Refinery Media and COL Group International Airport have signed a deal to reimagine the hit modeling competition series “SupermodelMe” as one of the world’s first reality microdrama series.
The new series, titled “SupermodelMe: Make It or Break It,” was unveiled at Filmart in Hong Kong and is scheduled to premiere on COL’s global mobile platform FlareFlow in the middle of this year.
This move is a milestone for the unscripted television industry. This is the first time an established reality IP has been completely reimagined for episodic storytelling in a mobile-native vertical format at this scale. Produced and owned by Refinery Media, “SupermodelMe” aired for six seasons, including international airing on Netflix, gaining fans and establishing itself as one of the most recognizable modeling competition brands born in Asia.
Thai-American TV personality Cindy Bishop, who hosted the previous season of the series, will return as host for the new series, and will be joined by returning judge Ase Wang and co-judge Patricia Gau. “‘Supermodel Me’ has always been about discovering underdeveloped talent and giving them real opportunities,” Bishop told Variety. “Going vertical doesn’t change that. It means we’re now where more people are actually watching the show, which is mobile. We’re excited to be back and excited to be a part of something so groundbreaking.”
“‘Supermodel Me’ proves that locally-based content can convey universal appeal, and this is the first time a franchise of this scale has moved to a vertical format on a major global microdrama platform,” added Timothy Oh, general manager of COL Group. “We are excited to have FlareFlow leading the way. By leveraging COL’s extensive experience in the vertical and FlareFlow’s global reach, we are creating the right environment for the ‘SupermodelMe’ legacy to continue to evolve and introduce the IP to a more global, younger, mobile-first audience.”
“‘Supermodel Me’ has always embraced reinvention,” said Karen Shea, Founder and CEO of Refinery Media. “This partnership demonstrates how unscripted formats can adapt well to vertical storytelling and opens the door to a new wave of micro-entertainment.”
In addition to the flagship title, the deal also includes three vertical series produced by Refinery Media in Singapore: ‘No-Volley Zone’, ‘My Best Friend, My Brother, My Rival’ and ‘The Housemaid Wife’, all of which will premiere on FlareFlow, with further titles to be announced later this year. The series is also expected to serve as a platform for emerging talent, with standout cast members likely to be incorporated into future microdrama projects across Refinery Media’s ever-growing vertical slate.
FlareFlow, COL’s flagship global distribution platform, topped the U.S. entertainment app chart last September and has since grown to 33 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories, supports 14 languages, and has released approximately 5,200 series to date. The platform’s top-performing drama has garnered more than 193 million views and generated more than $15 million in in-app revenue.
COL Group, a publicly traded Chinese media and entertainment company, pioneered the microdrama format in China and later expanded internationally through the incubation of ReelShort in the US and the subsequent launch of FlareFlow. Headquartered in Singapore, Refinery Media’s credits include “Asia’s Next Top Model” and “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” among other works recognized at the Asia Academy Creative Awards. The company’s current schedule also includes an unscripted series about watches, “Man of the Hour,” and its first co-produced feature film, “Mothernet,” which is set to premiere on Netflix.
