There is a boss in the room. Jackie Frank, editor of marie claire magazine and judge on Make me a Supermodel is a no-nonsense kind of woman. We meet at the apartment of her mother, socialite and charity fundraiser Lillian Frank, and father, Richard, who is attempting to make small talk."
Dad, we've got to do this," she says sternly, suggesting with her tightened eyes that he leave the room. We sit on the couch - no coffee, no water, indifferent small talk - and cut to the chase. The daughter of an expressive Jewish family doesn't use phones to contact staff in the marie claire office, preferring to yell. Despite her condensed, often advertorial-like answers - "(The show) is a marriage between the number one fashion magazine and the number one network" - she is engaging and engaged.

These are some words from people who have worked for you - relentless, assertive and intimidating.
Well, they didn't last, did they?
My office is very loud and full of food. I appreciate strong opinions and we can have a good argybargy.
I am quite a passionate, emotive person, I don't hold back.

Tears?
No. Once I had to retrench someone and there were tears.

From you?
From them. I'm an emotional being but tears don't accomplish anything. Tears are for when I can't get my son to bed.

Make me a Supermodel is playing to type, generating headlines because of the provocative poses required of semi-clad teenagers, bullying and the fact that one contestant is very underweight. There have been some noteworthy elements. The judges have been understated, restrained and composed. And the producers didn't highlight the delusional and ridiculous in the opening episodes, unlike Australian Idol.

What makes a supermodel, just the money she/he earns?
Um, that probably defines it.
Supermodels don't come around that often. The difference is, it's not just how you look and your body and all of that, but it's about ... I remember meeting Giselle's agent when Giselle just started when I was in New York.
She said, "We've got this girl with an amazing body, she's not the most beautiful girl but she is as determined as Linda was when Linda was young.
This girl wants to be famous, she wants it bad and she will do anything to get it." And she did it.

I'd find that a bit scary if someone wanted to be famous so much that she'd do anything?
Different things turn on different people. And, listen, the girl has made millions out of this.

Have you got a psychologist on the show?
I don't know.

I just thought the things you are putting them through, it's a lot of pressure on young people.
You know what, yes, absolutely.
It's not extra pressure; it's actually weeding them out very quickly.

Frank, 45, worked in the fashion department of Harper's Bazaar, travelled overseas and landed a job as fashion editor for Elle and Mademoiselle magazines, working with supermodels such as Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington.
In 1995 she became the inaugural editor of Australian marie claire.
Ambition came late for Frank, who contemplated modelling from the age of 10 and dropped out of university to pursue work as a beautician, much to the chagrin of her father, who compared modelling to prostitution and wanted her to study law.

You've been in the fashion industry for 20 years, does that make you paranoid about how you dress yourself?
No. The greatest stylist in the world is Grace Coddington, the creative director of American Vogue. She wears navy or black pants, cashmere, but that's what she wears. So the more you are in it the less it affects you .... I like to be comfortable and I'm always in navy or black.
Hides all the lumps and bumps and you don't have to iron it.

What do you see as the right beauty? Are you a leg girl?
If you make me pick something it's in their eyes because there is sparkle or not. And I like a full lip. They say you can buy them.

Are you thinking about plastic surgery? Your mother, Lillian, herself a beauty, never had it and in her social circle that's surprising.
It's about self-esteem. She has a little nose and people come up to her all the time and say - "who did your nose?" You know what? The problem is women, we are hard on ourselves and on each other. Men don't behave like that. You look at headlines and you never see: George Clooney, 47 years old, time is ticking, he'll never find anyone.
Whereas poor Jen, Jennifer Aniston, she's 37 and on the shelf. Women are just victims. If people are going to do work on themselves and it makes them feel better, why not say, "Hey don't I look fab, I've had some work done", and then other women won't feel so bad about themselves.

Why don't you ever plan the future?
Because I don't know how. My boss always tells me I work far too close to the deadline. I don't even plan holidays.

You say you are not a religious but a traditional Jew. What does that mean - you don't believe in God?
Oh no, I believe in God.
Why can't you be a religious Jew then?
That would mean I'd have to stop everything from Friday night to Saturday night.

You are a practical Jew?
I'm a modern Jew. I go to synagogue twice a year and I eat bacon.

Was it important for your husband to be a Jew?
I don't know how to answer that.
We were introduced in New York. I knew he was Jewish and I knew he was in Melbourne so I thought I must know him. It also meant that I wouldn't be stuck in New York. If he was from Melbourne and we fell in love and got married there was more chance (of returning). A few of my friends are stuck in their husbands' countries.

You were planning?
I was planning - the one thing I did plan was my husband.

Make me a Supermodel screens Thursdays at 7.30pm on Seven.