Review of Mischa Barton’s The Beautiful Life

I had the opportunity tonight to watch a screener of Mischa Barton’s new drama coming to The CW this fall, The Beautiful Life. I can honestly say, you’re gonna love it. In fact, I watched it two times in a row.

The show is a behind-the-scenes look at models living together in New York – in their professional life and in their personal lives. Though the show is called “The Beautiful Life,” it’s really a gritty look about the “ugly” parts of the business, mixed in with the glamour of the fashion world we all see and love.

The main character on the show is Raina (Sara Paxton), who becomes the surprise star of the Zak Posen show during New York Fashion Week – in place of Mischa’s character Sonja Stone.

Sonya Stone is the former “It Girl” and veteran model who is now having to claw her way back up to the top, or so it seems. Sonya has been off the scene for the past six months in Rio, and everyone (including fellow models) assumes she has been in rehab.

The Beautiful Life gives us a look at the fashion world through the eyes of Raina (still new to the fashion world and unaware that she’s now having her “moment”) and of newcomer Chris Andrews (Ben Hollingsworth).

Chris, a farm boy from Iowa, is discovered by accident while dining with his family in New York City by modeling agent Simon Lockridge (Dusan Dukic). Simon gets Chris to agree to a “go see” with his boss Claudia Foster (Elle Macpherson) of Covet Modeling Agency. This is where Chris and Raina meet. Seeing herself in his confusion over why he’s even there, she offers him friendship and advice.

As you’ve probably seen in The Beautiful Life promo, Chris is asked to strip to his underwear for Claudia right there in the middle of the office. Chris does have a “Clark Kent/Tom Welling” look to him as modeling agent Simon calls him “Farm Boy” over and over again (which is kinda annoying) during the episode.

Not totally in love with him, Claudia sends him to a photographer and Raina offers to take him there. Good thing too, because Chris has never modeled before, and Raina shows him the ropes enough for him to relax.

Chris is then sent to the apartment where the models (who work for Covet Modeling Agency) live. It’s more of a dorm than a luxurious hotel, where the guys live on one floor and the girls on another. Watching it a second time, there’s a fake “caution” sign by the entrance inside the building that says “Don’t Feed the Models.” Kinda funny.

You feel sorry for Chris because the more experienced guy models — Egan (Jordan Woolley, As the World Turns), Issac (Corbin Bleu, High School Musical), and Kai (Nico Tortorella, Twelve) don’t make it easy for him and definitely don’t help him out in anyway. But Chris is the scrappy dog you want to win the fight, as is Raina.

In this episode, Sonya tries to use her connections and fame to get back on top, especially since Claudia seems about done with her, but one sleazy fashion world guy makes it a little tough. Raina has a mysterious past that becomes apparent in the pilot to the audience, and Sonja also has a pretty interesting back storyline that Raina learns by accident. I look forward to seeing where they go with these characters.

Also providing entertainment is Raina’s frenemy and fellow model Marissa Delfina (Ashley Madekwe, Secret Diary of a Call Girl) who is working her way up the ropes as well.

All in all, I think The Beautiful Life is enticing and should be the perfect drama companion for The Next Top Model. While stylish and gritty all at the same time, the storylines for The Beautiful Life have plenty of potential. I particularly liked Sara Paxton, Ben Hollingsworth, Elle Macpherson and Mischa Barton in this episode.

Because this is a “Mischa Barton” fan site, I will add that Mischa Barton fans will enjoy seeing Mischa in a more adult role than in The O.C. but her character may not always be as likable as the “Marissa Cooper” role she played. We will have to watch together this fall to see what Sonya will do to stay on top, while protecting her “secrets.”