A very special season of Top Model has a very special premiere date: Leap Day.
The CW announced that America’s Next Top Model cycle 18, “British Invasion,” in which former contestants from Britain’s Next Top Model will compete against a fresh crop of ANTM wannabes, will premiere on February 29.
“This cycle will feature a variety of seasoned women from across the pond that will do whatever it takes to make it as a model in America,” the network’s press release says. “They will compete against not only each other but a group of aspiring American models. Emotions run high, the women are divided and the competition is intense as they vie for the grand prize.” The network’s latest promo for the cycle is calling it the show’s “ultimate culture clash.”
As previously announced, Kelly Cutrone will join Tyra Banks and Nigel Barker on the judging panel this cycle, replacing Vogue Editor-at-Large Andre Leon Talley. Jay Manuel and Miss J Alexander will return as creative director and runway trainer.
In keeping with cycles past, guest judges will span the entire entertainment industry, including singer Kelly Osbourne, reality star Kris Jenner, pop star Estelle, Marchesa fashion designer Georgina Chapman, television host Cat Deeley, actor and musician Nicolas Tse, former Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle, former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta, model Beverly Johnson, fashion designer Barney Cheng and fashion photographer Jez Smith.
The prize for the winner has also changed slightly since cycle 17, indicating that the winner should be a skilled host, singer and spokesperson, as well as a model. The winner will receive a modeling contract with LA/NY Models, a chance to be a guest correspondent on the hit newsmagazine Extra, a fashion spread in Vogue Italia and the cover and spread in Beauty In Vogue, the face of America’s Next Top Model perfume “Dream Come True,” a single to be released with CBS and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics.
The network has also released names and basic info on the cycle’s 14 contestants (photos forthcoming), half of whom previously appeared on Britain’s Next Top Model:
AMERICAN MODELS:
Name: Laura
Age: 20
Hometown: Scotia, New York
Height: 5’10 1/2
Favorite fashion label: Calvin Klein
Favorite musician: Mickey Avalon, Ani Difranco and Ed Sheeran
Favorite model: Mosh
Name: AzMarie
Age: 24
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Height: 5’9 3/4
Hobbies: Taking photos, playing basketball and writing
Favorite musician: Patti LaBelle
Favorite model: Grace Jones
Name: Eboni
Age: 18
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Height: 5’9
Favorite movie: Ray
Favorite musician: Nacho Picasso
Favorite model: Chanel Iman
Name: Kyle
Age: 20
Hometown: Magnolia, Texas
Height: 5’10
Hobbies: Modeling, wake boarding, going to the beach
Favorite musician: Kings of Leon, Jay Z and Belle Epoque
Favorite model: Adriana Lima
Name: Candace
Age: 22
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Height: 5’9
Hobbies: Going to events like art galleries, dance competitions and lounges, watching movies
Favorite musician: Lil Wayne, T.I., Adele and Evanescence
Favorite model: Tyra Banks and Milla Jovovich
Name: Mariah
Age: 20
Hometown: Pendleton, Oregon
Height: 5’10
Favorite Musician: Drake
Favorite Model: Irina Shayk
Favorite Fashion Label: Betsey Johnson
Name: Seymone
Age: 19
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia
Height: 5’11
Hobbies: Cheerleading, track, dancing and all things music and fun
Favorite musician: Michael Jackson
Favorite model: Tyra Banks and Adriana Lima
BRITISH MODELS:
Name: Louise [Watts, of cycle 3]
Age: 25
Hometown: Essex, England
Height: 5’9
Hobbies: Running, gym, walking my dog, seeing new places
Favorite musician: Emeli Sande
Favorite model: Crystal Renn
Name: Jasmia [Robinson, of cycle 2]
Age: 24
Hometown: London, England
Height: 5’8 1/2
Favorite fashion label: Louis Vuitton and Burberry
Favorite musician: Drake, J Cole, Movado, Beres Hammond
Favorite model: Lilly Cole and Naomi Campbell
Name: Annaliese [Dayes, of cycle 5]
Age: 24
Hometown: London, England
Height: 5’7
Hobbies: Trampoline, gymnastics and dance
Favorite musician: Drake
Favorite model: Eva Marcille
Name: Catherine [Thomas, of cycle 4]
Age: 22
Hometown: Folkestone, England
Height: 5’9
Favorite movie: Terminator 2
Favorite musician: Marilyn Manson
Favorite model: Milla Jovovich
Name: Sophie [Sumner, of cycle 5]
Age: 21
Hometown: Oxford, England
Height: 5’9
Favorite movie: Devil Wears Prada, Mean Girls, Factory Girl
Favorite musician: My boyfriend’s band, Bob Dylan, Pulp and Britney Spears
Favorite model: Kate Moss
Name: Ashley [Brown of cycle 5]
Age: 22
Hometown: Armadale, Scotland
Height: 5’8
Hobbies: Tae kwon do and kickboxing
Favorite musician: Rihanna and Beyonce
Favorite model: Tyra Banks and Kate Moss
Name: Alisha [White, of cycle 6]
Age: 20
Hometown: South London, England
Favorite movie: Roots
Favorite musician: Rihanna & Mavado
Favorite model: Jessica White
(Image: Youtube)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
Meghan hails from Walla Walla, WA, the proud home of the world’s best sweet onions and Adam West, the original Batman. An avid grammarian and over-analyzer, you can usually find her thinking too hard about plot devices in favorites like The Office, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and How I Met Your Mother. In her spare time, Meghan enjoys drawing, shopping, trying to be funny (and often failing), and not understanding the whole Twilight thing. She’s got a BA in English and Studio Art from Whitman College, which makes her a professional arguer, daydreamer, and doodler.
