Those housebound with hangovers this weekend no doubt caught the Top Model marathon, which ran longer than a James Cameron movie and proved just as frightening.

Watching Jaslene win (again) and Jade suck (always) was fun, but what we find most fascinating is the way the producers go out of their way to drive the girls out of their minds. Catwalks with cockroaches? Please. One phone for twelve girls? Dumb. But the cruelest and most unusual punishment seemed to be one challenge that was both dangerous and incredulous.

The problem?

It was also the only challenge that collided with the real world of fashion.

It was in Cycle Six, when Tyra proffered a pair of Vivienne Westwood spike heels to every girl in the contest, and asked them to walk down a flight of steps and across a runway. “You guys,” warns Tyra, “One of the most famous models in the world fell in these shoes” - it was Naomi Campbell in 1993, who later admitted to David Letterman that she could have “broken both my feet” in the shoes.

They don’t make them anymore, but the girls still had to try clomping, leaving Danielle Evans in clutches after she crashed.

Danielle eventually won the show, but the Westwood Shoe Challege still crawled under our skin in a way we’ve never felt about Top Model. We think it might have been a bit mean and nasty for the girls, who are nervous, tired, and generally uncoordinated.

But maybe instead it’s this - that the fashion world itself is sometimes mean and nasty, and the fact that Tyra shows that aspect, without any of its true aesthetics or art, just seems unfair and empty…. but still sickly addictive, which is why we screen-shotted the entire sequence, and posted it below.

Heels, Girls

Nnena is about to crash.

Molly Sue may star in the Diesel campaign, but she had to crawl offstage!

Wendy’s falling pose looks oddly similar to our favorite Tai Chi moves.

Joanie Beaver was the only contestant who could successfully stomp in the shoes.

Twiggy and Miss Jay are disappointed/ concerned/ hiding laughter (circle one)

Here’s Danielle as she crashes.

After the fall.

(Danielle was really hoping McSteamy or McDreamy would help her out…)

Awww, but she’s so beautiful and happy! We love Danielle!

And at least she’s not wearing that parachute prairie skirt…