Turning the Paige (2026) s01e01 Episode Script

- [Paige] Hi, my name is Paige Niemann.
I'm 20 years old.
I'm a content creator.
I have over 11 million followers.
- [Critic] Ariana Grande
lookalike, Paige Niemann.
- Paige Niemann. - Paige Niemann.
- [Critic] You need to be yourself.
- [Critic] God really hit copy and paste.
- A lot of people share stories
about who they think I am.
But now it's my turn to share my story.
I'm just also looking for
people to not hate me.
Despite everything,
like, you're still my dad.
You know I love you no matter what.
- Is that really my little Paige?
Is that really my little Paige?
Oh ♪
If I'm gonna crash and burn ♪
In somebody's car, I hope it's yours ♪
Driving me crazy ♪
Loving me, baby ♪
That's the only way I wanna fall apart ♪
If I'm gonna end ♪
Up hurt ♪
In somebody's arms, I hope it's yours ♪
Driving me crazy ♪
Loving me, baby ♪
(Paige screams) That's the only way ♪
I wanna break my heart ♪
- [Paige] (screams)
Oh my god! That's crazy!
I put that record on and
suddenly I'm on the stage ♪
I wear my T-shirt like I'm Bella ♪
Grace a "Glamour" page ♪
Don't take a lot to get me out my head ♪
When I feel gray ♪
When I've been feeling gray ♪
- My name is Paige Niemann.
I'm 20 years old.
I'm a content creator
and an aspiring model.
You don't have to live in fear ♪
'Cause for the first time in forever ♪
If I had to describe myself in three words,
it would be shy,
but also confident
and strong for all that I have to handle.
A lot of people share stories
about who they think I am,
but now I'm just sharing my
story about who I really am.
When I was 15 years old, I went viral,
and high school was really hard.
You would think, you know,
like, this internet sensation,
like, it would make me popular
or a lot of people would
wanna be my friend.
But it was actually, like,
the complete opposite for me.
I was just, like, this cringey,
you know, like, TikToker.
I had a really hard time making friends.
Everyone kind of just made fun of me
and, like, would record me and laugh at me.
- When she's not feeling
well or if she has a problem,
she calls grandma.
Yeah, she always calls me no matter what.
I hate to say that, but I'm
kind of glad she calls me.
I feel very special.
- I love that my grandma is here with me.
She is, honestly, like, my best friend
and I know, like, she
would do anything for me.
So it means so much for her to be here
because I could not do it on my own.
(upbeat midtempo music)
Today my grandmother and I
are going to my first modeling class in LA.
(upbeat midtempo music)
(Paige knocks)
- Hi there! - Hi!
Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet
I hug. - Oh.
- I hug. Hi, I'm Tiger. - Hi!
How are you? - Great.
So how you feeling?
- I feel good. - Okay.
You excited to get started?
- I am. - Okay.
So first things first,
a little bit about me.
I have over 15 years
of experience in fashion.
- Oh, wow. - I've done four pageants.
I have done more fashion
shows that I can count,
and I have done runway coaching,
and I went to classes, all the things.
So that's why I wanna
make sure that I can help you
'cause I did see the viral video.
- Oh!
(dramatic music thumps)
- [Tiger] What I saw was
somebody getting out there.
- Aw. - Like, getting after it.
So I'm proud of you.
- [Paige] Thank you.
- This is our first time meeting,
but, you know, I'm proud of you
because you got out there and did it.
So I would like to know
what is the difference
between that Paige and this
Paige that's sitting right here?
- Well, I'm also trying to, like, overcome,
like, social anxiety. - Okay.
- I think, you know, being homeschooled,
it probably did affect my social anxiety
and maybe even, like, my social skills
'cause I didn't really,
I wasn't used to being,
like, around a lot of people.
- She's very shy, and she's nervous,
and she's just self-conscious.
- But I feel a lot more,
you know, like, more comfortable now.
So, yeah, I wanna take a more,
like, professional approach.
- You're super brave,
I'm very proud of you.
- Thank you. - So we're gonna learn
a lot today. - Okay.
- Just a few things that
I wanna learn about you
and how you walk. - Okay.
(uptempo music)
Meeting my model coach
was different for me,
because I had a modeling coach,
like, prior, in New York.
Having one in LA was different,
but in a good way. (laughs)
(uptempo music)
Honestly,
what I learned from her
was different from what
I was previously taught.
So my mind is just
trying to combine the two
from what I had previously learned
versus from what she's teaching me.
So, yeah.
I feel like modeling is something
I'm really passionate about.
And as long as, you know,
I'm given the opportunity,
I'll always be down to
model or runway walk.
- Say it, "I'm the baddest in the room."
- [Paige] I'm the baddest in the room.
- Uh-uh, I don't believe that.
I don't believe it.
I wanna believe it. Make me believe it.
- I'm the baddest in the room.
- Is it a question?
(Paige laughs)
(uptempo music)
- What's up, you guys? My
name is Brandon Washington.
The film industry calls me WriterBoy.
I'm a writer, a director, and entrepreneur.
And, on the side, I
manage talent a little bit,
helping them become something more
with the talents that they do have.
That's actually how I
found Ms. Paige Neimann.
Hey! - Hi!
- How did you like the model run show?
- It went really good.
- Really? - Yeah!
- And you like the coach?
- Yeah, I really do. - Yeah.
I found her specifically for you.
She'll bring you out your shell
'cause I know you be in it a lot.
- Yes, we vibed.
- That's what's up! That's awesome!
So, okay, how do you like this,
like, filming and documenting your life?
- It's really fun and exciting.
It's very new to me, but
I'm having a really good time.
- That's dope. - Yeah.
- And it's just getting started.
And I know that I talked to you about it.
I just want you to know,
like, it's okay to be uncomfortable.
This is the season for that.
This is the season for that.
You got it. You got it. - Thank you.
- I'm doing all of this for you,
I'm setting up everything for you
because I truly do believe in you, Paige,
and I know that you have this. - Thank you.
- Yeah. - Thanks so much.
- Yeah, and you're going to prove me right.
Mark my words, you're gonna prove me right.
- Thank you, I appreciate you so much
and everything you've done for me.
- Of course, Paige.
- Signing with my current manager, Brandon,
has been, honestly, like, the
best decision I've ever made.
Just, like, the last four months
of my life have been crazy.
I've been doing so many things
I never thought I would be doing.
And I'm just so, like,
grateful for him, honestly.
Like, he's done so much for me
and I'm just so appreciative and grateful.
- When you first reached out to me again,
we were talking for years,
but when you first reached
out to me again, it was like,
full transparency, it was Vader,
Vader was one of the - Really?
- Yeah, it was him reaching
out to me and saying,
after he seen a lot of
things happening online,
just saying he wished that
you had someone to protect you.
And, to me, it was like,
"Why not me step in?
Why not me be able to help you,
be able to help guide you in your career?"
- Yeah. - Yeah, and I think
- That's sweet. - Yeah, and you,
full transparency, you're
also willing to be guided.
You don't know what is out here.
And it's like, so for
the fact for me to say,
"Hey, this is what we need to do,
"this is the way we
need to go," and you say,
"Okay, let's do it." - Yeah.
- And you see where we're at now.
- Yeah, I've been taken
advantage of in the industry
in the past.
And the difference with my current manager
is that, you know, he's
not trying to do me dirty.
He has my best interest at heart.
He cares about me.
And, yeah. (giggles)
I've been wanting to be
managed by you for years
and I'm just so happy, like,
that it's finally happening.
Like, I've been thinking
about it for years,
and I'm just, like, I've always
wanted you to be my manager.
- Really? - Yeah.
- That's funny. That's dope, that's dope.
I think you said that on
the phone with me, too.
You was like, "I just didn't
know how to reach out."
- 'Cause we had like,
we talked about it, like, years ago.
- Yeah, yes, yes.
But you had another
management at the time, right?
- Yeah, we were talking, and
then I signed with someone.
- Yeah.
Yes, I remember. - And then, it was just,
like, a timing thing.
- Yes, absolutely.
Absolutely. - Yeah.
- But perfect timing.
I'll say this, too.
One thing that like,
'cause you know I don't
do anything for money,
and it's always with purpose.
And I find purpose in helping
you show the world who you are
as you're discovering
that at the same time.
I think that that's so dope.
- I love that. - That's what
we're doing here, yeah.
I believe it, I believe in
the brand that you should be.
That's why I wanted you
to document your show
and I have all these cameras,
because I want people to see who you are.
I think that like,
once people get to know Paige Niemann,
they'll forget what they thought about her.
I met her when she
was, I think, 17 years old
on a music video shoot.
- I was excited. - Really?
- Yeah, I was excited
because you reached out to me,
and I've never been
in a music video before,
so, like, the idea seemed
really exciting to me.
- That's dope.
- Yeah, and I was totally down to do it.
- And you drove all the way down from
- Yes. - Yes.
- My grandma and my aunt
drove me down to be in it.
And I had, like, a lot of fun doing that.
- I was expecting to see this
bold personality come through.
- [Paige] Really?
- And then, I see you
and you were very shy.
And it's, like, when people look at you,
you'd look away.
- Really? - Yes.
You were very shy.
And that's why I say the
difference between Paige then
and the Paige now is two different things.
It was seeing, like, the shyness in her,
but the loudness in her family
that really kept me and
captivated me into wanting to, like,
help this young woman
through her trials and tribulations
with social media.
The little girl that I met years ago
shooting that music video
is not who is sitting in front of me now.
- Really? - Yeah.
You're bold.
You're putting your best foot forward,
even when you're scared,
even when you're nervous.
And I've seen you even like,
when you're in
uncomfortable situations, try,
and you're still pushing
through and you're still trying.
And you see me swinging
for you in the boardrooms,
behind the scenes,
and all I ask is that when
you're in those moments,
you try, and you're doing that.
- Yeah. Thank you. - Absolutely.
You got this, Paige.
I'm excited. - Me too.
- But, yeah, we got a
lot of stuff coming, a lot.
I hope you're ready. - I'm ready.
- Okay. (Paige laughs)
(gentle music)
(gentle mellow music)
- That's a good whack.
Okay, there you go.
(gentle mellow music)
- Like that? - Now, like that.
Okay, now that you got 'em.
What happened to the other one? (laughs)
Oh, there's a runaway garlic.
I'm gonna have you do that one.
This is how I do it.
But, you know, there's
no right or wrong way.
You just put it down and
kind of make long slices,
and then you just try to make
little dots out of it.
And when you get 'em both done together,
I'll show you what to do.
- Okay. - Give it a shot.
- [Paige] I love cooking with my grandma.
She could do it a lot better than me,
but, hey, I have time to learn
and time to eat. (chuckles)
(gentle mellow music)
- My name is Michelle Paxia-Merciadis.
Paxia is my given name from my parents.
And Merciadis is my married
name, which I'm divorced.
And I was supposed to take my birth name
and drop the Merciadis,
because my ex sister-in-law
requested that I drop their name.
And I told her I would
as soon as I finished
dragging it through the mud,
I would go back to my real name.
And I haven't finished
dragging it through the mud yet,
but I will eventually drop the Merciadis.
- [Producer] Once you're done.
- What? - I said once you're done.
Once you're done
dragging it through the mud.
- Oh, you know, go out with different men,
go to the bars, shoplift.
No, I'm just kidding. (laughing)
I haven't done anything yet.
That's why I still have
the name. (laughing)
Want some spaghetti meatball?
- Yes, please.
- Okay. (laughing)
Oh. (Paige laughs)
- Thank you. - Grandma's a slob.
Hold on, I'll give you a little bit more.
Tell me when to stop.
- That's good for now.
- That's it? - Yeah. (laughs)
- Are you sure you're Italian?
How many meatballs?
- Just one. - Just one, okay.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
- So - Wait a minute.
How about some bread?
- Oh. - Can't eat without bread.
There you go. - Thank you.
- Just one piece. - Sorry.
- You're done? Okay.
- So modeling rehearsals
have been going very well.
- So you're gonna come
down, you're gonna pause,
you're gonna come back, you're gonna pause,
and then you're gonna exit to the left.
Okay? - Okay.
I really love my modeling coach, too.
She's very fun to be around,
and I really, like, her
energy and her vibe a lot.
- [Michelle] Mm-hmm.
- You like her, too?
- I do. Yeah, a lot.
A lot. Do you want some cheese, baby?
- Oh, no, thank you. - No cheese. Okay.
Yeah, I like her a lot.
She's really nice.
So it's real exciting.
How do you like, yeah,
your manager, Brandon?
- He's great, yeah.
- Isn't he? I like him, too.
He's really nice.
I love his mom, too. - Yes.
- And the crew's awesome.
They're so friendly.
- I had a meeting with
him and it went really well.
And he has a lot of
things, like, planned for me.
So I'm really excited for that.
- Well, that's good.
What do you have planned for tomorrow?
(Paige laughs) Huh?
But I think getting together with you,
and your group, and your wonderful staff,
and your gorgeous mother,
I think that she has really come a long way
getting out of that feeling of anxiety
when she's in public
or in front of a camera.
But I think she's doing so much better
and she's growing that way every day.
She's doing really good.
Things have been going really, really good.
And I had no idea
it was gonna be such a big deal
and such an exciting experience for you.
I'm really happy for you.
- Thank you. - That's gonna be so nice.
I'm so proud of you.
And (exhales) keep our fingers crossed.
(both laughing)
- Thank you. - You're welcome, honey.
- You know John, right?
You met him. - Your boyfriend?
(Paige laughing)
- Yeah. - Well, of course.
I like him a lot. He's a nice guy.
- Yeah, well, he's coming down soon.
- Really? - Yeah.
- That's nice. - Yeah.
Remember, like, the
first time you guys met?
- Let me think.
He came over or did we?
No, he came to your mom's house.
- Yeah, I think so.
I actually don't remember.
- I do, I think he stood at the front door
and I could see his knees shaking. (laughs)
- Really? - No.
Yeah, he was very polite and very nice,
and I tried to scare him a
little bit, but it didn't work.
(both laughing)
I just tried to say,
you know, I'm Sicilian.
I carry a knife.
No, I'm just kidding.
No, I remember that.
He's a nice, tall, good looking, young man.
And how long have you
been going with him now?
- Two years. - Two years.
Do I hear wedding bells?
- No. - No?
Okay, that's a good thing.
- It was, like, important
for you to meet him,
because you two are really important to me.
- Well, family's gotta get along, right?
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- Yeah, I remember when we went out
- [Michelle] First time you met her?
- First time, like, you met his mom,
and we all went to, remember?
- Oh, we went to that
place, it was in Pennsylvania?
Philly? - Yeah, it was,
I forgot where it was.
- [Michelle] It was, like,
a little area, like a little
- Yeah, like, a village.
- Little town, village,
with all the little restaurants.
We had the lousiest
lunch I ever had in my life.
- You said, "I don't like mine."
- I did. I didn't like it.
It was terrible.
And so your lunch was awful, too.
What'd you have a hot dog or something?
- Yeah.
I remember they brought
out, like, these chips
and they were like, "These chips,
like, you would not believe these chips.
These are the best chips."
- What did your mom say?
- And my mom said, "We have these at work."
- She has 'em at work in a vending machine.
"You can't believe these chips.
They're so awesome."
(phone pings) - Oh, I got a text, hold on.
It's a video.
- From who? - My best friend.
- Tamza? - Yeah.
- [Michelle] What's she got to say?
Nice girl.
- She sent me a video of you know who.
The first time I noticed
that I looked like her,
I was 10 years old, believe it or not.
I was on the playground,
and I think a boy I liked
said that I looked like her.
And I went home that day
and I think I searched her up,
and, like, that's how it started.
- Someone told her who she looked like
and so that made her all excited.
And she did her makeup and did this,
and she really had a lot of fun with it.
And it was just a hobby
of hers, just having fun,
and, you know, taping herself,
and putting herself on,
you know, all the
different websites and stuff.
And she was just really
having a lot of fun with it.
And then, it just took off.
And I was so happy
for her, and I'd have to,
she goes, "Grandma, can you come over
and help me with my hair?"
'Cause she's always
had beautiful, long hair.
And I would go over
and I'd French braid it,
or put it up, or curl it, or whatever,
and I'd always have to
and go over and fix her hair.
But she did her own makeup
and she was great at it,
and she has evolved there also.
But I lived real close,
so it wasn't hard for
me to just run over there,
first of all, take her to
her favorite fast food place.
And then, I'd come and we'd do her hair,
and then I can sew a little bit,
so I would make little costumes
or little tops for her to wear.
- She's talking about,
well, I don't know if
she's talking about me,
but - Uh-oh.
- Apparently, everybody's saying, like,
that it's about me.
In the video, she's saying like,
"Have you ever wanted to confront somebody
that's impersonated you?"
And she says,
"Yes, but in a fun way."
- You know, I know you're kind and sweet,
but you can't let people pick on you.
You have to stand up for yourself.
Because if you don't stand up for yourself,
that means you have no character,
and I know you have character.
And you stand up for yourself,
not in a mean way, but in a kind way.
Don't do what I do.
But you do it in a kind way,
because that's the kind of person you are.
You know, and when
everybody gets to know you
for what you are, they're gonna love you.
Everybody's gonna love you.
(crickets chirping)
- [Paige] I'm no longer gonna be quiet.
Save myself ♪
Save myself ♪
- [Paige] I'm gonna say what I wanna say.
Save myself ♪
Save myself ♪
- [Paige] I'm gonna do what I wanna do.
Save myself ♪
Holding my head again ♪
Making my way through crowded thoughts ♪
Sometimes it's hard to get out of it ♪
- [Paige] The internet has
so much to say about me.
Broke my heart in the dark ♪
I was just trying to feel something ♪
Falling asleep to the sound of it ♪
- [Paige] This is how I'm
saying something back.
Always used to let ♪
You clean up the messes ♪
Down on my knees ♪
Thought I couldn't stand up on my own ♪
Turns out, sometimes
you're stronger alone ♪
- [Paige] So why not?
This is me getting confronted
in a fun way. (chuckles)
'Cause I'm ♪
Looking for a hero ♪
Look inside the mirror ♪
I found one, oh ♪
- [Critic] You need to be
yourself, not Ariana Grande.
- So this is not you. - God really hit
copy and paste.
- [Critic] You look like Ariana Grande
more than Ariana Grande looks like herself.
- [Critic] If I was Ariana,
I'd probably sue her.
You don't look, like, yourself.
You lost your personality
and you're trying to find it, right?
- Gotta stick up for herself
a little bit, you know?
She can't just let
people walk all over her,
'cause she really hasn't hurt anyone,
and definitely she
hasn't hurt Ariana Grande.
She's a big star.
- [WriterBoy] You and Arianna
have had conversations?
- Yeah.
Carry the hurt when it gets too hard ♪
Pick it up, dust it off, when I fall ♪
Down 11, I get up 12 ♪
Don't need nobody else ♪
Yeah, I can save myself ♪
Save myself ♪
Save myself ♪
Save myself ♪
Save myself ♪
Save myself ♪
Got burned, but I learned ♪
Our scars make us who we are ♪
Now I'm 10 feet tall over my demons ♪
I ♪
Save myself ♪
Remind me no one's got me like myself ♪
Yeah, I love me without any help ♪
I'm the best thing to believe in ♪
So I'm ♪
Bringing out the fight, yeah ♪
Bring on all the lightning ♪
'Cause I'm ♪
Looking for a hero ♪
Look inside the mirror ♪
I found one, oh ♪
Carry the hurt when it gets too hard ♪
Pick it up, dust it off, when I fall ♪
Down 11, I get up 12 ♪
Don't need nobody else ♪
Yeah, I ♪
Can save myself ♪
Save myself ♪