NEW YORK, NY – January 8, 2014 – Beauty, meet your makers as Oxygen Media reveals the 12 modeltestants from around the world who will be mentored by the biggest names in fashion and battle it out for the ultimate goal in modeling, to earn a contract with a national brand, on “The Face” season two, premiering Wednesday, March 5 at 10 PM ET/PT. The ten-episode season goes beyond the glamour to find the newest face of Frédéric Fekkai, with Naomi Campbell (@NaomiCampbell), Anne V (@AnneV) and Lydia Hearst (@LHearst)as supermodel coaches and host Nigel Barker (@NigelBarker) in a new expanded role as a confidante and advisor to the 12 supermodel hopefuls. Produced by Shine America with Naomi Campbell as an executive producer, the authentic modeling competition series tests these modeltestants fundamental skills and versatility as a model in an array of real-life brand challenges including photo shoots, runway shows and commercials.
Throughout the season, the young women selected on Team Naomi, Team Anne V and Team Lydia will have the opportunity to make a life-changing transformation through unprecedented access to clients, national brands and iconic mentorships. It takes a team of “FaceMakers,” or fashion insiders, to transform a model into a supermodel and the most influential names in the industry will lend their expertise this season including Frédéric Fekkai, ELLE Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Robbie Myers and revered male supermodel Tyson Beckford. Each week, the brand representatives for the Campaign Challenge will choose the winning team, leaving each supermodel coach from the bottom two teams to nominate a member of their team for elimination and the winning coach to decide who will be sent home. In the end, only one girl will be chosen to become a spokesperson and ambassador for Frédéric Fekkai’s 2014 national ad campaign. In addition, the winner will also appear in the July Issue of ELLE Magazine, styled by Fekkai.
Fans of “The Face” can access exclusive content and join the conversation on the show’s social accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+ and Pinterest. Viewers may root for their favorite coach using #TeamNaomi, #TeamAnneV and #TeamLydia and tweet or read about the series using #TheFace hashtag on Twitter. The supermodel coaches and host can also be followed via Twitter using @NaomiCampbell, @LHearst, @AnneV and @NigelBarker.
Meet The 12 Modeltestants:
Afiya Bennett – @afiyabennett
Age: 18
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Afiya is a young, fun-loving New York native hoping to define herself as the next model sensation. With an iron-clad sense of determination, she will stop at nothing to make her dreams come true. Her modeling career began when she took a risk and approached the Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine with her photo and subsequently secured her first job. A student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Afiya believes she has what it takes to win the competition with her knowledge in front of and behind the camera.
Alana Duval @alanaduval
Age: 22
Hometown: Brownsville, TX
With a larger-than-life personality and flair for the dramatic, Alana always has a smile on her face and loves to make people laugh. A former track star, she gave up multiple scholarships to pursue her dream of being a model. Although she is new to the modeling world with only two years of local experience, Alana is confident that she can go all the way.
Allison Millar @amillizz
Age: 19
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Growing up as a southern belle in Charleston, SC, Allison knew the world of country clubs and sororities wasn’t the perfect fit for her quirky personality. She’s often underestimated because of her shy disposition, but when the camera turns on, she knows how to rock a high fashion editorial. With over three years of experience in NYC, she has been featured in Glamour magazine and has participated in New York Fashion Week. Mature beyond her years, Allison hopes to bring creativity to the competition and knows that she has what it takes to become “The Face” of Frederic Fekkai.
Amanda Gullickson @A_Gullickson
Age: 18
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
A sweet, lovable All-American country girl, Amanda grew up competing in rodeo barrel races, riding horses and playing basketball. She exudes southern charm, but also isn’t afraid to bring out her sexy side. With only one year of professional modeling experience, Amanda has already walked for TopShop, been featured in a music video for GusGus and done print work for Delia’s and Belk. She has a positive outlook on life and believes in the value of herself as a marketable brand.
Felisa Wiley @Fel_Wiley
Age: 19
Hometown: St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
The sweet, yet sassy Felisa was born and raised in St. Thomas, but always felt like a city girl at heart. After leaving her island life behind for college in Allentown, PA, Felisa actively began pursuing her dream of becoming a supermodel. An ambitious self-starter, she prides herself on her ability to make the best of any situation. With a unique look and a strong, assertive attitude, Felisa knows “The Face” would not only launch her career, but change her life.
Isabelle Bianchi @IsabelleanaB
Age: 19
Hometown: Geneva, Switzerland
International beauty Isabelle left her Swiss home with her mother at 16-years-old to pursue the American dream. Currently a student at NYU, she made her runway debut in a Tory Burch show, and has since walked in various shows during New York Fashion Week. Although she may always appear poised and elegant, Isabelle is independent, strong-minded and will always tell it like it is. She is a proud multicultural model who wants to challenge herself in her career and become the new face of the American fashion industry.
Khadisha Gaye @dijapapi
Age: 21
Hometown: Dakar, Senegal
A native of Senegal, Africa, Khadisha was discovered at the age of 16 when she won the Elite Model Look Contest. Modeling is not only her passion, but also her career as she teaches runway classes at a local agency in Cincinnati. Poised and self-assured, she lives for the catwalk and the camera. With her distinct look and self-assured demeanor, Khadisha is in it to win it and has no doubt she will catapult to the front of the competition.
Kira Dikhtyar @KirochkaD
Age: 24
Hometown: Moscow, Russia
With a no-nonsense attitude, this brunette bombshell never takes no for an answer, is an emotional powerhouse and is a force to be reckoned with. After competing as a professional gymnast in Russia for 10 years, Kira was scouted by a top international agent who helped jump-start her modeling career. With over four years of experience worldwide, she has been featured in Italian Vogue, GQ South Africa, ELLE and Cosmopolitan. Kira took a brief break from modeling after having her son, who is now two-years-old, and hopes that “The Face” will be her chance to truly make her mark in the industry and take her career to the next level.
Nakisha Bromfield – @KishaKeeks
Age: 20
Hometown: Bronx, NY
What you see is what you get with Jamaican stunner Nakisha, who is not afraid to speak her mind. She has an adventurous side beyond the runway and is in the midst of studying for her motorcycle license. She loves being in the spotlight whether it’s rocking the runway or on stage for a spoken word performance. Nakisha is determined to win and launch her career so that she can not only support herself, but also her mother, who has always been her number one fan.
Ray Clanton @Perfectly_Ray
Age: 18
Hometown: Miami Lakes, FL
Hailing from the sunshine state, Ray is an ultra-confident passionate teen who believes she has all the qualities of a budding supermodel. While she admits to having a stubborn side, she tries to make the most of every situation and always finds a way to turn negatives into positives. New to the industry, Ray turned down a soccer scholarship to pursue her supermodel dreams and hopes “The Face” will help jump-start her career.
Sharon Gallardo @sharongallardoc
Age: 24
Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Sharon is a sassy Latina from the Dominican Republic who fills the room with her positive energy everywhere she goes. The only girl in a family of all brothers, she was an awkward, athletic tomboy who didn’t even consider modeling until she was a teenager. What she values most in life is her humility, and she believes in treating everyone with equal respect. With only two years of modeling experience, Sharon is confident that her determination and acting background will distinguish her from the rest of the competition.
Tiana Zarlin @Tiana_Berri
Age: 20
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Of Korean, Russian and French descent, Tiana has always been a fan of the spotlight and the arts. A self-described goofball, she can instantly fill a room with her spunky creative spirit. Tiana loves to volunteer and intends to use modeling not only as a career, but as a platform to give back to her community in a positive and uplifting way. With three years of modeling experience under her belt, she is ready to take on the competition that could change her life forever.
“The Face” is produced by Shine America with Eden Gaha, Paul Franklin, Matt Westmore and Naomi Campbell serving as executive producers.
About Oxygen Media
Oxygen Media is a multiplatform entertainment brand that delivers relevant and engaging content to young women who like to “live out loud.” The growing cable network is the premier destination for unique and original unscripted programming including “The Face,” “Best Ink,” “Preachers of L.A.,” “I’m Having Their Baby” and “Bad Girls Club.” Oxygen is a social media trendsetter and leader in engaging modern young women– anywhere, anytime and on any device. Available in 80 million homes, Oxygen Media is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. For more information visit www.oxygen.com and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OxygenPR.
About Shine America
Shine America is a world leader in producing and distributing compelling scripted and unscripted television and digital content. Shine America is known for popular and award-winning original series including The Biggest Loser and The Face, as well as adaptations of Shine Group formats such as MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, Minute to Win It and the upcoming series Slide Show, as well as scripted series including The Bridge and upcoming Gracepoint. Shine America incorporates several divisions including unscripted format label Ardaban and Shine Latino, which develops and distributes original Spanish-language content to the U.S. marketplace. The company also has a joint-venture with award-winning producer Nigel Lythgoe (Nigel Lythgoe Productions). The global Shine 360˚ division builds brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. The company has also developed over 20 ground-breaking original online series on MSN, Yahoo!, YouTube premium channels and other platforms, many produced in partnership with global brands. Through Shine Group’s distribution arm, Shine International, Shine America distributes its extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries. Visit www.shineamerica.com for further information.