The Yum Yum Girls

New Showbiz Analysis

The narrative centers on three young women pursuing modeling careers in New York City. Male industry figures are depicted as manipulative and sexually harassing, creating a clear contrast in power dynamics. The female characters serve as the moral center, displaying resilience and solidarity against systemic exploitation. The cast is primarily white, with one credited transvestite character providing limited gender diversity. There is no depiction of same-sex romance or characters with physical or cognitive disabilities. The film treats the fashion industry as a site of moral decay, contrasting the women’s integrity with the men’s exploitation. Traditional institutions like family or religion are absent from the narrative. The story focuses on the harsh realities of the profession, including sexual harassment and manipulation. This creates a specific, albeit limited, view of professional survival in the 1970s.