"Understandable," Penelope replies without missing a beat. This is her way of ending this line of conversation in a professional way, and still convey the depths to which her lack of caring truly plunge. Okay, so this woman isn't exactly a professional. She knew she was going to get a gaggle of desperate amateurs, that's no big shock, it's not like she's disappointed in Alba's attire.

If anything, she's hoping that the 'shrinking violet' act she's got going on will translate to something interesting on the runway.

"Okay. If you could go over to that tape line marked on the floor over there, walk to me, stop, pose, turn, and walk back, please." Penelope indicates a twelve-inch strip of masking tape stuck to the carpet a catwalk's length from her table. She pauses, and looks Alba in the eye.

"Try to be confident."