The search for M-Net Face of Africa 2009 begins

That search is M-Net’s Face of Africa and this month, the competition returns to television screens once more to tell a story of hope and opportunity, as the journey from Africa’s busy streets to Africa’s glamourous catwalks continues. From yesterday and running 17 weeks, Face of Africa will cross countries, uncover fresh new faces, and […]

That search is M-Net’s Face of Africa and this month, the competition returns to television screens once more to tell a story of hope and opportunity, as the journey from Africa’s busy streets to Africa’s glamourous catwalks continues.

From yesterday and running 17 weeks, Face of Africa will cross countries, uncover fresh new faces, and chart their rise to the top, from discovery to success, from potential to fame, from possibility to reality.  Along the way, audiences will discover how Nigeria’s gorgeous duo of Blessing Bassey and Marvis Chinelo Offor were discovered at this year’s auditions and how far they have progressed in the competition.

Speaking as M-Net readies itself to screen a new expanded series, Africa Director Biola Alabi was clear on the project’s legacy, its aims and its outcomes.

“Over time, this initiative has shown that it is about so much more than just fashion and beauty. There is a bigger picture there to see, something more than shoes, and cameras and clothing. It’s about young women with so much courage that they will leave their homes to find new experiences, so much determination that they will venture into the unknown to discover themselves, so much passion that they will chase their dreams.”

She said “There’s something so magical about this, so special to see, that M-Net wants to share it with audiences across Africa. Because these are Africa’s own and they are taking their chance to shine. We want to laugh with them, cry with them, celebrate with them and now our audiences can do this, every step of the way.”

The winner receives a cash prize of USD 50 000 and a modeling contract with O Model Africa. Auditions for the new season began earlier this year in 14 countries – Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  The next step was the casting sessions where a special team of model scouts evaluated entrants and selected contestants to continue in the series.

Emotional, dramatic and entertaining, these castings were filmed and DStv audiences will now be able to see behind-the-scenes of the search and live the experience. At the end of the audition phase, 24 models from 16 countries were selected to participate in Model Boot Camp, in Mombasa, Kenya. This idyllic tropical paradise with its breathtaking shoreline will serve as backdrop for another selection round amidst modeling workshops, fashion photo-shoots and television filming.

With some of the selected contestants exiting the competition at this point, the Mombasa Boot Camp will be action-packed, exciting and a little tense, as contestants learn, hone their skills and compete to remain in the competition under the watchful eyes of Boot Camp presenter and former Face of Africa 2005, Kaone Kario.

With stops scheduled in Johannesburg as well as a second Model Boot Camp in Dar es Salaam at Swahili Fashion Week, plus the shooting of a music video with Nigerian superstar D’Banj, the Face of Africa adventure will be told every Saturday evening on M-Net West, in the lead-up to the Face of Africa 2009 Finale, to be held in Lagos on Saturday February 6, 2010.

The last edition was won by Ghanian model, Kate Menson.