Hecate Brynja Penhollow (37) is Emiās modeling agent. In truth, she loves Emiās 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 ownā¦ and how to be flexible. Sheās 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 donāt get exploited by anyone, but also arenāt viewed as ādifficult to work withā 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 āsurpriseā guest every season. They tried to make it less problematic and dramatic-just-for-the-sake-of-drama like Americaās Next Top Model, but during Hecateās 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 everyoneās 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 sheās so incredibly grateful. Because her passion really isnāt the fashion or the glamour or the glossy magazines, and certainly not fame. Itās the peopleāthe 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 couldnāt 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, itās tough to plan a wedding, or even a proposal. Hecateās half-tempted to just elope, but her fiancĆ©e 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 herāshe 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, Hecateās dress is going to look like a galaxy. Soā¦ how could she say no to that?