MEG CASWELL NAMED HGTV'S NEWEST DESIGN STAR

New York, N.Y. [For Immediate Release - September 13, 2011] Meg Caswell, 34, an interior designer and business owner from Chicago, Ill., was crowned the season six champion of the hit reality competition HGTV Design Star. During last night's season finale, panel member Vern Yip, along with Genevieve Gorder (Dear Genevieve), Candice Olson (Divine Design) and mentor David Bromstad (Color Splash), delivered the life-changing prize to Meg - a contract for her own show on HGTV.

"Being chosen as the next HGTV Design Star is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. I have won my life's dream!" said Meg about winning the competition.

While the show's on-air season has come to a dramatic conclusion, viewers can still select a Fan Favorite designer who will win his or her own online show on HGTV.com. Viewers can visit HGTV.com/designstar to vote up to 10 times per day for the designer who they believe is the best of this season's talented finalists. Voting ends at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 15, and the winner will be announced immediately following the voting deadline.

In the meantime, Meg will star in a five-episode series, HGTV Great Rooms, premiering on Saturday, September 17, at 6 p.m. ET/PT. During the series, shot in her hometown of Chicago, she will use her background in criminology to identify what she calls 'design crimes' and transform tired, outdated kitchens and great rooms into truly gorgeous spaces.

"Meg embodies so many unique qualities," said Yip. "The moment you meet her she instantly puts you at ease, explains design in an entertaining way and has an evident design talent that blossomed into something stunningly beautiful over the course of the season. I'm really looking forward to seeing her new series!"

During the HGTV Design Star finale, Meg and Karl Sponholtz, competed to create their own TV show pilot. As part of the production, each competitor had to deliver a unique show concept, collaborate with real homeowners and showcase the room designs that they believed would help them win the series' prize. The two finalists worked with homeowners in a New York City brownstone to give them the new living room of their dreams.

"Meg is like the best girlfriend you can talk to about anything, said Olson. "Whether it's boyfriends, bedrooms, bathrooms or basements, she'll have a fresh opinion or idea you can trust."

"I think that America will be inspired and dazzled by Meg's design skills and dynamic personality," said Kathleen Finch, general manager, HGTV. "She definitely embodies exactly what we're looking for in a Design Star."

This season of HGTV Design Star featured a star-studded panel of guest judges, including designers Thom Filicia, Robert and Cortney Novogratz, Nate Berkus and Kathy Ireland, as well as Food Network's Paula Deen. The series' celebrated line-up also included HGTV designer John Gidding and event planner Dina Manzo.

About HGTV

HGTV, America's leading home and lifestyle brand, is one of cable's top-rated networks and is distributed to more than 99 million U.S. households. HGTV's website, HGTV.com, is the nation's leading online home-and-garden destination that attracts an average of 4 million unique visitors per month. The HGTV HOME consumer products line currently includes exclusive offerings of paint, flooring, soft goods and other home-oriented products. In partnership with Hearst Magazines, the HGTV Magazine, a home and lifestyle publication, will be available on newsstands beginning October 2011.