You've Seen Them Walk the Walk, Now See What Happens Behind the Seams in the All New 'Project Runway' Companion Series 'Models of the Runway'

16 Models Will Strut Their Stuff as They Vie to be Paired with the Winning Designer of PROJECT RUNWAY

LOS ANGELES, July 15 -- Lifetime Television and The Weinstein Company gives Project Runway fans the ultimate, all-access backstage pass with the dazzling new companion series, Models of the Runway, premiering Thursday, August 20, at 11PM ET/PT. Models of the Runway offers viewers - for the first time ever - a no-holds-look at everyone's favorite design series from the models' perspective. The 16 women vie to be paired with the winning designer of Project Runway for a $25,000 cash prize from L'Oreal Skin Genesis and a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine.

The Season One Models of the Runway contestants are as follows:

Celine Chua - Hometown: Singapore; Resides in New York, NY

Ebony Jointer - Hometown: Bellflower, CA; Resides in Hacienda Heights, CA

Emarie Wiltz - Hometown: New Orleans, LA; Resides in New York, NY

Erica Milde - Hometown: Chicago, IL; Resides in Milwaukee, WI

Erika Macke - Hometown: Redondo Beach, CA; Resides in Beverly Hills, CA

Fatma Dabo - Hometown: The Gambia; Resides in Los Angeles, CA

Kayln Hemphill - Hometown: Lake Jackson, TX; Resides in New York, NY

Katie Sticksel - Hometown: Cleveland, OH; Resides in Los Angeles, CA

Kojii Jenni Burke - Hometown: Ireland; Resides in Los Angeles, CA

Lisa Blades - Hometown: Owensboro, KY; Resides in Los Angeles, CA

Matar Cohen - Hometown: Israel; Resides in New York, NY

Tanisha Harper - Hometown: Japan; Resides in Los Angeles, CA

Tara Egan - Hometown: Elmhurst, IL; Resides in Chicago, IL

Valerie Roy - Hometown/Resides in New York, NY

Vanessa Fitzgerald - Hometown: New York, NY; Resides in Los Angeles, CA/ New York, NY

Yosuzi Sylvester - Hometown: Venezuela; Resides in Los Angeles, CA

For more information about the Season One models, visit mylifetime.com.

ABOUT PROJECT RUNWAY AND MODELS OF THE RUNWAY

Hosted by supermodel and fashion maven Heidi Klum, the hit series Project Runway provides budding designers with an opportunity to launch their careers in fashion, under the watchful eye of mentor and Liz Claiborne Chief Creative Officer Tim Gunn. The wildly successful competition reality series has proven to be one of television's most talked about shows and was the highest rated unscripted competition on all of cable for 2008.

Models of the Runway, an exciting new companion series to Project Runway, will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the reality competition - from the models' perspective. Viewers can experience the drama, anxiety, joys, tears and frustrations as the models themselves face elimination each week and compete for a cash prize and photo spread in Marie Claire magazine.

Produced by The Weinstein Company, Miramax Films, Bunim-Murray Productions and Full Picture Productions, Project Runway and Models of the Runway are executive produced by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairmen of The Weinstein Company, and Jon Murray and Sara Rea of Bunim-Murray Productions (The Real World). Heidi Klum, Jane Cha and Desiree Gruber of Full Picture Productions also executive produce both series. Barbara Schneeweiss oversees the production on behalf of The Weinstein Company.

ABOUT LIFETIME TELEVISION

Lifetime is a diverse, multi-media company, committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming that celebrates, entertains and supports women. The Company's portfolio includes the cable industry's two highest-rated women's channels, Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network, as well as Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime HD, Lifetime Movie Network HD, Lifetime on Demand and Lifetime Digital (which includes myLifetime.com, Lifetime Games, Roiworld.com, DressUpChallenge.com and MothersClick.com). Long dedicated to implementing and cultivating positive change, Lifetime Networks' advocacy initiatives span a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Launched in 1984, Lifetime Networks is part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.