LITTLE WOMEN! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL" HISTORY, TYRA BANKS ANNOUNCES THAT APPLICANTS MUST BE 5'7" AND UNDER

CASTING FOR CYCLE 13 OF "TOP MODEL" BEGINS FEBRUARY 28

February 23 , 2009 (Burbank, California) For the first time in TOP MODEL history, Tyra Banks announces that girls must be 5'7" and under in order to become AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL. After 12 cycles of a minimum height requirement of 5'7" matching the industry standard Banks and the casting director of The CW's hit reality series AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL are searching the U.S. for females, ages 18 to 27, of diverse backgrounds, shapes, sizes and with a height requirement of 5'7" and under.

"There have been top supermodels in the past that weren't as tall as the industry demands, like fashion icon Kate Moss," said Banks. "So we are changing up Top Model' for cycle 13 and making it a year for the shorter model!"

Open Call Cities:

Saturday, February 28 Miami, Florida

10:00am-3:00pm

Eden Roc (A Renaissance Beach Resort and Spa)

4525 Collins Avenue

Miami Beach, Florida 33140

Tuesday, March 3 San Francisco, California

10:00am-3:00pm

The Westin San Francisco Market Street

50 Third Street

San Francisco, California 94103

Saturday, March 7 Washington, D.C. *

Saturday, March 14 New York City *

Saturday, March 21 Dallas, Texas *

Wednesday, March 25 Chicago, Illinois *

Saturday, March 28 Los Angeles, California *

* Locations and times are TBD. Please visit www.cwtv.com for up-to-date casting information, applications, as well as additional open calls sponsored by local CW Affiliates.

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL CYCLE 12 premieres Wednesday, March 4 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET) on The CW.

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions. Tyra Banks is the creator and executive producer along with Ken Mok ("Making the Band") and Daniel Soiseth ("Hell's Kitchen").