The first season of The Face premiered online on February 1, 2013 and on television on February 12, 2013 on Oxygen.[1][2][3] The premiere season followed three supermodel coaches as they competed with each other to find 'the face' of cosmetic retail giant Ulta Beauty.
Supermodel and executive producer Naomi Campbell, together with supermodels Karolina Kurkova and Coco Rocha, served as supermodel mentors for the first season. Nigel Barker, a previous judge for cycles 2 to 18 of America's Next Top Model, serve as host as well. It featured 12 aspiring contestants from the United States of America, Canada, China, Belarus, and Australia.
The winner of the competition was 21-year-old Devyn Abdullah from Bronx, New York.[4]
Casting process
Aspiring contestants for the show had to pre-register themselves online, and were encouraged to attend open casting calls or send in a video and application. The deadline for all applications was August 3, 2012.[5][6][7] The show required all contestants to be 18 years old and over at the time of auditioning in order to be eligible for the program. Contestants from any country around the world could apply, as long as they had all the required documentation in order to remain in the United States for the duration of the series.[8]
Supermodels Coco Rocha, Karolina Kurkova, and Naomi Campbell begin their search for 'The Face'. The final three teams are selected, and the hopefuls move one step closer to the ultimate prize.
Episode 2: Game On!
First aired February 12, 2013
The final twelve move into their new loft in New York City, and they are coached through their very first campaign photo shoot by their supermodel mentors. The goal is to create an ad campaign worthy of being featured on the pages of W Magazine.
The remaining contestants undergo a challenge for Vogue Eyewear, and pressure mounts as bickering begins to ravage Team Naomi. For the shoot, the models must perform a commercial in Cosabella lingerie with their teammates.
An unexpected turn of events sees one girl leaving the competition for good. The girls take part in their first runway show for Kleinfeld Bridal, and they must walk in couture bridal gowns on a grand staircase. After the winning team is revealed, it's goodbye for another one of the wannabe models.
Quit:Marlee Nichols
Winning coach and team:Naomi Campbell
Bottom two:Brittany Mason & Ebony Olivia Smith
Eliminated:Brittany Mason
Episode 5: We Are the Most Miserable Team Here
First aired March 5, 2013
The eight remaining models prepare for a dancing challenge, and must later shoot for a Marshall's lookbook with their teammates. The arguments between Jocelyn and Sandra reach an all-time high when Naomi steps in to intervene, and a shocking elimination catches one team by surprise.
Winning coach and team:Naomi Campbell
Bottom two:Madeline Armstrong & Stephanie Lalanne
Eliminated:Madeline Armstrong
Episode 6: Every Rose Has its Thorns
First aired March 12, 2013
The hopefuls prepare for their latest test shoot challenge — shooting a commercial for Christian Louboutin shoes. Tempers flare when one model threatens to leave the competition. For the campaign, the teams must write their own scripts and direct a commercial in which they attempt to sell miscellaneous items from Opensky.com.
Winning coach and team:Karolina Kurkova
Bottom two:Margaux Brooke Snell & Sandra Woodley
Eliminated:Sandra Woodley
Episode 7: Red Carpet Ready?
First aired March 19, 2013
The girls learn about the double elimination that will be taking place, and prepare to win the final campaign that will assure them a place in the finale. After the glitz and glamour of the red carpet and a surprise interview conducted by Wendy Williams, the winning coach must decide which two girls will be sent home. Model Pat Cleveland makes an appearance to prepare the girls for the competition.
The remaining four contestants take part in their final shoot for ULTA beauty. One last surprise elimination sees only three of the models put through to the final task, which is walking in the runway for a Zac Posen fashion show.
Final four:Devyn Abdullah, Ebony Olivia Smith, Margaux Brooke Snell & Luo Zilin
Eliminated:Ebony Olivia Smith
Final three:Devyn Abdullah, Margaux Brooke Snell & Luo Zilin
The Face of ULTA Beauty:Devyn Abdullah
Winning coach and team:Karolina Kurkova
Summaries
Elimination table
Team Coco
Team Karolina
Team Naomi
Place
Contestant
Episodes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
Devyn
IN
WIN
IN
IN
IN
WIN
WIN
IN
WINNER
2-3
Zilin
IN
IN
WIN
WIN
WIN
IN
LOW
IN
RUNNER-UP
Margaux
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
LOW
LOW
IN
RUNNER-UP
4
Ebony
IN
WIN
IN
LOW
IN
WIN
WIN
OUT
5-6
Jocelyn
IN
IN
WIN
WIN
WIN
IN
OUT
Stephanie
IN
LOW
LOW
IN
LOW
IN
OUT
7
Sandra
IN
IN
WIN
WIN
WIN
OUT
8
Madeleine
IN
WIN
IN
IN
OUT
9
Brittany
IN
IN
IN
OUT
10
Marlee
IN
IN
IN
QUIT
11
Christy
IN
WIN
OUT
12
Aleksandra
IN
OUT
The contestant was part of the winning team for the episode.
The contestant was at risk of elimination.
The contestant was eliminated from the competition.
The contestant withdrew from the competition.
The contestant was a Runner-Up.
The contestant won The Face.
Episode 1 was the casting episode. The final twelve were divided into individual teams of four as they were selected.
In episode 4, Marlee withdrew from the competition due to personal problems.
In episode 7, both of the remaining models from the losing teams had to face Karolina for elimination. Margaux and Zi Lin were saved, while Stephanie and Jocelyn were eliminated.
In episode 8, Zilin, Devyn, and Margaux were put through to the final runway show while Ebony was eliminated.
Campaigns
Episode 1: Natural beauty shots; self-administered 'transformations' with accessories from DKNY (casting)
