, it’s tricky because of Dion 's very busy schedule. He has started a gym membership already back in October, thinking that waiting for a New Year’s resolution would be silly , and he’s currently strength training and working towards losing weight also. He was afraid of " gym bros " being mean to him however it turned out that he gained quite a few guy friends , despite previously having trouble making friends because of a very stressful work environment that most adults don’t want to listen to when they ask friends about work.

He is a 911 dispatcher and deals with real-life tragedies everyday. Just yesterday he recieved a call from a 14-year-old girl who called in tears due to her grandpa experiencing symptoms of cardiac arrest. Dion is relieved he was able to calm the girl down and give the adress first - which is very important every time you call an emergency number! After that , the girl desciebed his exact symptoms and it became clear that they need an ambulance. Dion also recieved another call today - from a local news reporter who wants to hail the girl as a hero because she managed to save her grandpa. Dion is proud of the girl and hopes she continues to be brave , but also understands how media attention can be confusing for such a young mind to get.

The female news reporter had a very pleasant voice and Dion regretted that it was a professional situation in which he couldn’t ask her out. His actual New Year’s Resolution for 2024 is to find love , but his previous girlfriend left him because of how hard it would get for her to listen about Dion 's work while she had her comfortable office job as a manager in a marketing company and her career was her entire personality. Dion has been encouraged by his friends to start dating in January, reassuring him that Dion and his ex just weren’t compatible because she wasn’t prioritizing establishing a family to the extend that Dion is. However, Dion 's friends think that pizza o bowling dates aren’t enough to attract women who are dating to marry, and that he needs to have a more elegant style and go to more expensive restaurants if he wants to impress the right type of person. Dion isn’t sure about their advice but is nevertheless grateful that his gym bros want the best for him and don’t encourage him to be a "bad boy " or " player " when that clearly isn’t in Dion 's nature.

[cara_murvolio]

[name_u]Piper[/name_u] [name_f]Therese[/name_f] Caffrey (33) is Dion’s ex, a career girl who’s clear that settling down to start a family really isn’t in her interests yet. In spite of being looked down on by some of his friends, [name_u]Piper[/name_u] hasn’t menaced [name_m]Dion[/name_m] since she ended things, even if she’s not the fluffy sort of person who’s reached out to see how he’s doing either. Part of this was her own anxiety, as leaving wasn’t something she fully wanted - he’s someone she deeply loved, and still does care for - but their plans for the future were obviously too different.

Children are something [name_u]Piper[/name_u] wants, however it’s a good 3-5 years before she thinks she’ll be settled enough to conceive or adopt. She was born to older parents, who had more time for her and her sister because they’d progressed in their careers, so it’s a plan [name_u]Piper[/name_u] herself wants to follow. Her older sister has just had her first child, and being an aunt fills the gap completely for [name_u]Piper[/name_u] right now, which furthered her unwillingness to budge when [name_m]Dion[/name_m] asked her about starting a family.

While she isn’t a bad or cruel person by any stretch of the imagination, Piper’s stubbornness is legendary: it’s why she’s great at her job but not so ideal for romances. The path [name_m]Dion[/name_m] took is something she’ll always respect, however their differences in when they wanted to become parents was something [name_u]Piper[/name_u] couldn’t ultimately compromise on: it’s just not the right time, and she’s terrified of rushing something then resenting her loved one’s for it. Her father is known for this - cutting off her grandmother for years because of her asking for money constantly - and [name_u]Piper[/name_u] doesn’t want to repeat this herself.

[I.have.no.idea]

[name_u]Bristol[/name_u] [name_f]Inez[/name_f] [name_m]Perkins[/name_m]- Caffrey (35) is Piper’s older sister. Like [name_u]Piper[/name_u] [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] is very carrier oriented and has worked as a real estate agent for many years in [name_u]Boston[/name_u] . [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] has taken a break to take care of her baby and is only working part-time. [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] loves the bustle of the city and thinks it’s perfect for the family. They enjoy walking in the public garden and going to the public library. In the summer time they go to their beach house her husband’s parents bought for the couple when they got married in 2019. [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] didn’t realize the extent of her husband’s family’s weakth till she met his parents, she sometimes feels uncomfortable with his family even though they try to make her feel included. His sister has helped her navigate wealthy society and has become one of her closest friends. [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] sometimes feel like her extended family tries to use her and make her lay for things that don’t relate to her, recently her second cousin tried to convince her to pay for her honeymoon as a “wedding present” because she had more money than them which out [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] at an awkward sport with that side of the family,

[name_u]Bristol[/name_u] enjoys reading and has recently enjoyed reading [name_f]Emily[/name_f] Henry’s books. She also enjoys running and Pilates. [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] is a rather social person and likes organizing dinners at her house and has also organized a playgroup for her one and an half old daughter to socialize. Bristol’s daughter is the light of her light and she really wants to have another child and has started trying again. [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] loves having a two year age gap with her sister and thinks it works very well. [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] and her husband have decided that they would potentially want three kids.

[CherryBomb50]

[name_m]Cassander[/name_m] [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] [name_m]Johnson[/name_m] (34) is Bristol’s former boyfriend, who’s on good terms with her nonetheless. He’s one of the nice gym bros for [name_m]Dion[/name_m] and relates to being an ex to a Caffrey sister, but doesn’t villainise the sisters. The past is the past, there’s no trying to her back together, and everyone’s happier how they are. [name_m]Cassander[/name_m] loves the gym and especially loves the pool, which he’s an expert swimmer at. He also works at the community pool in town, teaching the new swimming tricks and moves to people who want to become great at the sport. He has one older sister [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], who is also married with children. He is very close with her despite their differing lives and both aren’t close with aunt [name_f]Lumia[/name_f] and her own love life, still holding on as Wife 6. [name_m]Cassander[/name_m] fears marriage for that because he doesn’t want to get into a listless marriage, then divorce, then remarry but not be taken seriously because of his aunt’s history. He’s never been married or engaged, the closest he got to that was giving a girl a promise ring nearly 20 years ago. He doesn’t even remember what promise rings are supposed to represent anymore.

[name_m]Even[/name_m] though his own fears on marriage hold him back, he’s not going to let that happen for [name_m]Dion[/name_m]. He and his other friends at the gym are rooting for him, even joking sometimes that he’s the perfect “character in a romance movie”. He doesn’t see [name_m]Dion[/name_m] as a courtship type, feeling his resolution is just to find true love, not marry by the end of the year. But he knows [name_m]Dion[/name_m] means it when he wants true love and that he wants to be able to find it without taking some cringey love show or dating app. He finds [name_m]Dion[/name_m] has a few surprisingly similar qualities that [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] has although he’s not pairing him with [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] since the latter is married. He is conflicted about whether [name_m]Dion[/name_m] should date someone similar to [name_u]Piper[/name_u]: on the pro side, this would be an amazing and strong personality but on the con side, it would be too similar to his ex [name_u]Piper[/name_u] herself. [name_m]Cassander[/name_m] loves movies but agrees they’re not the best place for dates; you don’t get to talk and if the movie is terrible, it’s a lose-lose. He likes to just go alone or with a friend. He doesn’t consider home dates to be real dates. Ultimately he is the type that doesn’t quite get Dion’s “marriage fever” as he calls it, but it doesn’t stop him from wanting his friend to achieve his dreams. After all, [name_m]Dion[/name_m] doesn’t judge [name_m]Cassander[/name_m] after all for his resolution of trying to get closer with his parents and even if the dreams are in different paths, the respect is mutual. [name_m]Cassander[/name_m] mainly makes resolutions for the purpose of looking back and seeing growth in his life, which is what he enjoys the most about it. Last year, he succeeded at his resolution to stop holding grudges and let go of the existing ones. This is how he got more accepting that his ex [name_u]Bristol[/name_u] is happy with her married life and new child even if it’s not with him. It’s also how he’s managed to stop getting involved in his aunt [name_f]Lumia[/name_f] and her obnoxious husband’s relationship and just let them be, even if he doesn’t support it.

Olivia was created by @Lindseylloyd052399.
Lumia was created by me.

[I_meme_it]

[name_m]Roland[/name_m] [name_u]Henry[/name_u] [name_m]Perkins[/name_m] (37) is Bristol’s husband, and a member of an extremely wealthy dynasty, not that it’s easy to guess at first meeting. While he is someone who always seems well-spoken and educated, [name_m]Roland[/name_m] isn’t showing off his fortune, instead preferring to focus on what interests him: the arts and humanities. He works as an assistant professor in history, specialising in ancient civilizations, which he jokes about terrifying him when he explained his work to [name_u]Bristol[/name_u], as some people switch off the second he explains his job.

Family looking for handouts is something [name_m]Roland[/name_m] himself actually knows well, as not everyone born into extreme wealth is responsible with their money, and his great-uncle has often popped up asking for assistance, in spite of the fact he consistently proves himself irresponsible. Roland’s father finally managed to end this by assigning him a PA to keep an eye on him, and that woman was [name_u]Bristol[/name_u], who immediately charmed [name_m]Roland[/name_m] when they met!

It surprises people that [name_m]Cassander[/name_m] and [name_m]Roland[/name_m] have met and actually have gotten along when spending time together, but for the latter, it’s only fair. Bristol’s met one of his exes as she’s involved in governing a charity the Perkins’ family support, so [name_m]Roland[/name_m] never has had an issue with [name_m]Cassander[/name_m], as he couldn’t bear being a hypocrite towards the woman he loves so much. Welcoming a child together has been a dream come true for [name_m]Roland[/name_m], who’s already proven devoted to his daughter, and their plan for more children feels perfect.

[kitkatcookie]

Meredith " Merry " Clara [Perkins] Hyland (38) is Roland’s sister and confident of Bristol where the ways of high society life is concerned. To some people this is surprising, as Merry appears a bit of an enigma: very devoted to her children but not particularly warm and fluffy otherwise - a source of debate among associates of the family. Merry developed this nature to ward off unwanted proposals, as she was warned by her mother at the way some men view unwed daughters of wealthy parents, and really she’s an introvert as it is. In her husband she jokes she ‘met her match’, as he’s a likewise quiet person who’s considered a little standoffish by those who don’t know him, but this mutual desire for privacy is what united them when they were introduced at Merrys’ cousin’s wedding.

The Hylands’ have two daughter’s of their own: one’s eight and the other’s six, who they absolutely cherish. Having run her own orthodontist practice since she was 31, Merry refuses to let anyone belittle her being a mother and career woman simultaneously. She installed one of her best staff members as a practice manager upon falling pregnant for the first time and isn’t a woman intimidated by seeing other’s succeed: in fact she’s happily allowed staff to move on if it means they’ll achieve greater things.

This is why Merry’s become so fond of Bristol and done her best to support her in adapting to the world she and Roland were raised in. As long as her brother married someone who genuinely loved him for him, Merry wasn’t going to oppose them, and she empathises with the pressures her sister-in-law has faced. Their natural dedication to their work did help with this nature too, as Merry admits the exuberant and sociable nature of Bristol usually isn’t one she gels with, however career ethic proved a natural bonding point to focus on. Although they’ve met less, Merry also gets on well with Piper, who her older daughter considers the coolest person on the planet.

[I.have.no.idea]

[name_f]Betsy[/name_f] [name_f]Letitia[/name_f] Hyland (6) is Merry’s youngest daughter and [name_m]Roland[/name_m] and Bristol’s niece. [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] is a very rowdy kid who beats to her own drum. Like her parents she isn’t super social and prefers playing alone. She has never really liked school and often causes trouble there. It is apparent however that she isn’t behind developmentally her peers so there’s no real cause for concern yet. The private school she and her sister go to’s headmistress told [name_f]Merry[/name_f] and her husband that many kids go through a naughty phase and that all they can really do is discipline her. This was hard for the couple to understand since their eldest was so ‘easy’ but they have been working with [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] on her behavior.

[name_f]Betsy[/name_f] really likes her pink scooter she decorated with stickers and riding around. On the weekends she usually gets to ride her scoter in the park and meet up with [name_f]Bristol[/name_f], [name_m]Roland[/name_m] and her baby cousin and get [name_m]Ice[/name_m] Cream with them. Her absolute favorite is strawberry. [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] also really likes playing lacrosse and soccer with her older sister. Betsy’s dad would say that his two girls are the best of their respective teams.

[cara_murvolio]

[name_f]Peggy[/name_f] [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] Hyland (8) is Betsy’s big sister and the firstborn daughter of [name_f]Merry[/name_f]. In contrast to her adventurous sister, Peggys’ much more softly spoken and goes with the flow, being primarily interested in gardening and painting, with soccer being her sole sports interest. She’s got a fairy grove at home, which her mom and dad helped her establish, with [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] painting the figurines and choosing the lights adorning it, however [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] was involved too - selecting the recycled paper butterflies. Peggy’s very easygoing and didn’t mind this at all, which is why the sisters’ are close in spite of their differences.

Unlike her sister and parents though, [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] is someone who enjoys socialising, and she loves inviting her friends round - not an issue for her parents, in spite of their preferences, but [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] sometimes complains they’re ‘loud’ and interrupting her solo antics, something [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] shrugs off - after all, she’s called the quiet one! Sometimes she does wish she had Betsys’ bravery though, as [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] isn’t comfortable going for sleepovers with friends yet, getting too homesick, which she does feel embarrassed by, in spite of her parents’ assurance.

[CherryBomb50]

Warning for miscarriage.

[name_f]Thera[/name_f] [name_f]Bailey[/name_f] [name_m]Perkins[/name_m] (67) is [name_f]Merry[/name_f] and Roland’s mother and [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] and Peggy’s maternal grandmother. She is also the paternal grandmother of [name_m]Roland[/name_m] and Bristol’s 1 ½ year old granddaughter. [name_f]Thera[/name_f] lives in Massachusetts although she doesn’t reside in [name_m]Boston[/name_m], she’s in the Cape Cod area. She knows the [name_m]Perkins[/name_m] are a wealthy and successful family but she’s grateful her children and grandchildren aren’t using this as leverage to get themselves unfair advantages. Thera’s maiden name is [name_f]Bailey[/name_f], which she moved to the middle name slot when marrying her husband, but assures marrying into the [name_m]Perkins[/name_m] name and wealth doesn’t make her any farther away from the Baileys. [name_f]Thera[/name_f] is one of 3 siblings and is the middle although the generation finished in devastation when the third child was miscarried. No more children were ever conceived although [name_f]Thera[/name_f] still considers the miscarried [name_f]Bailey[/name_f] a sibling to her. Granted, both [name_f]Thera[/name_f] and the eldest were happy and healthy; bringing in children who were also the same.

Also it helps that [name_f]Thera[/name_f] loves both [name_f]Bristol[/name_f] and Mr. Hyland! She adores their marriages to her children and appreciates what they bring to the family. [name_f]Thera[/name_f] believes everyone brings something special, whether it’s deliberate or effortless. [name_f]Thera[/name_f] works as an assistant midwife and while she’s downgraded to assistance, she isn’t ready to retire yet. She loves Merry’s working ethic and her strong and smart persona. She also appreciates Roland’s love for arts first rather than flaunting wealth, and that both [name_f]Bristol[/name_f] and Mr. Hyland weren’t marrying for money. From [name_f]Bristol[/name_f] and [name_m]Cassander[/name_m], she knows Dion’s story to a degree. She relates to [name_m]Dion[/name_m] in a sense about his desires for finding love although she didn’t succeed the first year, having two unsuccessful tries before third time was the charm. She still motivates him nonetheless and believes his potential is so high. She has no ill feelings for [name_f]Piper[/name_f], who [name_f]Merry[/name_f] and [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] find cool, and is glad she and [name_m]Dion[/name_m] can admit they weren’t right for each other and for them to move on. [name_f]Thera[/name_f] loves jigsaw puzzles and likes to nap in her hammock during the day. She dreams of living at a senior’s resort after she retires but adores her job and everyone at her workplace.

[I.have.no.idea]

[name_f]Addison[/name_f] [name_m]Mitchell[/name_m] Hyland (39) and his dog [name_f]Rylie[/name_f] and [name_m]Cooper[/name_m] is Thera’s son - in-law, Meredith’s husband and [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] and Betsy’s dad. [name_f]Addison[/name_f] is a very down to earth a charismatic guy, he has known [name_f]Meredith[/name_f] since they were young. Addison’s mom worked as a science teacher at [name_f]Merry[/name_f] and Roland’s prep school so [name_f]Addison[/name_f] was able to go there free of charge. He feels so grateful for that opportunity and makes sure to donate a large amount of money to the girl’s school every year for other kids to have the same opportunity he had.

[name_f]Addison[/name_f] started his own tie company out of his college dorm which has evolved into a whole brand. He mostly sells male geared clothing and accessories and pet stuff. Addison’s first love was dogs: he has always had a dog in his house, when his parents divorce [name_f]Addison[/name_f] convinced them that they each needed their own. He has also convinced [name_f]Merry[/name_f] to let them sleep with their two dogs which took some bargaining. He would love for his daughter and dogs to be able to run around freely in nature so he often goes on camping trips with his family like he did growing up. He has lived in [name_m]Boston[/name_m] his whole life and is a massive red sox fan but sometimes feels cramped there and much prefers his time on the cape.

[kitkatcookie]

[name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] " [name_m]Tam[/name_m] " [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_m]Walden[/name_m] (16) is currently employed at the physical shop Addison’s company has expanded to. She’s the second youngest staff member, but this doesn’t impact her desire to succeed at all things retail based. This work ethic isn’t entirely selfless, however Tam’s upfront about this: she hopes to own a vintage clothing store someday, with stock cultivated by her own hands and that appeals to a crowd of shoppers who can’t afford the pricier cultivated finds. Part of this stems from how [name_m]Tam[/name_m] is a devoted thrifter, but going through all the stock isn’t always the most convenient thing, especially for someone in Tam’s shoes, as she has ADHD that conflicts with her enthusiasm for clothes and styling.

Being the third of four children has its perks in this regard, as Tam’s inherited great pieces from her eighteen-year-old sister, [name_f]Marissa[/name_f], who’s currently preparing for college. Unlike some, who’d find this a stifling place in the pecking order, [name_m]Tam[/name_m] isn’t bothered, as the dynamic among the siblings isn’t hierarchical, as they’re all mostly invested in their own pursuits. The only rule for being a [name_m]Walden[/name_m] is that you have to be invested in D&D. Her older siblings - [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] and twenty-one-year-old [name_m]Alec[/name_m] - are avid about this, passing on the interest to [name_m]Tam[/name_m] and the youngest, who’s recently come out as nonbinary. This is what gathers them together, and they’ve even managed to embroil their parents, something Tam’s friends first assumed would be cringe, but it’s anything but for the Waldens’

Given her unique pastimes, [name_m]Tam[/name_m] stands out at school, however she’s not a social butterfly for being distinct. More she’s content where she is and with the friends she has, however there isn’t any precedent for her to gravitate towards the spotlight [and truthfully it does intimidate her a bit]. Instead, [name_m]Tam[/name_m] can be found with the gang she’s hung around with for years, having met most of them in middle school; or the Cringe Depths as they now refer to it by. Really it doesn’t bother [name_m]Tam[/name_m] too much in the scope of things, as she’s always got good distractions, which is currently based in asking [name_f]Addison[/name_f] about tips for the retail industry and making notes wherever she can.

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Marissa belongs to @I_meme_it

Alec belongs to yours truly

[I_meme_it]

[name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] [name_m]Gamble[/name_m] [name_m]Draper[/name_m] (16) is Tams’ best friend and sounding board where future planning’s concerned. A dedicated textiles student herself, [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] already has a clear vision of the future, which is why she and [name_m]Tam[/name_m] are so close: they’re both a unique blend of dreamers and forward thinkers, meaning they encourage and understand each other. One of their other friends jokes about having to wrangle the duo though, when - in his words - they’re off on some grand tour of their future careers while everyone else just wants to figure out the best plans for the weekend.

In many other ways, [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] is Tams’ polar opposite. She’s the younger of two children, having a half-brother who’s twelve years her senior, and has only become closer to him in more recent years. Partly this was something out of Eilidhs’ hands. Her brother struggled a lot when their dad got married to Eilidhs’ mom, four years before she was born. Although Mr. [name_m]Draper[/name_m] and his first wife had an amicable divorce, a new woman coming into the picture was difficult for Eilidhs’ brother, and he admitted that when she was conceived, he worried about being replaced, which is another reason why he seemed unreachable to her for quite some time.

[name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] credits her mom as the person who’s helped her not feel any lasting resentment or upset about this information, as she knows - odd as it may sound - that it wasn’t personal in a true sense. Anything relating to the change was rejected by her brother, she just happened to be the most blatant reminder. Her live and let live attitude is another reason Eilidhs’ so well-liked by her peers, as although she’s serious about her goals, she also tries her best to uplift and encourage others.

[avenmaide]

TW: cancer, death of a child

[name_f]Ursula[/name_f] [name_m]Drew[/name_m] Mikhailov (17) is Eilidh’s cousin (their moms are sisters). Family means everything to her. She was named after her grandmother, who goes by “Sula” and is her best friend; they play a lot of card games and even video games together, and they have the same style of snark. Her middle name [name_m]Drew[/name_m] honors her father, [name_m]Andrew[/name_m], who remarried when she was 10 but is still actively involved with the family and on good terms with everyone. Things weren’t always that easy for her parents, but they did a lot of personal work to smooth things out. Eilidh’s mom, whose first marriage did not end very nicely, was a huge source of inspiration and wisdom in that regard—and she and [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] have both been a much-needed source of comfort the past six months.

Two years ago, Ursula’s brother [name_m]Drago[/name_m] was diagnosed with cancer. She shaved her head when he did for support and solidarity, and now she keeps it buzzed to honor his memory. She also keeps a little plastic duck in her pocket, which [name_m]Drago[/name_m] found on one of their weekly walks to the park, before he got sick; he tried to find the owner, but nobody claimed it, so of course he adopted it and gave it the silly-but-totally-serious name of [name_m]Sir[/name_m] [name_m]Reginald[/name_m] [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] Quackson the Third. A week after the funeral, [name_f]Ursula[/name_f] saw the tiny duck in Drago’s room and knew it was her turn to take care of him. Whenever she’s having a bad day or needs an extra ounce of courage before a modeling shoot, she gives the duck a squeeze.

Since she hangs out at Eilidh’s house a lot, she’s become friends with [name_m]Tam[/name_m], who loves to ask about her job as a model. [name_f]Ursula[/name_f] landed her first gig by accident, and quickly fell in love with the artistry of telling a story with the way she holds her body, the style of her clothes and makeup, and of course, the background. She prefers modeling outside because nature and architecture are far more inspiring than a plain white studio, you know?

But as much as she loves the potential of her job, she’s not sure she wants to commit to it full-time. She recently figured out that she is asexual, and it can make her extremely uncomfortable when the shoots (or the people in charge of them) seem especially objectifying. And she’s getting more and more concerned about the world, and the way women are treated in it. Her newest idea is to become an advocate for victims of human trafficking, whether in or outside of the modeling industry. She also wonders if she would prefer to be the one behind the lens. In fact, for her upcoming senior project, she’s considering combining those two interests and doing a photo essay with survivors of human trafficking. But only if she has the emotional headspace for it.

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Ursula was originally created by me but put on the wrong thread, whoopsie!

[kitkatcookie]

tw: transphobia; religious shaming culture

[name_f]Amber[/name_f] [name_f]Monique[/name_f] [name_m]Hence[/name_m] (27) is someone Ursula’s met through her modelling work, jokingly calling them her ‘mentor’ as they’ve been a sounding board and source of advice. Involved in this profession since they were sixteen, Amber’s career had already started picking up when they came out as nonbinary - using they/xe pronouns - however it was something they’d been aware of since their late teens. They were nervous, primarily because they anticipated people calling it a PR stunt, which of course ended up happening, however Amber’s agent and friends supported them in preparation for this, and really xey weren’t at all surprised when those claims sounded off.

While they might be embroiled in a glamorous world now, [name_f]Amber[/name_f] didn’t grow up in an environment most would assume of them. Raised in a very [name_m]Christian[/name_m], conservative town in [name_m]South[/name_m] [name_f]Carolina[/name_f], the people [name_f]Amber[/name_f] associated with in their youth would pretty openly call xeir career amoral, or at the very least an embracing of pride and superficial things. When [name_f]Amber[/name_f] was scouted at a local fair, their own grandfather lectured them about the path he perceived they were going down, insisting xey should focus on something more meaningful, like marriage.

Unfortunately, their extended families lack of understanding of their gender identity wasn’t at all a surprise to [name_f]Amber[/name_f], and it hurt more than their aloof, somewhat over it external demeanour shows. For all of their archaic logic and insistence in traditional values, [name_f]Amber[/name_f] did love their grandparents growing up and had good times at their farm, picking fruit and playing with the animals. The insistence xey’ve gone down some ungodly, wicked path is more painful than most people know, and [name_f]Amber[/name_f] has gone no contact with them for the past four years, although they are still seeing and speaking to their parents.

[name_f]Amber[/name_f] couldn’t quite say why their parents at least respect xem, even if they don’t totally get what xey talk about, but it doesn’t matter as it means they still have family in their life who they love and trust. Being their only child is what a more cynical voice points out could be prompting this, however Amber’s trying to be more charitable in their own assessments of people. Knowing about the passing of Ursulas’ brother is another reason why xey’re moving away from disappointment and annoyance more, as the fleeting nature of life struck them when she opened up about her loss.

[chamwue]

[name_f]Emiko[/name_f] " [name_f]Emi[/name_f] " Matsuda (24) is a fellow model who has worked with both [name_f]Ursula[/name_f] and [name_f]Amber[/name_f]. Like [name_f]Ursula[/name_f], [name_f]Emi[/name_f] landed her first modelling gig on complete accident— she was scouted as she was walking to the local CVS to pick up some snacks. She’s the newest in the industry— starting when she was 20— but is highlighted as a breakout star for both her appearance and her devil-may-care attitude. Perhaps it’s because [name_f]Emi[/name_f] wasn’t raised in stardom, but she’s never had a problem with flipping off tabloids and being incredibly outspoken. This, of course, is to the chagrin of her agent, who lovingly calls [name_f]Emi[/name_f] a “voluntary headache”.

Emi’s modelling career was extremely unplanned— you’d be surprised to know that she was studying mechanical engineering in university. She also graduated with honours— just in case the modelling gig didn’t work out. While her parents were initially skeptical, [name_f]Emi[/name_f] was glad to find that her parents did come around in the end, and she’s lucky to have them as her biggest supporters. [name_f]Emi[/name_f] knows Amber’s extended family isn’t the greatest, and she has told them that they’re always welcome at her family holidays. Her older brother, a pharmacist, is also very proud of her; in older brother fashion, he often jokes about how [name_f]Emi[/name_f] could both model and build the stage she walks on. [name_f]Emi[/name_f] is eternally grateful for her supportive family, and knows that not many people are lucky to have what she has.

[name_f]Emi[/name_f] is known for her sharp tongue and even sharper wit, and despises the stereotype that models are just beautiful airheads. She hits back at the occasional hate comment with a snide remark, which has brought her both a devoted fanbase and bigger detractors. [name_f]Emi[/name_f] would be lying if she said the vicious DMs didn’t bother her, but thankfully, her agent has blocked words that would be allowed on her social media pages and thus moved the deluge into a small trickle. [name_f]Emi[/name_f] also wants to use her position as a model to show women that you can be beautiful and smart— the two aren’t mutually exclusive.

[name_f]Emi[/name_f] lives alone with her pet shiba inu, [name_m]Maron[/name_m], but she lives quite close to all her closest friends. She also lives close to [name_f]Amber[/name_f], and though they’re not quite close friends yet, [name_f]Emi[/name_f] would love to get to learn about xem more. She also might have the teeniest crush on them, and she’d love to get another excuse to see them outside of work.

[avenmaide]

Hecate Brynja Penhollow (37) is Emi’s modeling agent. In truth, she loves Emi’s sharp edges and hopes that she never loses them. After all, Hecate is the furthest thing away from a pushover herself. In a cutthroat industry, you have to know how to hold your own… and how to be flexible. She’s mastered the polite, professional tone with a pleasant smile while still getting her point across and convincing people that they do, in fact, want to do things her way. She tries to foster a similar attitude with each of her clients so that they all maintain firm boundaries and don’t get exploited by anyone, but also aren’t viewed as “difficult to work with” because she remembers models like that all too well.

When Hecate was 19, she was a contestant on a reality TV show called So You Want To Be A Model, inspired by a book of the same name written by former-model Clare Wilson, who was a “surprise” guest every season. They tried to make it less problematic and dramatic-just-for-the-sake-of-drama like America’s Next Top Model, but during Hecate’s time on the show, there was a certain contestant, Joy, who was anything but. She had an ego the size of Jupiter and treated everyone like they were beneath her, whether they were fellow models, stylists, members of the crew, or the judges themselves. It got her kicked out halfway through the season, to everyone’s relief, but Hecate thinks about her sometimes and wonders what was going on with Joy to make her such an abrasive, condescending person. It was clearly more than just being (arguably) the prettiest girl in the room and having a bit of spotlight.

Just like Emi studied a different field, Hecate made it a point to explore her own personal interests in college and got two degrees: Astronomy & Psychology. The first because space has fascinated her since she was a child, and psychology because, well, people are fascinating, too. And that was what eventually brought her back to the modeling industry. After her time on the show, where she placed fifth, she modeled a few more times but wanted to take a huge step back and figure out who she was as a person before the world decided that for her. And she’s so incredibly grateful. Because her passion really isn’t the fashion or the glamour or the glossy magazines, and certainly not fame. It’s the people—the models themselves and the ones they inspire to buy the products.

Years after she graduated college and started her own modeling agency, she had the chance to meet a brilliant professor who taught Fashion Psychology. She couldn’t get enough of the subject, so she ended up taking the night class, which significantly helped her and her clients become successful. And even better, she and the professor became best friends, and then girlfriends, and eventually, wives. With their crazy busy schedules, including an upcoming fashion line, it’s tough to plan a wedding, or even a proposal. Hecate’s half-tempted to just elope, but her fiancée is designing both of their dresses, so of course she wants to show them off. And as much as Hecate wants to tell her to calm down and take it down a notch, this is what she loves about her—she dives in and goes after what she wants no matter what, and her eyes light up like stars when she talks passionately. And speaking of stars, Hecate’s dress is going to look like a galaxy. So… how could she say no to that?

[kitkatcookie]

tw: toxic personality mentioned

Da-hye " [name_f]Piper[/name_f] " Yun (26, they/them) is another former contestant of So You Want To Be A Model, notably having starred in the last season of the show to be aired, exactly eight years ago. There wasn’t a scandal or significant event to lead to the folding of the series, it was merely a victim of low ratings and disinterest in the genre as a whole that saw the collapse. Some would claim that avoiding forced drama and theatrics that the series was doomed long-term, however given the backlash against its main contemporary, [name_f]Piper[/name_f] believes only time will tell as to where things went wrong, aside from the obvious changing game of reality television.

Unfortunately for [name_f]Piper[/name_f], they were on a season with a personality more in line with [name_f]Joy[/name_f], which is actually how they met [name_f]Hecate[/name_f] following the shows conclusion [Piper themselves came in 4th]. It wasn’t an ego problem they faced but instead someone who was hyper paranoid and convinced the world was out to get her. The girl in question was constantly accusing others of conspiring against her, with the most outlandish being that someone was lacing her food with sugar to cause her to gain weight, an absolutely untrue claim - however once the idea sparked, chaos would follow. [name_f]Piper[/name_f] generally managed to avoid her accusations, however as this girl placed 6th, there was a lot of exposure to her for them, and it made them apprehensive about continuing in the industry, as constantly having to defend themselves when she got started was something they dreaded the thought of.

Initially after leaving, [name_f]Piper[/name_f] went travelling and considered pursuing a more academic path instead of being a model. However, when they got home to [name_m]Boston[/name_m], they found an invitation from one of the agencies [name_f]Hecate[/name_f] is involved in waiting for them, and decided to give it another shot: a last of sorts, as [name_f]Piper[/name_f] didn’t want to be bound tightly if things fell through. This is something they’re still relieved they did, as the environment they entered had none of the mayhem and stress TV had sprung up. Most importantly, no-one was convinced everyone was out to get them, and - being very non confrontational and pacifist - this is what [name_f]Piper[/name_f] thrives around the most.

[CherryBomb50]

Warning for toxic show biz.

Himani Riya Raman (32) was a contestant on the same series finale as Piper. She loves to play sitar but she only does this as a hobby. Himani had a worse placement, placing 10th in the competition, though her elimination was a surprise since she had been doing great in the early weeks before producing one bad photo, whereas the other girl had been in the bottom two before and very nearly went in the bottom two on the first episode. Himani believes that the show runners wanted a “shock” elimination to boost ratings and get people talking about the show more, even though it only pushed ratings down further. Himani was also convinced they thought less of her because she was an “old” model, being the only 24-year-old in a show where half the contestants were under 20, and because her 25th birthday was 3 months away at the time. So she was expected to be very advanced and the judges seemed disappointed when they realised she had the same level of skills as the younger models. She wishes she wasn’t casted if that was so much of an issue in the back of the judges’ minds. Truth is, she had auditioned for the show two other times before getting casted into her season, so they did recognise her previously. She even worries that their abrupt decision to send her home instead of the trailing model only amped up the fears of the fellow contestant’s paranoia. That contestant’s mentality really took a toll and Himani was glad to be out before seeing it through, but Himani feels that other woman was worried a shock elimination choice like that would happen to her, and she was hyper in trying to prevent that.

Himani left with not that many supporters, but she’s happy for Piper’s resilience and their realisation of the show’s toxicity. She’s since made amends with the models in the So You Want To Be A Model, choosing not to blame the model who stayed over her or even the model with untreated paranoia. She will be a good listener and accepts however the other castmates feel about each other, but she’s willing to set it all in the past. Himani has moved to acting as her choice of talent and still resides in Jersey City, NJ where she lived all her life. Still, she supports Piper’s dreams of getting back into a model career, one they can live for themself, and supports Piper’s gender identity. Himani wouldn’t mind Boston however, since she’s actually the younger sister of the woman Hecate is marrying! She considers Hecate an influential role model and already wants to call her “sister-in-law”. She can talk all day with her sister about wedding planning but also likes to be low key and see where things take for her sister and Hecate. Himani supports Emi too, and her ways of not letting herself get pushed around. She’s now even closer with Piper, knowing them the most of her former castmates, and feels a sense of hope with Piper getting a second chance. She knew acting was her true calling and admitted that it was hard to make that change since people believed she’d be hard to work on set when she was on a dramatic reality show. Thankfully many of the people she works with say Himani is a good person in real life, and that’s all Himani wants to hear.

[wandering_willow]

Giovanna Alessandra ‘ Gia ‘ Carvalho (then 19, now 27) is Himani and Piper ‘s co-star on So You Want To Be A Model, who placed sixth and was known for being hyper-paranoid and self-conscious, constantly convinced someone was out to get her. While a lot of the drama on the show was scripted, Gia’s victim complex was (mostly) real, with the exception of a couple scripted events. Her personality is mostly the result of her upbringing, and while her behaviors pushed a lot of people away (on the show and throughout the course of her life), she is deep down a kind person who wants to better herself.

Born the youngest of 4 siblings in a small town in Brazil, she moved with her family at a very young age due to poverty. Her father, a laborer, wanted a better life for her and her siblings. Like many of the other models, Gia was scouted by accident- she was discovered at a supermarket with her two older sisters and the three were introduced to the modeling world. Their parents were ecstatic, and put a lot of pressure on them to be the best and make the most money for their family. When Gia saw the ‘so you want to be a model’ casting calls, she jumped at the chance to get her name more out there in the industry.

This was absolutely not the best decision for her mental state- it sent her into an extremely paranoid state and she ended up lashing out at many of the other models. Her petulant behavior prevented her from fostering connections with anyone on the team, just as it wrecked the relationships with all three of her siblings to some degree. When she lost, she was hysterical and went into an episode, blaming it on the girl she’s still convinced was trying to make her gain weight (who was proven innocent with loads of camera footage from the show).

Gia currently lives with her boyfriend, who finds her mental state to be extremely emotionally taxing and demands she sees a psychiatrist biweekly (which she complies with, but only because she loves him), who’s helping her sort out her issues- she’s still in the modeling world and is trying to get her next break, but is trying to settle down a little bit and has a job as a delivery girl for a local pizza chain just to help pay rent. She’s also trying to reconcile with her siblings, and just recently went out to eat with the oldest, her brother, to try and rekindle their relationship a bit more.

Currently, Gia would consider herself to be anything but a good person- her psychiatrist has been thinking she might have some underlying personality disorder or something that she may have acquired from her childhood. However, she’s stabilizing a little bit and with help from her boyfriend, she feels less paranoid and more ‘normal’ everyday. While their relationship is tumultuous and he’s threatened to leave her a few times, the two undoubtedly love each other and are trying their hardest to make it work, despite their flaws.

Since then, she and her boyfriend have married, rekindled her relationship with her siblings, and she is now in a much better place mentally, and feels extreme amounts of guilt for what she did on the show and is working every day still to be a better person.

[I_meme_it]

[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] ’ [name_m]Pippin[/name_m] ’ [name_f]Julietta[/name_f] Carvalho (3) is the niece of [name_f]Gia[/name_f], who’s now 27 and has managed to rebuild her relationship with her siblings; [name_m]Pippin[/name_m] being the youngest child of her oldest brother, who he absolutely cherishes. Thanks to maintaining her therapy sessions and genuinely apologising to her brothers’ and sister, Gia’s been able to form a wonderful relationship with all of her nieces and nephews, with [name_m]Pippin[/name_m] always calling her ‘Auntie Barbie’ thanks to her modelling career, which did flourish after she spent some time working on herself.

Being the baby of her siblings - with two older brothers - means Pippin’s own adventurous side is usually at its most obvious when her brothers are elsewhere: they’re allowed to climb trees and hunt for bugs but insist she’s too young (aka they don’t want their mom telling them off). This has made [name_m]Pippin[/name_m] both more stubborn but also has refocused her interest to space, and she tells everyone she wants to be a ‘space girl’, as astronaut’s a bit tricky for her to pronounce.

When she’s older, Pippin’s dad is going to explain to her the past of the family, however the relationship she’s fostered with her aunt is paramount to everyone.

---

@wandering_willow I did a bit of time jumping as the last season aired in 2016 - " So You Want To Be A Model , notably having starred in the last season of the show to be aired, exactly eight years ago". [name_f]Hope[/name_f] that’s OK!