Fonzworth Bentley, America's Top Model Winner Eva Rip the Runway at BET's First-Ever Fashion Special

Fonzworth Bentley, America's Top Model Winner Eva Rip the Runway at BET's First-Ever Fashion Special

Sean John, Baby Phat, G-Unit, Swimwear Lines Roger Gary Presents Aqua Couture and Bathhouse by Bernard Moore Will Adorn Fashion's Finest As They Strut the Catwalk to Sizzling Performances by T.I., Fabolous, Amerie, G-Unit, Olivia and Brooke Valentine On Tuesday, March 1 at New York City's Roseland Ballroom

BET Network Premiere - Thursday, March 24 @ 9 p.m. ET/PT

NEW YORK, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- On the evening of March 1, the worlds of fashion and hip-hop will collide for RIP THE RUNWAY, BET's very first fashion extravaganza in the "Epicenter of Style", New York City. This exclusive affair hosted by America's Next Top Model winner, the beautiful Eva Pigford, and the self-proclaimed leader of "The Gentleman's Movement," Mr. Fonzworth Bentley, will feature urban America's leading designers -- Sean John, G-Unit, Baby Phat and swimwear lines Bathhouse by Bernard Moore and Roger Gary presents Aqua Couture. BET's exciting debut into the glitterati world of style will also showcase musical performances by T.I., G-Unit, Olivia, Fabolous, Brooke Valentine and Amerie at Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd Street) at 8 p.m.

RIP THE RUNWAY explores the world of high-end fashion with an explosive hour of music, gorgeous people and a behind-the-scenes look into the world of glitz and glamour. BET will televise RIP THE RUNWAY on Thursday, March 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Cossette Productions, acclaimed producers of the Grammy Awards, the BET AWARDS and BET WALK OF FAME, will be on site co-producing the big night.

"We are excited about our first fashion special," said Lynne Harris Taylor, BET Director of Music Programming and producer for the fashion throw-down. "Music loves fashion and fashion loves music. There is no better outlet than BET for these two to come together for a little 'chic' in the city."

As if these designers, the artists, the clothing, the venue, and the celebs weren't enough, the catwalk will be popping with 60 of the most glamorous male and female models ever to stroll the runway in the fashion capital of the world. The pieces on parade range from day-to-day wear to versatile ensembles suitable for the beach, boardroom or a trendy night on the town. RIP THE RUNWAY was created for the fashion-conscious consumer who wants a futuristic glimpse into what's in style before its in vogue. Viewers will take a fashion forward look into luxury as some of hip-hop's leading style-setters -- P. Diddy, Russell and Kimora Simmons and newcomer 50 Cent -- bring out their latest collections.

"Hip-hop is an influential culture filled with music, diversity and style," said Stephen G. Hill, BET Senior Vice President for Music Programming and Talent. "It's no coincidence that urban America's top designers stem from the music industry."

COVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES: For TV Crews: (March 1, 2005)
Interviews with Fonzworth Bentley and Eva
(Show Hosts)
Interviews with Fashion Designers
Interviews with BET Executives
Invited celebrities

Photographers: (March 1, 2005)
Celebrity Arrivals (5 - 8:30 p.m.)
Show Taping (8:30 - 10 p.m.)

Publicists:
To add client(s) to the private VIP list,
please call Marcy Polanco, 212-975-3327

PROCESS TO REQUEST MEDIA CREDENTIALS (Please Read Carefully):

-- Credentials are available only to working media members for
newsgathering organizations and are subject to approval by BET. All
information provided is subject to verification. We would appreciate
media cooperation in keeping attending coverage staff to the absolute
minimum necessary to cover RIP THE RUNWAY. While we will try to
accommodate as many media outlets as possible for this event, space is
limited. Please submit your request by February 25, 2005 via email or
fax to: Marcy Polanco, marcy.polanco@BET.net and/or Tricia Newell,
tricia.newell@BET.net / FAX # 212-975-5126
-- IMPORTANT -- PLEASE NOTE: Security will be very tight. BET enforces a
strict credentialing process and requires ALL media representatives to
provide a Driver's License or Passport as proof of identification for
each individual requesting credentials. Please be prepared to show one
of the above government-issued forms of identification when submitting
a credentials request. There will be no credentials requests forms
accepted after the application deadline.
-- Media credentials will be distributed on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 from
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the media check-in station at the entrance of
Roseland Ballroom, 239 West 52nd Street. Credentials are
non-transferable, and may only be picked up by the individual to which
the credential is assigned. Photo identification must be shown at time
of credential pick-up.
-- All media members must exhibit appropriate professional behavior at all
times and comply with event coverage rules and parameters as dictated
by BET, Cossette Productions and the Roseland Ballroom. Failure to do
so may result in confiscation of media credentials and expulsion from
the RIP THE RUNWAY taping.

ABOUT COSSETTE PRODUCTIONS


Cossette Productions is Hollywood's most unique and comprehensive production company, with more than 35 years of experience offering diverse and creative consultation, direction and execution of entertainment production. To its credit, Cossette Productions has produced 33 years of the Grammy Awards telecast; eight weekly television series totaling more than 500 episodes; numerous award-winning Broadway theatrical plays and musicals; 50 major performance specials, award shows and celebrity tributes; corporate events for the nation's largest companies; and countless made-for-television motion pictures and mini-series.

ABOUT BET

BET, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the nation's leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs programming for the African-American audience. The BET Network reaches more than 79 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is a dominant consumer brand in the urban marketplace with a diverse group of branded businesses: BET.com, the Number 1 Internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks -- BET Jazz, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, specializing in a full range of event production services, including event management, venue selection, talent recruitment, sound, lighting and stage production; and BET Books, the nation's leading publisher of African-American themed romance novels under the Arabesque imprint which also publishes compelling fiction under the Sepia imprint and inspirational fiction and nonfiction under the New Spirit imprint.

Visit us @ www.BET.com


Source: BET (Black Entertainment Television)

CONTACT: Marcy Polanco, +1-212-975-3327, or Marcy.Polanco@BET.net, or
Tricia Newell, +1-212-975-8230, or Tricia.Newell@BET.net, both of BET

Web site: http://www.bet.com/


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