‘Georgia,’ the interviewer said as an iPhone recorded on the glass table between them, ‘it’s six months since you were thrust into the limelight. A million people took to the streets of London, but in the end calls for a spending review were ignored, and every council approved a budget in line with government rules. Was the whole campaign a waste of time?’

Georgia shifted awkwardly in her chair. It was a school day, but she sat in a meeting room at a hip Soho hotel, recording her sixth and final interview of the day. She was sick of questions, but Wendy had taught her to keep answers short and upbeat.

‘It’s always good for people to peacefully express their opinions,’ Georgia said, hoping she didn’t sound as jaded as she felt. ‘I wish the government had listened. SAG and other groups will keep fighting for decent homes, schools and healthcare. If the government ignores that, they’ll be punished at the next election.’

The interviewer nodded sympathetically.

‘Since the protests, people say you’ve been less involved in SAG’s political campaigns and more interested with making money out of modelling and advertising. Has Georgia Pack sold out?’

‘I’m here today in my role as a brand ambassador for D’Anger cosmetics,’ Georgia said, faking enthusiasm. ‘Being a political campaigner doesn’t mean you have to walk around in a donkey jacket with scruffy hair and be serious about everything. Politics and social justice are important, but that doesn’t mean you have to be boring.’

Wendy stood behind the interviewer and discreetly mouthed, ‘Products,’ to Georgia.

Georgia knew what she had to do. ‘Can I just say, I use D’Anger’s products every day,’ Georgia beamed. ‘They’re a great British company. All their products are environmentally friendly, with bio-degradable packaging. They’re manufactured using natural ingredients and the company pays employees in shops and factories the living wage.’

The journalist sensed the publicist’s interference. ‘Don’t worry,’ the journalist said, looking back at Wendy. ‘We’re using the photographs of Georgia with D’Anger products and I’ll plug it in the article. But nobody will click through if it’s a total puff piece.’

‘Of course.’ Wendy smiled, glancing at her watch, then telling a lie. ‘But Georgia has another interview across town, so I can only give you a couple more minutes.’

The journalist coughed as she turned back to Georgia. ‘You’ve tweeted to a million followers, saying that education is a pointless treadmill. Are you setting a bad example to your peers?’