Wilhelmina Slater
Wilhelmina Slater is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. She is played by Vanessa Williams, who received a supporting actress nomination at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards for her portrayal of the character. Wilhelmina's character is equivalent to Patricia Fernández de Brickman, as they have nearly a similar appearance.
Background
Wilhelmina is a conceited, self-absorbed diva and former fashion model who lives for two things: MODE and Botox. She is the Creative Director of MODE magazine. After Fey Sommers' sudden death, she was next in line to become the magazine's chief editor. She is passed over, however, in favor of the less experienced Daniel Meade, son of Bradford Meade, the Chairman of MODE's publishing company Meade and who thinks Wilhelmina is not qualified for the job.
For this reason Wilhelmina launches a series of attempts to derail Daniel, but, on account of Betty Suarez, Daniel's assistant, many of Wilhelmina's plans are thwarted. In her many years as Creative Director, she has acquired many minions in the fashion industry (including one from a rival magazine), whom she uses in order to reach her goal of becoming Editor-In-Chief.
In the early episodes of the first season, Wilhelmina was also in league with a mysterious bandaged woman, who, as the series progressed, many clues linked to be Fey Sommers. It is finally revealed, however, the the mystery woman is actually Alexis Meade, Daniel's older (m-f transgendered) sister.
Wilhelmina's plan is revealed when Alexis tells her that someone called her from Wilhelmina's office. After learning that her assistant Marc was the caller, Wilhelmina is ready to fire him, but she finds herself backed into a corner after she lets slip her takeover plans. Consequently, Wilhelmina agrees to give Marc financial perks in order to keep him from spilling the beans.
Wilhelmina also keeps a secret bulletin board in her office of people whom she wants to fire or keep when she takes over MODE. The board is divided into two. One side is labelled "In" and has a picture of Wilhelmina. The other side is labelled "Out" and has pictures of Daniel and Betty amongst those to be fired, as well as Amanda (Although Marc is lobbying to keep her on, Wilhelmina places her there because Amanda has slept with Daniel and believes that she still might be attracted to him). Christina was originally placed in between as Wilhelmina was uncertain of her loyalty. Although she used Christina to do her dirty work, it is not known if Christina has since been moved to "In". After suggesting that Alexis Meade move into her current office, Wilhemina might have removed the board.
Wilhlemina's scheme to replace Daniel is again delayed, however, due to an injunction: although Bradford's will states that the elder son would take over Meade publications, Alex has since become Alexis. Wilhelmina refuses to work until she becomes Editor-In-Chief. Despite her threats, the career minded woman cannot help but find out the goings-on at MODE, so she orders Marc to carry a pot of orchids, in which she has placed a tiny camera, around the office of MODE. After she witnesses Alexis and Daniel bury the hatchet, Wilhelmina realizes that Alexis has turned on her: when Alexis tells her that she is keeping Daniel onboard as editor-in-chief, Wilhelmina ends their partnership and now regards Alexis as an enemy.
When Wilhelmina later finds out that MODE legally belongs to Claire Meade, Bradford's wife, she visits her at the hospital where Claire is detoxing for her hearing. Wilhelmina hopes to manipulate her into signing a Power of Attorney, and she even tempts the alcoholic Claire with vodka on the condition that Claire make Wilhelmina the Editor-In-Chief. When Claire does not relent (Claire told her that MODE "...will always be run by a Meade"), Wilhelmina resorts to seducing Bradford. She believes that by doing this, it will convince Bradford that she can be the next Mrs. Meade, which would allow her to takeover MODE. She also assists Bradford in his scheme to get Alexis out of the country by recommending that her counterpart at MODE Brasil, Rodrigo, romance her.
In the season finale, Bradford gives Wilhelmina a gaudy engagement ring that he designed himself, setting things up for a November wedding. When Wilhelmina learned that Claire has just escaped while en route to prison, hoping to stop Bradford from marrying Wilhelmina in the second season, Wilhelmina hires a bodyguard named Dwayne, whose "protection" was caught off-guard by Betty and Christina, only to have Wilhelmina force Betty into keeping quiet and not tell Daniel by getting her father Ignacio back into the United States legally. She also manipulated a amnesiac Alexis (who was in the hospital after the car crash she and Daniel was in) into thinking they were still friends by telling her that Claire was the one who walked out on Bradford. She also used a tactic at the annual Meade Black & White Ball that resulted in Bradford finally telling Claire that their marriage was over after she spots Claire.
Family Life
Wilhelmina is the daughter of a United States Senator, a hard man who is never satisfied with his daughter's achievements. She never addresses him as "father" or "dad" but instead as "The Senator". In "Family/Affair" Betty and Christina sees a picture of her with Dick Cheney, which suggests that Wilhelmina might be a supporter of the Republican Party.
She also has a strong-willed daughter, Nico, who she sent away to boarding school. The reason for that was Wilhelmina never attended college (Which Marc later found out in Lose the Boss). She was introduced in the episode The Lyin', the Watch and the Wardrobe. Despite their differences, Wilhemina has shown willingness in improving their relationship. In the second season, look for other members of the Slater family to show up as Wilhelmina prepares to walk down the aisle, and already her mother, Victoria Smith-Slater (played by Betty White), will show up for a visit.
The Slaters' first names are based on real names from the world of modeling: The Wilhelmina character is named after the legendary supermodel, who worked with Gia Marie Carangi before her death, and modeling agency of the same name, while the Nico character is named for the famous Warhol superstar icon.
Fashion & Style
Much of Wilhemina's sophisticated wardrobe revolves around the colors white, yellow, gold, and brown. In a deleted scene from the season 1 DVD, Wilhelmina is seen looking at her closetful of outfits as she tries to rearrange them by the aforementioned colors.
