The premiere episode kicks off with Harriet strutting down a fashion runway, exuding the confidence and glamour of a true supermodel. But beneath the facade, as her voiceover reveals, Harriet has always longed to blend into the crowd, preferring to remain unnoticed and invisible. Until, fate intervened, and she was discovered by a modeling agency, her world was forever altered.
The episode then takes us back in time, introducing us to Harriet as a regular teenage girl. Through her voiceover, we learn about her eccentric neighbour, Toby, and are introduced to her closest friend, Nat. The pair have been friends for years, bonded by a pair of matching friendship necklaces that Harriet admits, albeit reluctantly, might be a bit uncool.
As we follow Harriet through her school day, it becomes apparent that she's not just a pretty face. She's brainy and often summoned to the head teacher's office, not for scolding but for praise for her academic achievements. However, Harriet is also the target of relentless bullying by the school's queen bee, Lexi Roberts, and her sidekicks Oli and Liv (Olive for short). They thrive on capturing Harriet's clumsy mishaps on their phones, relishing in her embarrassment.
Nat and Harriet are eagerly preparing for a school trip to London Fashion Week. While Harriet can't fathom what could be less exciting, she's determined to support her best friend, who is convinced that she'll be discovered by the renowned fashion scout, Wilbour Evans. In a mad dash to catch the school bus, the girls chatter excitedly about famous fashion models, their dreams and aspirations. But their conversation is abruptly interrupted by Toby, who nonchalantly stuffs his rucksack into the overhead compartment, unbeknownst to them that his green smoothie is leaking, staining their clothes. With no other option, they're forced to scour the school's lost property box for replacement outfits, a humorous turn of events that only adds to the antics of their already eventful day.
As they arrived in London, Nat's frustration boiled over regarding her wardrobe choices. Weeks of deliberation had led to this moment, yet here she stood, side by side with Harriet, clad in matching lime green t-shirts and PE shorts, hardly the ensemble she had envisioned for London Fashion Week.
As they entered the buzzing fashion show, the noise and frills overwhelmed them, and they were soon separated. Harriet found herself amidst a display of hats and pretended to study them, feigning busyness to avoid the crowd's gaze. The audience settled into their front-row seats, and the show commenced, but Harriet's curiosity got the better of her. As she tried on one of the hats, a stern designer scolded her for touching the display. In her haste to replace it, she stumbled backwards, causing a domino effect that toppled the entire display, drawing the attention of everyone in the venue.
Mean girl Liv, seizing the opportunity, filmed Harriet's humiliating moment, relishing the fact that she had once again caused a scene. Unbeknownst to Harriet, however, Wilbur and his assistant Betty had spotted her and made a beeline towards her. They quickly came to her aid, helping her up and escorting her backstage.
Backstage, Harriet panicked, fearing she was in deep trouble. She frantically tried to call her stepmother, Annabelle, and her father, thinking she might need legal advice or bail money. But Wilbur had other plans. He wasn't interested in her mug shot; he saw potential in her headshot and was convinced that Harriet was destined to be the next big thing in modeling.
As Harriet slowly realized what was happening, she confessed that she couldn't imagine anything worse than being a model. She explained that it was her friend Nat's dream, not hers. Wilbur and Betty looked at her with a mixture of surprise and admiration, realizing that despite her unexpected entrance into the modeling world, Harriet remained true to herself and her passions.
Harriet hurriedly attempted to make a swift exit, but as Wilbur pursued her, Toby intervened, urging him to step back. Desperate to locate her distraught friend, Nat, Harriet dashed out of the venue. Nat's heart was heavy after encountering Wilbur, who, despite acknowledging her beauty, had rejected her, explaining that he was searching for something truly unique.
However, before Harriet could escape the confines of the door, her path crossed with Nick Park, a strikingly handsome model whose gaze she had caught earlier in the day. An awkward silence hovered between them as Harriet struggled to find the right words to respond to Nick's introduction. Nick was clearly captivated by Harriet's bashful demeanor, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted as he was summoned back to work.
With a heart full of secrets, Harriet ventured out to search for Nat, concealing the news of her unexpected encounter with a fashion scout. As they boarded the coach to return to school, Wilbur watched from afar, whispering to Betty that he had discovered the next big sensation in the fashion world.
