SI's 'Fresh Face'

Sports Illustrated amatuer swimsuit model search winner to appear in SI's 40th Anniversary edition

NEW YORK – The Nissan presents Sports Illustrated Fresh Faces Swimsuit Model Search will hit the sands of the AVP Nissan Series Pro Beach Volleyball Tour this summer to discover one lucky woman who will grace the pages of the 2004 SI Swimsuit Issue, the 40th anniversary of the legendary mid-winter edition.

The Fresh Faces search winner will be revealed as part of a Dateline NBC/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED exclusive just prior to the launch of the 2004 Swimsuit Issue, which hits newsstands the week of February 16.

Applications can be submitted exclusively at http://si.com/freshfaces.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED and SI.com have teamed with Nissan, the AVP Nissan Series Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, NBC Sports and NEXT Model Management for SI’s first-ever, nationwide search for an unknown, fresh face.

In addition to joining the world’s most beautiful supermodels in the pages of the next Swimsuit Issue, the lucky winner will drive away in an all-new 2004 Nissan 350Z Roadster with a three-year, $75,000 modeling contract from NEXT.

This is the second year of Nissan's partnership with the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. The Z Roadster will hit the streets this summer.

"The Z Roadster embodies a design, an attitude and a performance image that is unique to Nissan; it is about blue sky, fresh air, sun in your face, the great wide open and all things summer,” said Steve Wilhite, Nissan's Vice President of Marketing. “It’s a perfect fit with our friends at AVP and Sports Illustrated."

“SPORTS ILLUSTRATED has always looked for models with the perfect combination of beauty, athleticism and personality for the Swimsuit Issue,” said Diane Smith, Swimsuit Editor since 1998. “We are sure this search will help us to discover yet another all-American beauty.”

Supermodel Molly Sims, the quintessential all-American beauty who also swam competitively growing up, has appeared in the Swimsuit Issue four years running. She will serve as a judge and primary spokesperson for the contest.

“Appearing in the Swimsuit Issue can literally make a model’s career overnight,” said Sims, who will also star in the upcoming NBC series Vegas. “One lucky girl out there is in for a heck of a ride.”

U.S. residents over the age of 18 without prior professional modeling experience may apply. Two photographs, a brief statement about the applicants passion for sports and a $25 processing fee are also required.

Once online applications are reviewed, 40 entrants will be invited to compete in live swimsuit competitions at four AVP Nissan Series events: Belmar, NJ on July 26 & 27; Manhattan Beach, CA on August 9 & 10; Huntington Beach, CA on August 16 & 17; and Chicago, IL on August 30 & 31. The AVP events (including the swimsuit competitions) in Manhattan Beach, Huntington Beach and Chicago will air live on NBC at 4:30 p.m. ET each day. The Belmar event will air on tape delay on Fox Sports Net.

"We are very pleased to be working with SPORTS ILLUSTRATED on its Fresh Face Search," said Leonard Armato, commissioner of the AVP. "It is only fitting that the search will take place on the sands of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour where we are used to seeing the most beautiful and athletic girls in the world."

Two finalists will be named at each of the four events and those eight finalists will face-off in an online, round-robin-style voting program this fall on SI.com.

About SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Swimsuit Issue
The SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Swimsuit Issue is the most widely read single issue of any magazine in the world. More than 55 million U.S. adults read the 2003 edition and SI.com/swimsuit saw more than 73 million page views in February 2003 alone.

About Nissan North America, Inc.
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissanusa.com or contact the corporate media line at 310-771-5631.

About the AVP
Marking its 20th Anniversary in 2003, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour is comprised of over 150 of the best men’s and women’s pro beach volleyball players in the U.S. The nation’s marquee spectator sport combines world-class athletic competition with an unequaled environment of sun, sand and surf surrounded by an unforgettable beach party. AVP Pro Beach Volleyball is committed to showcasing the nation’s best volleyball players competing for major prize money in one of the most compelling and dynamic sporting events in the world. NBC Sports will broadcast six AVP finals in August, with the remainder of the schedule featured on national cable TV.

About NEXT Model Management
NEXT Model Management with corporate headquarters in New York City and Paris, is one of the world's leading modeling agencies. It has emerged from representing only a few girls twelve years ago to representing some of the most prestigious women and men in the fashion world today. NEXT maintains an influential international force through its offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Paolo, Montreal, London, and Paris and its affiliates in Milan and Australia.