Behind The Spotlight Chapter 139
"You are adorable and attractive. Please open your mouth," Paul Kim said to Chantal Beaumont as he adjusted his glasses.
The woman reluctantly opened her mouth, and Paul Kim nodded when he found nothing to criticize. Chantal's shoulders relaxed slightly, though her hands were still clasped nervously.
"You clearly brush your teeth every day."
"Y-Yes." Chantal stuttered as she stole a glance at Collin, who was sitting just a few meters away. Collin gave her a reassuring nod, arms crossed as he observed calmly. Even Isabella was standing outside, waiting for the results.
"Please smile."
Chantal smiled.
"No, I mean smile widely so I can see your front teeth."
Chantal followed the Asian man's command, showing her teeth. Her cheeks twitched slightly, but she forced herself to comply.
"Your right fang is crooked, you need to consult a dentist to fix that. For a singer, your appearance and smile are the most important things aside from your voice. As for your hair… Collin, what's the record label's plan for her?"
Paul Kim asked the talent agent.
"We're choosing between a young pop star or a sexy femme fatale," Collin answered. His brows furrowed, unsure which direction suited her more.
"Femme fatale? Her?" Paul Kim scoffed and looked at Chantal with judgmental eyes. He tilted his head and raised a skeptical brow. Paul Kim was gay, so he didn't find Chantal sexy or appealing in that way. Despite being in his fifties, Paul spent his life sucking hotdogs instead of eating clams… Well, you can't blame a person for their preference.
"Hey, Paul, don't bully my client." Collin frowned slightly.
"I'm not bullying her. Chantal is indeed adorable, but it's impossible for her to take the sexy bombshell route. She has a small ass and an almost non-existent chest."
Chantal became conscious of her chest. They were indeed small. Her arms instinctively folded over her chest as her cheeks flushed red.
"But I'm still young. They will grow," she weakly muttered while staring down. Her voice trembled with embarrassment.
"You have to wait at least five years then. For now, your sex appeal as a woman is non-existent. You can't attract men unless the men in question have very particular fetishes."
"That's hurtful."
"I'm just telling the truth," Paul replied without care. He shrugged casually and scribbled some notes.
"Hey Paul, chill. Chantal will be a famous singer."
"Alright, I trust you. I know you have a plan. In my opinion, Chantal definitely has a shot at being a superstar, but we have to plan her image. She has a nice face, and even her smile is fine, just needs a few fixes on her right fang. As for her breasts and ass, flat as fuck."
"You're destroying her confidence." Collin shot him a look of disbelief.
Collin shook his head. Paul Kim was the PR agent in the team he built. He was the one responsible for protecting Axel from the scandal. He also helped protect Jolyne Robs during the kidnapping case. Collin knew Paul was competent, but he was blunt. Paul's reputation in the agency was built on precision, not kindness.
"Overall, I have no problem with her appearance, and she is marketable. We can earn a lot of money from her," Paul said, analyzing her like a product.
"She's not an item."
"The only problem is…" Paul continued, ignoring Collin. "Her hair. We should straighten her hair."
"Huh? Why?" Chantal was alarmed. Her fingers instinctively touched her curly strands. She loved her curly, wavy hair.
"Because people prefer straight hair over curly hair."
"That's not true. Do you have any evidence to prove that?" Chantal's voice wavered between defiance and anxiety.
"Straight hair shows you're well-groomed and presentable. Curly hair is often stigmatized as messy and unprofessional. Girl, I've been in the industry longer than you. Do you know why many black actresses have straightened their hair lately? That's the beauty standard." Paul leaned back with authority.
"Curly hair might become a trend in a few years, but for now, you have to follow the usual style. Unless you want to try something different. But different is hardly accepted in this industry."
"If you don't want to straighten your hair, you can wear a wig instead, but that might be uncomfortable for you." Paul actually found her curly hair nice, but he had to think from a business perspective. His job as a PR agent was to plan and maintain a client's image. His eyes softened slightly, though his tone remained professional.
In Lawrence's case, Paul Kim and the PR team painted the actor as a gentle prince charming to the public. Only the people close to him knew that Lawrence was anything but that. He loved going to parties and going wild. It was the PR team that protected his image.
This was also their job for Axel and Jennifer. They defended Axel against his ex-wife's false accusations. They also made sure that Jennifer's foul mouth wouldn't be exposed to the public.
And now, Paul Kim knew straight hair was the preferred beauty standard of the era. As much as he liked curly hair, his duty as a PR agent came first.
"... I don't want to straighten my hair. I love my hair. I will use a wig instead." Chantal's voice was quiet yet firm, determination flickering in her eyes.
"Why don't we keep her curly hair? I think Chantal has the talent and charisma to pull it off. You still haven't heard her sing, so you have no idea how great she is," Collin added.
"Collin, thank you." Chantal smiled softly, grateful that her agent sided with her. She looked at Paul Kim, waiting for his decision.
"She can do that. But we are not sure if the audience will like it. I repeat, the beauty standard right now is straight hair, no matter the race." Paul sighed, tapping his pen lightly on the table.
The natural hair movement would happen in the 2010s, and before that, most women succumbed to the pressure of straightening their hair. The media was the main reason why straight hair was seen as the pinnacle of beauty.
"Anyway, my job here is done. I have to leave early. Collin, you have nothing to do, you'd better go home early."
"I have to drive these two women to their apartment." Collin replied.
"W-We will take a taxi," Chantal immediately replied. Her voice was too quick, as if hiding something. Her reaction made Paul shake his head. It seemed Chantal was not good at acting.
"Really?"
"Yes, Zara toured us around and helped us get to know Los Angeles better. We can take a taxi. You don't have to take care of us anymore."
"If you say so."
Collin easily believed her. He gave a small smile and nodded. The two young women had met Zara Lauren and got a chance to explore Los Angeles.