Parents' Guide to

Ashley Paige: Bikini or Bust

By Anne Louise Bannon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Reality show follows designer's life overhaul.

TV TLC Reality TV 2008
Ashley Paige: Bikini or Bust Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

Ashley Paige is a big-name fashion designer with a top-drawer celebrity client list and photos of her creations all over the top magazines. But she can't pay her electricity bill -- or even for parking. ASHLEY PAIGE: BIKINI OR BUST follows her attempts to dig herself out of her financial hole, date, and generally get her business and life back together. Along for the ride is her mother, Leah, who lives with Paige and is a constant presence (both positive and negative) in her daughter's life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Despite coming across as a whiny ditz, Paige is oddly compelling. It's embarrassingly obvious how she got into her predicament: She routinely avoids paying bills until she absolutely must, and she post-dates checks and then gets upset when they're deposited before the date and they bounce. But you also get the sense that she's sincerely trying to get her act together. She asks for advice and seems to be taking it. And she does have some understanding of business and knows enough to talk about having a business plan.

Overall, the producers do a great job of creating a story from the oddments of Paige's life. So, in spite of all her mistakes, you can't entirely help rooting for her. And at the very least, her experiences serve as an excellent cautionary tale.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether shows like this really reflect reality. Many of the interview segments seem to have taken place well after the events we see -- how do you think that affects what the interviewees say and remember? Do you think reality show participants are coached on what to say? Why would producers want to do that? Also, how do you think having a camera around affects how people act?

TV Details

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