Supermodel Me


Supermodelme is a multi-platform reality series in which a number aspiring models of Asian heritage compete for a chance to launch their career in the fashion industry.
Created by Karen Seah and produced by Refinery Media, Supermodelme has run for three seasons and received nominations for "Best Cross-Platform Content" at the Asian Television Awards 2012 and "Best Non-Fiction" at the International Digital Emmy Awards in 2013.
The series was hosted by Singaporean model Charmaine Harn in its first two seasons. VJ and international Supermodel Lisa Selesner assumed the role of host from the third season onwards.

Show format

Seasons 1 and 2 were 30-minute episodes and in Season 3, the show graduated to 60-minute episodes on cable, although on MediaCorp Channel 5, 30-minute episodes were specially produced. Throughout the series, the contestants are housed together under one roof and made to go through a series of tasks and photo-challenges, most of which bear a strong sporting and competitive angle. Each episode, one contestant is eliminated before a panel of judges until the winning model is chosen from a final three.

Transmedia presence

Supermodelme is an English language multi-platform, reality-based entertainment programme available across television, the internet and on mobile.. Along with weekly television episodes, viewers can follow online webisodes that feature behind-the-scenes footage, extended footage and deleted scenes. Mobile content ranges from introductory biographies of the models to weekly "Confessional" videos. Supermodelme's cross-platform efforts earned it a nomination and "Highly Commended" position for "Best Cross-Platform Content" at the Asian Television Awards 2012, coming in behind CNN-IBN's "The Citizen Journalist Show".

Other technology integration

In 2010, Supermodelme became the first television showout of Asia to ink a deal with popular location-based application Foursquare. The collaboration saw the integration of brands such as DKNY Jeans, with followers of the branded Supermodelme game rewarded with discounts for every virtual ‘Check-In’. In 2011, Refinery Media entered into a partnership with Google’s YouTube to distribute Supermodelme content on its site. Refinery Media also pioneered the use of “Hyperspot technology” with its integration into the show’s website Supermodelme.tv. The use of “Hyperspot technology” on Supermodelme.tv allowed viewers to attain immediate information and access to whatever brands, products etc. they saw on screen while watching content on the website.

Episodic breakdown

Each episode, the models undertake a sports or action-oriented task that pits them against one another in a bid to determine one winner. The winner may receive prizes, rewards or in some cases, extra camera shots or time in their Photo Challenges. Following each task is a Photo Challenge, which is the key elimination element of the show. Here, the contestants are given a set number of camera shots to obtain their best picture for judging. The photo shoots require the utilization of skills acquired from the respective preceding physical tasks. After the photo challenge is over, the contestants will face Supermodelme’s celebrity judging panel that will provide feedback on their performance and photographs and proceed to eliminate one contestant.

Series evolution

Season 1 of Supermodelme was initially produced for online consumption with 20 webisodes of 10 - 12 minute lengths and was broadcast on the website Supermodelme.tv. The show was subsequently picked up by cable channel AXN, reformatted for television broadcast and shown in 27 countries.
Season 2 saw Lionsgate's Celestial Tiger Entertainment co-produce Supermodelme for television broadcast in high definition. Weekly 30-minute episodes debuted on KIX and MediaCorp while the series retained its digital content and transmedia presence with accompanying webisodes and mobisodes.
Season 3 of Supermodelme was co-produced through a tri-party deal between Celestial Tiger Entertainment, MediaCorp TV and Refinery Media. It saw the introduction of Lisa S., a new host.
Season 4 and 5 have aired.

Partnerships

In 2010 Celestial Tiger Entertainment, the Asian arm of Lionsgate, entered into a partnership with Refinery Media to produce Season 2 and 3 of Supermodelme while additionally securing the rights to broadcast Season 1.
It was announced in 2012 that Supermodelme would make its first foray into China through Sohu and Qiyi and the United States via MYX TV, with the network purchasing the rights to all three seasons of the series. In addition, Supermodelme announced in July 2012 a collaboration with Audi Fashion Festival 2013 - the largest annual fashion event in Singapore.

Seasons

SeasonSeason Premier DateWinnerRunner-upContestantsNumber of contestantInternational Destination
1

Singapore		June 16, 2009
Evelyn Leckie
Helen Swale, Emilia Soh, Yuen Sze Jia, Ciara Schmalfeld, Jenny Fuglsang, Fiona Thomas, Anna Syuhada, Kathlene McKinney10-
2

Singapore		17 March 2011
Avalon Halaho
Melinda Widjanarko		Niki Niu, Syakella Jazmyn, Roshni Soin, Anny Lou & Emiko Thein, Kiani Lee, Elizabeth Moulden, Tanja Widing, Rosie Choovichian, Kym Toussaint12
Bali
3

Singapore		13 March 2012
Tiffany Warne
Nansi Sanya		Petrina Ann, Lynn Yang Wolf, Lila Swain, Charlotte Beck, Danielle Lim, Isabelle Du, Venus Hung, Deanna Ibrahim, Jacqueline Milner, Asha Cuthbert12-
4

Hong Kong
Katherine Rigby
Sasha Quahe		Karina Curlewis, Stephanie Shen, Chloe Lane, Georgie Millar, Ashleigh Martin, Dominique Nguyen, Roelene Coleman, Yumika Hoskin, Lilly Nguyen, Ying Liu12
Macau
5

24 November 2014

Gabriela Leonardo		Nadia Christian, Francine Zauner, Irish Ong, Kea Lee, Nicole Söderström, Jasmine Ng, Sharin Keong, Shi Lim, Victoria Blom, Rafaella Leonardo12-

Distributions

Supermodelme has distribution in 13 countries across the globe with a television reach of about 30 million people.
CountryProvider
SingaporeMediaCorp Channel 5, Singtel Mio TV, Celestial Tiger, KIX
MalaysiaAstro, Celestial Tiger, KIX
KoreaCelestial Tiger, KIX
PhilippinesSkycable, Celestial Tiger, KIX
IndonesiaIndovision, Centrin TV, Skynindo, Groovia TV, Aora, OkeVision, Celestial Tiger, KIX
CambodiaCelestial Tiger, KIX
VietnamCelestial Tiger, KIX
Thailandbbtv, 1-Sky, Celestial Tiger, KIX
Hong KongTVB Pearl, bbtv, now TV
USADIRECTV, Myx TV, RCN, Time Warner Cable, Cox
ChinaSohu.com, Qiyi.com

Key publicity garnered

TitlePublicationCountry
Refinery Media Scores Coup with Foursquare DealSGEntreprenuersSingapore
Singapore deal for FoursquareZDNet AsiaSingapore
Foursquare Inks Refinery Media Deal in SingaporeUSATODAYUnited States
Models on a RoleThe New PaperSingapore
See Asians work it on catwalkAsiaOneSingapore
SupermodelMe – Asia's no holds barred model competitionXinMsnSingapore
Excuse me, are you a model?HerWorldSingapore
Singapore models vie in online showThe Straits Times UrbanSingapore
Model Christabel Campbell says why she loves tweetingThe Straits TimesSingapore
Christabel Campbell says: Never say NEVERThe New PaperSingapore
Let The Net Fight BeginThe New PaperSingapore
Hey Good LookingThe Straits Times UrbanSingapore
Get me home by 2amThe Straits TimesSingapore
Evelyn Leckie CrownedHer WorldSingapore
The Bag PageThe Straits Times UrbanSingapore
Runway SuccessHer WorldSingapore
Model competition instant hitCampaign AsiaSingapore
'Supermodelme 2': What it takes to become Asia's next top modelCNNGoUnited States
Real DramaThe New PaperSingapore
A Moment with... Hong Kong Supermodel Qi QiLifestyle AsiaSingapore
Lisa S is the new host of Supermodelme Season 3!XinMsnSingapore
Hong Kong’s top model cannot stay in SingaporeLianhe ZaobaoSingapore
Wolf ratted out by rivalThe New PaperSingapore
Hard to be a modelBerita HarianSingapore
Star secrets to office appealSingapore Women’s WeeklySingapore
Model WaysELLESingapore
Supermodelme LisaCLEOSingapore
MH Woman: Tiffany Leigh WarneMen’s HealthSingapore
5 questions with... Supermodelme's Tiffany WarneXinMsnSingapore