Iman to Replace Kelly Rowland as The Fashion Show Host

The Fashion Show

The Fashion Show is Bravo's replacement for its original design competition series, Project Runway. This competition series billed fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi and former member of Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland as hosts. The first season aired May 7, 2009 on Bravo with 15 designers competing for the chance to have their work sold in retail and win a cash prize of $125,000. Mizrahi and Rowland also served as judges along with IMG Vice President Fern Mallis and Laura Brown of Harper's Bazaar. Each week the judges decide who stays and goes until the finale where America votes for the winner.

Bravo picked The Fashion Show up for a second season, but with a major change. Kelly Rowland is being replaced with fashion icon Iman as Mizrahi's co-host. Isaac and Iman are no strangers to fashion or each other. The two fashion legends have known each other for years. This season the new crop of designers will be in for a treat and brutal honesty from a purely fashion industry perspective. It will be interesting to see how the designers handle their creations critiqued by four members of the industry.

Iman as The Fashion Show New Co-Host: A Pleasant Surprise

For the past month rumors abounded that Bravo was replacing Kelly Rowland as co-host. The Fashion Show's first season was not the stellar replacement for Project Runway people hoped it would be. Blogs and other media such as the Boston Globe and Styleite felt the show lacking in areas. When rumors spread about Rowland being replaced many thought Victoria Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio was going to be the replacement. Critics still saw this as a positive to change that would hopefully bring new life to the show.

However when Bravo announced this week that Iman would be the new co-host critics saw hope for The Fashion Show. Even Iman is excited about the new project as expressed in her press release:

"I am so excited to be joining the Bravo team and to be working again with Isaac Mizrahi, my close friend of many, many years. I am also looking forward to all of the behind-the-scenes excitement and drama that is generated through the creative process of these undiscovered fashion designers. This will certainly be a show any follower of fashion will want to see."

Iman: Ideal Choice for The Fashion Show

Iman is a legendary supermodel from the 70's and 80's who opened many doors for Black models. She was one of the first successful print and runway models gracing the haute-couture runways and fashion magazines like Vogue. Yves Saint Laurent retained Iman as house model and was the inspiration for his African Queen couture collection.

As a former model, Iman stayed within the industry and began her own line of cosmetics for women of color, named after her. She also has worked to gain more recognition for models of color within the fashion industry, specifically in regards to the runway. Furthermore, Iman is no novice to hosting and giving critiques for design competitions. Iman also hosted Project Runway Canada and is sure to apply the same constructive criticism to The Fashion Show.

Sources

A&E Television Networks. (2009). Iman Biography. Retrieved May 12, 2010, from Bio True Story: http://www.biography.com/articles/Iman-9542466?part=1

Retrieved May 12, 2010, from BravoTv: http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/the-dish/iman-to-host-the-fashion-show

Muther, C. (2010, May 12). Can Iman save "The Fashion Show"? Retrieved May 12, 2010, from Boston.com: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/stylephile/2010/05/can_iman_save_t.html

Pfetten, V. v. (2010, May 12). Iman to Replace Kelly Rowland As "The Fashion Show" Host. Retrieved May 12, 2010, from Styleite: http://www.styleite.com/media/the-fashion-show-iman/