Martha Stewart for a new generation?
I went to a party Monday night at Park to celebrate the launch of a new book and reality show that claim to give young women, poised for career greatness, a little shove in the right direction. The book is called Wildly Sophisticated: A Bold New Attitude for Career Success , and is being published by Penguin books. There weren't actually any books at the party, so I can't vouch for it, but the book's author, Nicole Williams, is already garnering press about her controversial advice to women to use their sexuality to get ahead in the workplace. We did get to see clips from the first episode of the show, which is called, "The Big Break". It will air on the Oxygen network, hosted by Williams. The first episode features three aspiring female photographers competing (with photography) to win a mentorship session with an established female photographer in New York City. Upon hearing Ms. Williams encourage the (rather large) crowd of partygoers to "think the unthinkable--and do it" with what can only be called unbridled perkiness, I couldn't help but wonder if I was witnessing the birth of a new breed of Martha Stewart. One that's leaving the home for the workplace. (It didn't hurt that she listed Ms. Stewart as a personal influence.) I could be wrong, but I just couldn't let this opportunity pass like the time I met the producers of the, as of then, unknown "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" celebrating the sale of their new concept to Bravo with cocktails at the Eagle in Chelsea. (Yes, I set foot in the Eagle. I was the only woman for miles, and I can assure you, it won't happen again.) And all I thought then was, "Yawn. Another makeover show. And couldn't they come up with a catchier title?"
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