"Well, that was certainly dramatic," says Steffi dryly, as she watches Hope run from the stage in tears. She turns back to the audience who are looking at her in shock as the photo displayed behind her finally fades from the screen.
"I gather you're probably all wondering why I went to all this trouble to humiliate Hope and to expose her perfidy, lies and hypocrisy?"
The audience remains silent apart from the steady clicks from the cameras. She smiles sadly, "Because I'm tired, I'm tired of always making excuses for people who have no morals or integrity. I'm tired of lying and putting on a brave face while others pretend to be something they're not, gaslighting me until I think that I'm somehow to blame for everything that befalls me!"
She looks out at the audience, a light frown on her face as she shakes her head at her own thoughts. "If I'm being brutally honest, and I think you're all realising, I am" she says with a small self-deprecating smile. "I'm done! No more! Enough!"
She sighs as she continues. "I've just told you part of my story, I've shared with you some of my pain, along with the utter humiliation I was subjected to at the hands of two people I trusted. I've let you into some of the problems and betrayals I've faced in my life and the way I responded, by trying to give the very people who betrayed me another chance, only to have that trust thrown back in my face – yet again. Oh, and in case any of the press are wondering, no, I won't be answering any questions about what I've been through, or what you've just seen, and I fully expect you to honour my request! Believe it or not, the little show you just witnessed wasn't about revenge." She smiles a little before adding, "Well, not only."
As a few muted laughs come from the enraptured audience who are starting to get over their shock Steffy continues.
"You see after all this happened I had quite the epiphany. That first night as I lay in bed drowning in my pain and misery, I realised that I wasn't the only one with these problems. I started to think of all the other woman out there who have ever felt put down, laughed at, betrayed, degraded, or made to feel worthless, unworthy, stupid, ugly, or useless, for either their weight, their religion, their race, their height, their looks, a disability, their education, or whatever other reason the cruel, or just society in general try to label them with. I slowly came to the conclusion that I was lucky when I compared my own life to the struggles of some of these women. I started to appreciate just how truly fortunate I was. I have been lucky enough to be born into a family with money and prestige in the fashion industry. I am healthy, and I have two healthy wonderful children, not every woman has been this blessed. After a couple of sleepless nights, and a lot of self-reflection, I finally realised something both frightening, strangely empowering, and infinitely exciting about these women, these sisters of mine.
We are legion! We are everywhere. We are your mothers, sisters, wives, lovers. We are the strength that holds this world together, because we never give up! We continue to struggle for something better, for ourselves, and our families! We fight for what we're worth, despite the odds! We continue to move forward! We are not perfect, we don't pretend to be, and we come in every form you can imagine – and then some! This is our strength, our power, and we will not be pushed to the back anymore! Our time has come!"
"We are here! Now! Undefeated! Because every time you push us down, every time you berate us, or try to pigeon hole us, every time you think we're done, finished, destroyed."
- a loan birds cry echo's though-out the auditorium as the large screen behind Steffy lights up showing a side on picture of a fiery bird rising from the flames beneath it -
Steffy's arm spreads out, "Then like a Pheonix, we rise from the ashes, renewed, reinvigorated, unconquered!"
Steffy raises her chin a little, her eyes filled with fire and determination. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a new Forresters line, a line dedicated to the strength and power in everywoman out there, not just the precious few!
I give you the PHEONIX!"
The bird calls again as she leaves the runway quickly, as soon as she departs a model enters.
The audience are shocked as the model wheels herself down the runway in her wheelchair, she looks radiant in the gown she's wearing. Following closely behind is a plus sized Indian woman in yet another gorgeous dress. One after another proud disparate woman from everyday society enter the runway, from Forresters usual models, to amputees, to those with down syndrome, dwarfism, older woman, and even a couple of housewives that Thomas has picked from the local Walmart and hired.
Steffy has made this fashion show about all the diverse woman from everyday society that the big fashion houses never seemed to cater for, and all of them are showing just how beautiful they are, their pride in themselves, their self-respect. Their knowledge of their own self-worth is clear for all to see as each of them take to the runway.
They are strong. They are powerful. They are woman!
As the last model leaves a figure enters the runway as Steffi's pre-recorded voice says, the showstopper.
Steffi walks out and as the spotlight hits her, she raises her head. Her heavily beaded fitted gown is a masterpiece, it graduates from pale yellow at the bottom to a deep rich red at the bodice, each colour seems to bleed into the next, with some encroaching into other colours like the flames from a fire. Her arms are ringed in bands of crystals that glitter like diamonds, and her hair is loose, with feathers in the same colours woven through it.
As she starts to walk down the runway the rest of the models slowly file out behind her until she reaches the end and raises her arms up and out, to reveal the matching train attached to her armbands, it's a lighter, more floaty, but in the same glittering colours as her dress. It seems to lift and flutter in a faint breeze that is now moving up from the front of the stage.
She stares defiantly at the audience, as does every model that lines up behind her.
The Pheonix behind the models slowly starts to turn front on, as it faces the audience and spreads its wings Steffi's voice rings out over the audience
"WE ARE THE PHEONIX!"
The Pheonix behind the models shrieks a battle cry of defiance and rage.
There is dead silence in the auditorium, as the last shrieks of the firebird slowly fade away a loan photographer takes a picture, the flash of the camera seems to break the spell that has fallen over the audience.
One by one people start to clap, until it becomes a tidal wave of noise. Some start to stand until all of them join in, the noise washes over Steffy, who is standing there stunned at the unexpected reception.
She turns and smiles at her models and nods to them, applauding to them herself to show them her appreciation. The models themselves are now starting to enjoy the crowd's reaction, some are laughing or grinning madly, a couple are crying, and a few are waving and encouraging the audience on. Steffy smiles as a microphone raises from the floor; she raises her hands for a little quiet. As the audience slowly quietens down and resumes their seats, she motions to the back as Zende, Thomas and Marius walk down to join her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, none of this would have been possible with-out our three amazing designers. Zende Forrester, Thomas Forrester, and Marius Van Deash"
Zende's eyes widen as he realizes that Steffy has singled him out as head designer by naming him first. Thomas grins and nudges him forward. He takes the microphone and clears his throat nervously.
"Thank you, Steffy, but this was most definitely a three man show." He looks to the audience unable to contain his huge grin.
"I just wanted to say right from the start that Pheonix, is Steffi's concept. When she came to us with the idea, we just kind of ran with it, because what she said spoke to us, as I think it spoke to you. Every woman has her own unique beauty, her own unique sense of style, and quite frankly, she deserves to feel beautiful. With that in mind we have made these clothes and accompanying accessories for every woman. Each garment can, and will, be made to fit a variety of sizes, heights, and disabilities so that they not only look stylish, but they are easy to get on and off, added to that, they will be adjusted to have room for any personal aids that may be needed when ordered.'
He smiles slightly before adding, 'this has been both the hardest, and the most rewarding challenge of my designing career, and I just wanted to thank Steffy for giving me," he turns to Thomas and Marius, "for giving all of us, the chance to create something both beautiful and practical. Oh, and before you ask, that jaw dropping showstopper was all Marius!"
Marius smiles and nods in acknowledgement to Zende's compliment, the three men join hands and bow to the audience before leaving the stage, followed closely by the models and Steffy, all to yet another round of thunderous applause.
As the last of them leave the runway the Pheonix gives one last shriek then disappears.