"AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL" STRUTS DOWN THE HIGH-FASHION RUNWAY TO KICK-OFF CYCLE 16 ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, ON THE CW

TOP DESIGNERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, STYLISTS AND SUPERMODELS LEND THEIR EXPERTISE AS GUEST JUDGES

PRIZE PACKAGE INCLUDES A SPREAD IN THE COVETED MAGAZINE VOGUE ITALIA, AND CONTRACTS WITH IMG MODELS AND COVERGIRL

February 2, 2011 (Burbank, California) - The CW's hit series AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL returns to the world of high fashion when Cycle 16 premieres on Wednesday, February 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET).

Lending their expertise as guest judges during this high fashion cycle are international fashion designer Lana Marks, model/stylist Erin Wasson, stylist Rachel Zoe, Sudanese model and actress Alek Wek, stylist/creative consultant Lori Goldstein, Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini, fashion model Sonia Dara, IMG Models executive Ivan Bart, Vogue Italia editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani, Brazilian designer Daniella Issa Helayel, and costume designer/stylist Eric Daman ("Gossip Girl").

Fourteen model hopefuls will compete for the ultimate career-launching prize pack
Age: a contract with IMG Models, one of the top international modeling management companies in the world; a fashion spread in Vogue Italia and an additional spread and cover of Beauty in Vogue; and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics.

Tyra Banks leads the panel of judges, comprised of influential fashion editor Andr� Leon Talley and photographer Nigel Barker. Jay Manuel serves as the photo shoot creative director while Miss J Alexander returns as the runway trainer.

"AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL" CYCLE 16 PARTICPANTS

Name: Alexandria
Age: 21
Height: 5' 10"
Hometown: Newport Beach, California
Current Location: Huntington Beach, California
Occupation: Currently unemployed
Favorite Designer: Karl Lagerfeld
Biggest ANTM Fear: Accidentally falling or doing something embarrassing while modeling.
Most Confident About: My drive to never give up on what I want.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: Adventures in new places. I love snowboarding, hiking, surfing, cliff-diving, hanging out with my sister and any of my five brothers.

Name: Angelia
Age: 20
Height: 5' 10"
Hometown: Landstuhl, Germany
Current Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida
Occupation: College student, studying Marine Biology
Favorite Designer: Vera Wang
Biggest ANTM Fear: Getting along with the other models, and not making it past the casting week.
Most Confident About: My unique look.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love going to the beach and snorkeling in Key West. I also love snowboarding, rollerblading, fishing and swimming. And of course, dancing!

Name: Brittani
Age: 19
Height: 5' 10 �"
Hometown: Beech Creek, Pennsylvania
Current Location: Howard, Pennsylvania
Occupation: College student, studying English, International Studies and Spanish
Favorite Designer: Marc Jacobs
Biggest ANTM Fear: Living in the house with the other models.
Most Confident About: My walk. The runway is my favorite part of the modeling world.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love dancing, and any form of artistic expression, including collages, painting and crafts. Also reading, writing and being with friends and family.

Name: Dalya
Age: 21
Height: 5' 9"
Hometown: Clear Lake, Texas
Current Location: Corona, California
Occupation: Currently unemployed
Favorite Designer: A tie between Alexander McQueen and Giambattista Valli
Biggest ANTM Fear: Having the judges misunderstand me.
Most Confident About: I am most confident in my ability to work any runway you put me on!
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: Hanging with my friends, shopping and reading. But I'm forever in model mode!

Name: Dominique
Age: 23
Height: 5' 9"
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Current Location: Houston, Texas
Occupation: College graduate with a degree in Marketing
Favorite Designer: Stacey Bendet's Alice & Olivia Clothing line
Biggest ANTM Fear: Not knowing what to expect.
Most Confident About: I'm most confident about my walk.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: Hanging with family and friends. And you can find me at a local museum, book store or window shopping. I also love to dance and go to the theater when I can.

Name: Hannah
Age: 20
Height: 5'10"
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Current Location: Austin, Texas
Occupation: College student majoring in Photo-Communications.
Favorite Designer: John Galliano
Biggest ANTM Fear: That I might come across as a ditz.
Most Confident About: My personality, my sense of style and my ability to make friends easily.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love photography, stop-animation and film. I like to write and doodle.

Name: Jaclyn
Age: 20
Height: 5' 10"
Hometown: Belton, Texas
Current Location: Belton, Texas
Occupation: Waitress and college student
Favorite Designer: Valentino
Biggest ANTM Fear: Having to do any sort of modeling with a shark!
Most Confident About: Being myself and the person my parents raised me to be.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love to be outdoors! Hiking, rock climbing and sailing on our lake here in Belton -- I love all sports. Go Steelers! Go Spurs, Go!

Name: Kasia
Age: 26
Height: 5' 9"
Hometown: Wheaton, Illinois
Current Location: New York, New York
Occupation: College graduate with a degree in Journalism
Favorite Designer: Marc Jacobs, among many others
Biggest ANTM Fear: That being myself won't be enough.
Most Confident About: I am most confident about my high fashion look.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love taking acting classes and reading anything I can get my hands on about films, acting and directing. I also go to a lot of art museums, exhibits and shows in New York City.

Name: Mikaela
Age: 21
Height: 5' 9"
Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida
Current Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Occupation: College Student, studying theater
Favorite Designer: A tie between Roberto Cavalli and Calvin Klein
Biggest ANTM Fear: Not making it into the house. I don't want to let myself or anyone else down.
Most Confident About: I am definitely confident about my runway walk.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love to make short films with my friends. I can spend the entire day at the movies with my boyfriend. And I hang out with my family a lot!

Name: Molly
Age: 22
Height: 5' 10"
Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
Current Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Occupation: College student, studying biology
Favorite Designer: Alexander McQueen
Biggest ANTM Fear: Not getting along with everyone.
Most Confident About: Definitely the photo shoots.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love watching movies and TV shows, reading, swimming and shopping.

Name: Monique
Age: 19
Height: 5' 11"
Hometown: Hebron, Illinois
Current Location: Pell Lake, Illinois
Occupation: College student and waitress at a sports bar
Favorite Designer: Dolce & Gabanna
Biggest ANTM Fear: Tripping and falling over.
Most Confident About: I am most confident about being in front of the camera.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: Lately, all I've been doing is snowboarding and working out. I enjoy anything with music and I love art. And, of course, bubble baths.

Name: Nicole
Age: 20
Height: 5' 11"
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Current Location: Orlando, Florida
Occupation: College student
Favorite Designer: A tie between Alexander Wang and Balmain
Biggest ANTM Fear: That the other girls might be overly dramatic and mean.
Most Confident About: I am confident that I can handle criticism well.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love to shop, look at fashion editorials and read books about the brain. And working out - it releases my stress!

Name: Ondrei
Age: 18
Height: 5' 7"
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Current Location: Muskegon, Michigan
Occupation: Currently working in a retail clothing store
Favorite Designer: Betsey Johnson. I love her clothing and the way her colors go from loud to chic and the style is so free-spirited.
Biggest ANTM Fear: That people won't see my true potential to become a model.
Most Confident About: I am confident that I leave my mark in people's eyes and hearts.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love photography and writing poetry.

Name: Sara
Age: 18
Height: 5' 10"
Hometown: Rio Grand Valley, Texas
Current Location: Edinburg, Texas
Occupation: College student with two part-time jobs
Favorite Designer: Betsey Johnson
Biggest ANTM Fear: That I won't be able to articulate what I am feeling and thinking, and that I won't improve throughout the competition.
Most Confident About: I am absolutely confident in my ability to stay grounded and remain true to myself and where I cam from.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I'm really involved with Planned Parenthood activities on our campus. I go dancing with all my friends on weekends.