SupermodelMe Goes Vertical: Reality TV Reimagined for Mobile

Refinery Media and COL Group International have partnered to transform the popular "SupermodelMe" modeling competition into a mobile-native microdrama series. Titled "SupermodelMe: Make It or Break It," the show is slated for a mid-year premiere on COL's global mobile platform, FlareFlow. This initiative represents a significant evolution for unscripted television, with an established reality intellectual property being fully adapted for vertical-format episodic storytelling at an unprecedented scale.

Created by Refinery Media, "SupermodelMe" previously aired for six seasons and gained international recognition, including a run on Netflix. The new iteration will feature original host Cindy Bishop and judges Ase Wang and Patricia Gouw, aiming to discover raw talent for mobile audiences. Timothy Oh of COL Group highlighted the universal appeal of regionally rooted content and FlareFlow's role in this transition, leveraging COL's expertise in vertical content.

Karen Seah, CEO of Refinery Media, emphasized the franchise's history of reinvention, from online beginnings to traditional television and now vertical storytelling. This partnership aims to demonstrate the successful adaptation of unscripted formats for vertical storytelling, potentially paving the way for a new wave of micro entertainment. The collaboration also includes three other Singapore-produced vertical series for FlareFlow, with plans for more titles and opportunities for emerging talent.

FlareFlow has achieved significant global reach with 33 million registered users across over 200 countries and regions, supporting 14 languages. COL Group, a Chinese media company, has been a pioneer in the microdrama format, expanding internationally through ReelShort in the U.S. and FlareFlow. Refinery Media, based in Singapore, is known for productions like "Asia's Next Top Model" and "The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition."