Material Girl

Ali's model friend Lydia is having a mid-life crisis a decade early, but how much time has Ali got for her friend with the first mass dress order in and Fashion Week round the corner? Especially when she is having to keep an eye on both Marco's shady dealings and boyfriend Chris's new-found interest in modelling.

As far as Lydia's concerned, life couldn't be better. She's the face of Pure Grace, a new perfume, there's a glamorous party to launch it and she has all her friends around her. Marco has just announced that he's applied for a slot at Fashion Week - and they have their first big order.

Ali is delighted but things quickly turn sour when Mitchell Crompton starts cussing Ali and Lydia has him removed from the party. A humiliated Mitchell seeks revenge... When Lydia eventually staggers out of the party, she is met by an aggressive paparazzi attack set up by Mitchell. The following morning, newspapers are emblazoned with the photos and she is swiftly dropped from the perfume campaign.

Feeling responsible, Ali vows to support Lydia as she throws herself into a voyage of self-discovery by putting her name to a human rights charity and organising a large charity auction for it, calling on all of her contacts including celebrity Alex Zane. But Ali and Lydia's friendship is tested when an ill-judged business decision of Marco's jeopardises Lydia's role at the charity.

Marco has used a sweatshop to manufacture some of Ali's designs. Ali is furious and kicks Marco out of the studio, but he has realised that Mitchell and Davina are responsible for whistle-blowing his shady dealings to scotch the auction. In a last-ditch attempt to save Ali and Lydia's friendship and his business, Marco visits Davina and convinces her to speak to the charity.

With the auction back on, Ali makes a dress especially for Lydia. Realising that together they are stronger than ever, Lydia relents and arm-in-arm they attend the ball - and get the last laugh when the highest bid for Davina's dress appears to be from a drag queen!