Tara and Tamara sing for their supper: PETER YORK ON ADS
No 220: KFC
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.IT'S HARD being an It Girl - you're always working. Working the room, the photographers; working at remembering your client's name, and, more important, his product's name. You have to say it loud and often. An It Girl's a walking product-placement site, a posh sandwich-board with an agent, a PR and a booking schedule.
Tara and Tamara, the best-known Its, have broken into commercials, debuting with KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken, before they de-fatted the name). This means they've had to endure hours of gruelling self-parody lessons. The initial scene's set on what looks like the Z-list party circuit - a thinly populated room, flat panes of colour and tinkly cocktail piano music. You sense that the party pix will appear in Central London free magazines.
The girls clatter down a white staircase, Tamara in white palazzo pants and top with midriff display, Tara in a silver knit dress, both with indoor sunspex. They make for an American-actor type and vamp him about his latest film - hot and spicy, passionate and craving - and ask for a part in it (Tara asks in an Australian accent).
This is Tara's only bit of work. Tamara does about five times as much business, smouldering and thrusting herself forward in a Fifties-starlet kind of way. Anyway, the "film" is a KFC commercial, the girls end up behind the counter in KFC caps, and Tamara tells us "There's been a horrible mistake," mugging away while TP-T looks more miserable than ever. Does the KFC target market know who they are? Do they care?
My understanding is that neither Miss Beckwith nor Miss Palmer-Tomkinson is an Equity member.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments