The dearly awaited December issue of Vogue came out, and there was Phoebe Waller-Bridge on the cover. OMG, this was the issue I might be in! Even though, as I wrote previously, it seemed chances were very slim that I was in the shot, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.

When my friend Simitra sent me a text that the issue was out, I ran to the closest newsstand on Sixth Avenue to get a copy. My heart was racing as I opened the mag to the page with the cover photo spread. There were two pictures of people on the bus…

In the photo above, you can see where I was sitting—in the seat occupied by the woman with the white-framed glasses looking at her iPhone. For this shot, all the extras were told to look at their phones.

Now here’s the shot I was in:

Now check out the photo above. Can you see me sitting in that seat? No!! All you see is an ugly dog in a Ralph Lauren tote bag.

This episode revealed so much to me about the difference between fantasy and reality.

1. As I said previously, the star of the shoot is the clothes.
2. Amend that to add accessories! The credit in Vogue reads, “Polo Ralph Loren tote bag (holding dog).” NB: Sorry, no link to you, Ralph. Your bag blocked me from the shot. It’s the least I can do…
3. The celebrity or supermodel is there to make you want the clothes.
4. I wasn’t wanted for this shoot because I look fantastic and deserve to be in the pages of Vogue. I was wanted because on the day I was spotted by the talent scout, I looked like a drowned rat. Ouch! The truth really hurts sometimes.
5. I wasn’t discovered by Tonne Goodman!
6. I am not as brilliant as Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I watched her show Fleabag after the shoot, and was blown away by how clever and appealing she is.

But I am lucky nonetheless. I get to sparkle in my dear local Manhattan paper, WestView News, and you are going to love my outfit in the December issue. Hint: Karen’s Kinky Christmas!!

VOGUE COVER SHOOT PHOTOGRAPHS BY ETHAN JAMES GREEN. Used with gratitude. Be sure to read the full Vogue story about PWB. And check out the fantastic Balenciaga dress! Blue belle.