The next Sports Illustrated swimsuit supermodel is to be determined by America on a new NBC series. The six-episode run, featuring 12 finalists, will begin on January 5th.

The contestants will live in Los Angeles where they will compete for the chance to appear in the best-selling issue of any magazine in the world and win a million-dollar modeling contract from NEXT Model Management.

“It’s a little difficult. I can’t go downstairs and talk normally to these girls because they don’t know me, you know?” said one of the first contestants about the finalists’ cohabitation.

Each of the aspiring supermodels will have to endure the scrutiny and criticism of an expert panel of judges. Some participants do it for fun, some have been working very hard to reach this point, some follow a family tradition.

“My mom used to be a model, so I’m here to follow in her footsteps and to make my family proud,” says dark-haired Shantel.

Jenna, the youngest competitor, is full of determination and stamina. “The pain, the cold, the water, it doesn’t matter. If you love what you’re doing, nothing else matters, ” says the 18-year-old.

“To be a really successful model, I think you really have to have a good head on your shoulders,” believes sexy PR specialist Shannon.

But let’s wait and see, maybe the judges and the audience have a different point of view.