Timothy Greenfield-Sanders presented his documentary piece “About Face: Supermodels Then and Now” June 30th, on HBO Monday night at 9, Eastern and Pacific times; 8, Central time.The film consists of interviews with some of the top supermodels  and their musings on the fashion industry, getting discovered and their rise in a very hard and sometimes harsh industry.

China Machado, Kim Alexis and Beverly Johnson in New York. Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

The subjects they talk about, for example from Isabella Rossellini who wondered if cosmetic surgery is the modern equivalent of foot binding, Jerry Hall’s comments that cosmetic surgeries end up making some models “people who look scary to small children” and Paulina Porizkova musing, “To me the most beautiful thing there is in another human being is confidence, and nothing says ‘I’m not confident’ as much as Botox.” . The program also includes some snippets of subjects (racism and drugs) that may have had a chance to become a serious topic if only the models were talking together and hearing the feedback from other models and their experiences instead of sitting in a void talking to a camera that cuts away just when it seems to be getting on a subject that could be really meaty.

Paulina Porizkova Image by greenobles.com

It was really an interesting show, though. It was great to see supermodels that are still working or have expanded their careers into something more than just a face on a cover. So if you want to catch up with Carol Alt, Christie Brinkley, Jerry Hall, Beverly Johnson, Isabella Rossellini, and Cheryl Tiegs, make sure you tune in and watch this rather tame, but interesting take on their time in the industry.