Refinery Media and COL Group Intl. have struck a deal to reimagine hit modelling competition franchise “SupermodelMe” as one of the world’s first reality microdrama series.
The new series, titled “SupermodelMe: Make It or Break It,” will premiere on COL’s global mobile platform FlareFlow in mid-year, with the announcement made at Hong Kong FilMart.
The move marks a milestone for the unscripted television industry: for the first time, an established reality IP is being fully retooled for mobile-native, vertical-format episodic storytelling at this scale. Created and owned by Refinery Media, “SupermodelMe” ran for six seasons, including an international run on Netflix, and built a following that positioned it as one of the most recognizable modelling competition brands to emerge from Asia.
Thai-American television personality Cindy Bishop, who hosted previous seasons of the franchise, will return as host of the new series, joined by returning judge Ase Wang and co-judge Patricia Gouw. “‘SupermodelMe’ has always been about finding raw talent and giving them a real shot,” Bishop told Variety. “Going vertical doesn’t change that, it just puts us where more people are actually watching shows now: their mobiles. I’m excited to be back, and I’m excited about being part of something so groundbreaking.”
“‘SupermodelMe’ is proof that regionally rooted content can carry universal appeal, and this is the first time a franchise of this caliber has made the move to the vertical format on any major global microdrama platform,” added Timothy Oh, general manager of COL Group. “I am excited that FlareFlow is leading that charge. By leveraging COL’s depth of experience in the vertical space and FlareFlow’s global reach, we are creating the right environment for ‘SupermodelMe’s’ legacy to continue evolving and to introduce the IP to more global, younger, mobile-first audiences.”
Karen Seah, founder and CEO of Refinery Media, said: “‘SupermodelMe’ has always embraced reinvention. From its early beginnings as an online-only series, evolving into traditional long-form television, and now reimagined for vertical storytelling, each chapter has brought the franchise closer to its audience. This partnership allows us to demonstrate how unscripted formats can successfully adapt to vertical storytelling, opening the door for a new wave of micro entertainment.”
Beyond the flagship title, the deal also encompasses three additional Singapore-produced vertical series from Refinery Media: “No-Volley Zone,” “My Best Friend, My Brother, My Rival” and “The Housemaid Wife” which are all set to premiere on FlareFlow, with further titles to be unveiled later in the year. The series is also expected to serve as a platform for emerging talent, with standout cast members potentially folded into future microdrama projects across Refinery Media’s growing vertical slate.
FlareFlow, COL’s flagship global distribution platform, claimed the top spot on U.S. entertainment app charts last September and has since grown to 33 million registered users across more than 200 countries and regions, with support for 14 languages and approximately 5,200 series released to date. The platform’s top-performing drama has logged more than 193 million views and generated over $15 million in in-app revenue.
COL Group, a publicly listed Chinese media and entertainment company, pioneered the microdrama format in China before expanding internationally through its incubation of ReelShort in the U.S. and the subsequent launch of FlareFlow. Singapore-headquartered Refinery Media’s credits include “Asia’s Next Top Model” and “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition,” among other productions recognized at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. The company’s current slate also includes “Man of the Hour,” an unscripted series on horology, and its first co-produced feature film “Mothernet,” set to premiere on Netflix.
English (US) ·