Amanda Tanen is the �ber-bitchy receptionist at MODE magazine and is allied with both Wilhelmina Slater and Wilhelmina’s assistant Marc when it comes to taking down the two major thorns in Wilhelmina’s side: Betty Suarez and Betty’s boss Daniel Meade (whom Amanda is attracted to in the beginning of the series).
Amanda, who was raised in The Hamptons on Long Island, was supposedly the daughter of an investment banker whom she has hinted is an embezzler in an earlier episode, but would later learn that she is actually the daughter of Fey Sommers.
Her uncle is the “thin one” out of the three tenors.
Amanda aspires to marry royalty, preferably “a duke. A prince would be too much pressure”.
Amanda has a tendency to go on eating binges whenever she feels threatened, as a way to control her fears and insecurities.
This issue is expected to be addressed in future episodes, where it is learned that her past involves uncontrollable eating habits and attempts to be the “perfect” woman.
Despite her somewhat conceited and ditzy exterior she is quite bright, but has a tendency to butcher the Spanish language, using mangled pronunciations like HO-la.
And like Betty, she too found herself becoming the victim of a prank herself when a rival employee sent her a hobble dress that Amanda thought came from a designer.
She even had a romantic fling with a closeted straight designer named Tavares, but would end it after he took advantage of her generosity.
Prior to working at MODE, Amanda was an aspiring actress, and appeared as a hostess in a commercial for a Medieval themed restaurant.
This is an inside joke, referencing an Medieval Times commercial in which Becki Newton, who plays Amanda, appeared as one of the restaurant chain’s cheery hostesses.