The legendary search transforms into a 14-episode 'must-watch' TV series.

It was magic. That's the best way to describe last year's fairytale finish to M-Net's star-making Face of Africa model talent search when gorgeous Ghanaian, Kate Tachie-Menson, strode into the spotlight on her second attempt in the series, and walked away as the newest African catwalk sensation.

Now Face of Africa is back and focused on transforming another aspiring African model into the world's latest style star. And this time M-Net has announced that its legendary search has metamorphosed as well, from a 4-part special into a dynamic 14-episode television series.

“Our audiences love the Face of Africa story,” says M-Net Africa Director, Biola Adekanbi. “Kate, with her determination to succeed and her incredible will to follow her dream, embodies the spirit of Face of Africa. She is a true example of the appeal of the project, of its ability to change lives positively, and this is what viewers are so enthusiastic about seeing. They want to see it all, the continental search; the transformations; the successes; the ultimate triumph. So M-Net has invested in a longer series, to let the Face of Africa story be told in its entirety, to let our audiences join the search and live the process.”

With the prize for the new season of Face of Africa set at USD 50 000 from M-Net plus a modeling contract with O Model Africa, which is helmed by the first Face of Africa winner Oluchi Onweagba, this year's search promises more of the excitement, drama and glamour that Face of Africa is well known for.

Plus, in another major announcement from M-Net, the channel has also revealed that the Face of Africa 2009 Finale will be held in Nigeria, in February 2010, marking the first Face of Africa Finale to ever be held in the West African country.

Now, with the pioneering search entering season 8, the entry mechanism for this year's M-Net Face of Africa has also evolved. Embracing the new technologies that are driving global conversation, this year's search will be driven through a simple and comprehensive online entry process.

Aspiring entrants should enter online at the Face of Africa website, where they will be required to complete the entry form and provide photographs of themselves.

Entry is open to any woman who is a citizen of a sub-Saharan country and is between the ages of 17 and 24. The minimum height requirement is 1.72m, the maximum hip measurement is 96cm, and entrants should not have an existing modeling contract. The deadline for online entries is 28 August 28.

Thereafter, a special evaluation session will be held in 14 countries – Angola; Botswana; Ethiopia; Ghana; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Nigeria; South Africa; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; and Zimbabwe – to evaluate the most promising of the online entrants. At this time, late entrants will be considered for entry into the series, only if they have been unable to access the online entry process. In addition, any young woman considered as a finalist for Face of Africa, who is from a country which does not have a dedicated evaluation session, will be evaluated by specially selected Face of Africa representatives in their own country.

Thereafter, the finalists selected to proceed in the competition, after the cross-continental search, will head to Model Boot Camp, during which time the TOP 10 finalists will be chosen. The TOP 10 finalists will then head into the M-Net Face of Africa 2009 Finale in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, would-be entrants would be wise to remember the words of the unforgettable Kate Tachie-Menson, who has already graced the pages of leading African magazines and headed down runways successfully and continuously since her famous win:

“Every photo-shoot, every fashion fitting and every single time I get onto the catwalk, I live my dream because of M-Net's Face of Africa. Now you can live yours!”