JESSICA BETTS WINS "THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT"

Chicago Native Awarded a Record Contract, Released Single and $100,000 in the Live Television Finale

Jessica Betts, a 24-year-old writer from Chicago, was crowned the winner in the live television finale of UPN�s dramality series THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT. The three remaining performers had an emotional final meeting with the judges and professional makeover before leaping on stage to perform before a live studio audience. While all three vocalists gave impressive performances during the show, Missy had to choose one winner, and Jessica took the title.

In last night�s finale, Jessica, Matthew Buckner and Deltrice Thorner individually met with the judges to review their experiences on the road, discuss their status as one of the final three performers and explore what they might do with their celebrity status if picked to be the winner. Then, each challenger faced the spotlight and sang for the judges, possibly the last time. Mona concluded, "We have an incredibly hard decision in front of us."

As the judges deliberated, all three performers got the superstar treatment with a Clean & Clear makeover supervised by skin care expert Robert Scott and a session with Hollywood stylist Emil to pull their final performance look together. Then, the transformed trio joined Missy on her tour bus as she and Mona revealed that only two challengers would perform in the final performance challenge.

Finally, the finalists hit the stage before a live television audience to perform a remixed version of the series theme song "Get On The Bus" with their 10 previously eliminated challengers. After host Vanessa Minnillo ("TRL") introduced the judges and caught up briefly with some of the former participants, Missy selected Matthew, who presented his original song �Girls in the Club.� Then, Vanessa explained that either Jessica or Deltrice would perform while the other would be eliminated. Feeling generous, Missy decided that both women should sing their songs. Deltrice sang her song �Six in the Morning,� playing up to the judges. Then, Jessica belted out a heartfelt rendition of �Why Me?"

In the end, as the trio held hands, the spotlight fell on Jessica, announcing to the world the she was Missy�s choice as winner.

As the winner of THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, Jessica has been awarded a record contract with Missy�s label, a released single and $100,000.

Also during the live telecast, Missy announced "Reflections" by Daniel Woodard and Sherron E. Johnson from Milwaukee, WI as the winner of the "Break the Cycle Challenge," an anti-domestic violence public service announcement (PSA) contest for Junior High or High School students to end dating and domestic violence. The contest asked young amateur filmmakers to produce an original and powerful 15-second commercial spot on video that tells other teens how to break the cycle of emotional, verbal and physical abuse.

On UPN'S THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT, 13 aspiring vocal performers travel coast-to-coast with Grammy Award-winning artist Missy Elliott, living together on the road in an austere tour bus and competing against each other for a record contract, a released single and $100,000. Missy leads the panel of music industry judges, including Grammy Award-nominated R&B artist Teena Marie, Grammy Award-winning producer Dallas Austin, and president of Violator Management Mona Scott.

THE ROAD TO STARDOM WITH MISSY ELLIOTT airs Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.