The search for the next supermodel is on! No, Tyra Banks is not involved, instead TV Land and Wilhelmina Models will be teaming up to find The Next Great Supermodel, but no 21 year olds need apply. In a new twist, TV Land will document Wilhelmina Models’ search for that special 35-year and older woman who exudes the perfect combination of sophistication, beauty and confidence.
Beginning today, TV Land and Wilhelmina’s Model Search team is combing the country to find the greatest assemblage of aspiring undiscovered models age 35 and older. Then, kicking off on September 29, the series’ host and a panel of judges will attend regional auditions in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Chicago to pare down the group to just 20 contenders. The aspirants will then be flown to New York to live in a house together where they will face various challenges such as photo shoots and tests on their fashion know-how. Eliminations will occur weekly until the ultimate winner is crowned.
"We’re so excited to move forward with this project to give much-needed representation on television to the beauty of women in their Power Years," states Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land. "It’s such a thrill to partner with legendary modeling agency Wilhelmina in this endeavor. Clearly, we are at a point in American culture when being 35 and over in the modeling industry no longer means over the hill, it means big bucks and lots of opportunity."
"This will be an exciting journey across the USA," said Sean Patterson, President of Wilhelmina. "We are looking for women who embody what every model should regardless of age and that is the utmost beauty and confidence."
The Next Great Supermodel will premiere on TV Land in the Spring of 2008 and is being executive produced by Emmy Award Winner Allison Grodner (Big Brother, Blowout). The winner of this six-part reality series competition will receive a lucrative modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models, Inc.
TV Land is inviting all would-be models 35 and over to visit TVLand.com to submit an application and pictures. In addition, the website will outline the rules of the competition and will feature all of the regional audition sites and dates.
The Next Great Supermodel is an Allison Grodner Production with Allison Grodner Executive Producing. Sean Patterson and Corey Preston are Executive Producers for Wilhelmina. Keith Cox is Executive Producer and Marco Bresaz is Executive in Charge of Production for TV Land.
About Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina is one of the largest model agency chains in the world, founded by legendary model, Wilhelmina Cooper in 1967. Today, they lead the industry in diversity and depth, and represent some of the biggest models, and celebrity talent in the world. Sean Patterson is the President of Wilhelmina Models. Dieter Esch is Chairman. They have offices in New York, Los Angeles and Miami as well as licensees across the U.S.
About TV Land
Now seen in over 90 million U.S. homes, TV Land is dedicated to building the ultimate Baby Boomer entertainment brand on all platforms. Armed with a slate of new original programming, newly acquired Classic TV and movies, multiplatform content and Cause Change, a new pro-social initiative, the network is uniquely positioned to cater to America’s 78 million Baby Boomers, the first generation of Americans who grew alongside television. TV Land’s program mix features hit originals, popular dramas, sitcoms, westerns and Retromercials. TV Land’s roster includes hits like All in the Family, M*A*S*H, The Andy Griffith Show and several others. Furthering the network’s commitment to develop original programming that complements its roster of acquisitions, the network regularly showcases original series and specials like I Pity The Fool, Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg, TV Land Myths and Legends, Generation Boom, TV Land Confidential and the upcoming original series High School Reunion.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 135 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services – MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
