The finale has finally arrived. After weeks of gut-wrenching competition and blow after blow to Team Coco, I am the only one left. Well other than Devyn, Ebony and Zi Lin, who also made it as finalists and they are completely deserving of that. We all are.
Nigel gathered the four of us up in front of a stage where he introduced Carrie and Molly of Ulta Beauty. They explained the three challenges we would have to complete: a customer service challenge, where we would work with real Ulta Beauty costumers; a photo shoot, where we would have to put our best face forward with photographer Dusan Reljin; and lastly, only three of us would move on to do the last challenge, a runway show for Zac Posen.
Right in that moment, Devyn started to hyperventilate. She rushed off into the other room and collapsed to the floor. Ebony explained that she was having a panic attack and Nigel yelled out for a medic. It took Devyn a minute to catch her breath, and then right when she looked like she had it together, she burst out into tears. I guess we had all been under a lot of stress, but Devyn just wasn't letting any of it out. She ended up being OK, thank goodness.
After everything had calmed down, it was time for our Ulta customer service challenge, which took place at Ulta's main store in Long Island, where we each had to interact with customers on a personal level. An Ulta employee taught us their expansive product line in 10 minutes, but that doesn't mean we actually learned all of it. Afterwards we had to put our new knowledge to the test and help customers with any questions they had regarding Ulta's line of products.
Zi Lin and Ebony were naturals. They found it very easy to help and engage with the customer, whereas Devyn seemed uninterested more than anything. I found that surprising considering she works in retail, but maybe she was just having an off day. I personally struggled with this challenge because talking to strangers is not something I'm very comfortable with, especially when I have to discuss a product line that I don't even slightly know. One girl asked me what the brushes were made of and since we didn't learn it in our speed class, and it wasn't written on the package, I had to say, "I don't know." There was no one for me to ask despite Nigel and Carrie's comments, but I would rather say I don't know than make it up.
Next was the photo shoot. This is the challenge I was most excited for, and once I found out we were shooting it with photographer Dusan Reljin, I was through the roof! He's a huge and very talented photographer so I was ecstatic. We started off slow with a couple of shots to test the lighting, and then I took off like a horse out of the gate. This was my chance. This is what I'm good at — taking photos and I didn't have anyone else to worry about but myself. It felt amazing to move into one pose after another. Coco was smiling from ear to ear, Dusan was cheering me on, saying how happy he was with each pose and I could hear Carrie from Ulta going on and on in the background. For once in this competition I thought, Team Coco might actually win this.
Zi Lin and Devyn seemed to breeze through the photo shoot portion of the competition while Ebony was struggling. She said she was used to using her whole body to pose and didn't sound too comfortable with taking a beauty shot. Although it took her some time, she finally got into the swing of things and ended up with a really beautiful shot.
Back on stage, we stood in front of the coaches: Carrie, Molly and Nigel. They were about to announce which girl was going to be out of the competition and would be missing the chance to walk in a Zac Posen show. They announced Devyn's name first, then Zi Lin's, and then I realized it was between Ebony and me. I thought Ebony would for sure move on to the last challenge, so I was slightly terrified, but I was confident in my performance overall and knew I had just as good of a chance. After what felt like forever, Nigel called my name and I felt a wave of relief sweep over me. I was in the final three. I felt so bad for Ebony because if it couldn't be me, I wanted her to win. She is such a sweet and beautiful girl, inside and out. It was hard to see her go.
Next page: Find out how Margaux felt when Devyn won!
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We were taken backstage and immediately prepped for the show. They slicked our hair back into elegant buns, threw a red lip on all of us and then we were dressed in our fitted Zac Posen one-of-a-kind gowns. It was like being a princess who was about to go to the ball. There are no words to describe how I felt standing backstage, dressed in couture with three of my modeling idols and two other girls just like me who were realizing this was a dream come true. Coco was giving me last minute tips for the runway and we were goofing off trying to relax before the show. It was a blast. I didn't want it to end, but the show had to start.
First out were the coaches — Karolina, then Coco and lastly Naomi. It was amazing to see them walk the runway. It was obvious that that's what they were meant to do. They looked flawless and glowed with that supermodel presence, but then it was our turn. Like her mentor, Devyn went first. She looked tall and elegant in her Champagne-colored ensemble.
I went next, working my dress the way Zac had told me to and flaunting it with a hint of a smirk that Coco suggested just seconds before stepping out onto the runway. It felt amazing. All the negativity I had heard over the past weeks melted away and I transformed into this confident woman right before everyone's eyes. I knew in that moment that even if I didn't win, I had grown and changed and that I was ready to take on anything.
Zi Lin went last and, while her expression might night have been as strong as Devyn's or mine, her walk was beyond amazing. That girl slinked down the runway like an exotic panther. Nothing was going to stop her.
At the end, we did a final walkthrough with our mentors, and just as I was getting to the end of the runway, Coco ran up behind me and grabbed my hand. It was a surreal moment and a perfect way to close the show. I believed in myself and I could tell she believed in me too. We thought we might have actually won the whole thing.
The six of us lined up on stage in front of the Ulta representatives and Nigel. Each coach held their girl's hand — some of them were probably even praying. This was the moment someone's life was going to change forever. Carrie announced, "The person who is going to be the face of Ulta Beauty is…" My heart was pounding in my chest. I looked at Coco and just waited for my name to be called — hoped that my name would be called. I had to believe I could win. But at last, she called out "Devyn" and it was all over.
I can honestly say I was relieved. I didn't have to stress anymore, and I was genuinely happy for Devyn. She deserved to win. She's beautiful and talented. Being a single mom while working three jobs is not the ideal lifestyle for becoming a successful model, so this was her chance. I knew then and I still know that I will go on to be successful. It just won't be as the face of Ulta Beauty. But with all I learned from Coco and the other coaches, I know I will be the face of something else.
I have to give one last thank you to Coco Rocha for all she has done for me. It was a dream come true to meet her. I've had the opportunity to work with her after the show finished filming and she has done more for me than anyone can ever know. She is my mentor, but she is also my friend and I know she will be in my life for a long time. She is my biggest fan and I know she wants me to succeed — and I already have in so many ways.
I am currently working in New York. I've recently signed with Wilhelmina , where I've since booked a Target campaign and ironically shot Zac Posen's latest line for Moda Operandi, where I even got to don Coco's finale dress. My career has been better than ever and I owe a lot of it to The Face and especially to Coco Rocha.
Stay tuned. This isn't the last you will see of me.
Photo credit: NBC
Miss any of Margaux Brooke's blogs this season? Check them out here!
The Face's Margaux blogs: The claws weren't out yet
The Face's Margaux blogs: Christy should be ashamed to call herself a model