On June 6th, all the way out in Newburgh, New York, ten girls were having the luckiest afternoon of their lives. When Rachel DiCesare submitted her nine reasons she and her friends deserved to have a very special evening in Nine West’s “You’ve Been Prom’d” Facebook contest, her winning entry gave these lucky ladies the prom makeover of their dreams. Not only did they receive individually designed gowns to match the specifications of each girl, accessories galore, and personal makeup and hair stylists, courtesy of Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa. They also got a special guest star as well, in the form of Nine West’s new Ambassador of Culture and Noise.

A “You’ve Been Prom’d” bus had pulled up to the unsuspecting teens, depositing People’s Revolution maven and America’s Next Top Model judge Kelly Cutrone at their school, Newburgh New Academy, which was located, The Observer was told, in Orange County’s “inner city.” (This project was about giving back to less fortunate communities, after all.)

The girls shrieked in delight as Ms. Cutrone lead them to their lockers, where sparkling clutches and fashionable heels had been hidden earlier. Faintly, a janitor’s cart could be heard echoing the halls.

It was truly a moment to remember. But it wasn’t quite magical enough.

“Okay, can we have the girls open the lockers again, this time without the noise, please?” The director of the shoot had picked up the janitorial squeak. Now the girls got to rediscover the ostensibly surprise goodies in their locker. It was Groundhog Day, minus Bill Murray. Or just another day in the world of “reality” programming, where an afternoon of excitement can stretch until the sun goes down in an attempt to get the right shot. Read More