By Noorsila Abd Majid

The show must go on? It looks like this highly anticipated model show won't.

Trouble is brewing in Malaysia's Supermodel Search Presents Ford Supermodel of the World with its executive producers, Yap Wen-Ji and supermodel Amber Chia at loggerheads over terms of their agreement.

In the wake of their dispute, the production of the buzzworthy reality show has been shelved indefinitely.

The wrangle began with allegations that Yap, the creator of the show, had failed to produce a written contract to certify that she is the rightful Malaysian franchise holder for the international modelling contest.

The demands to see the contract were made by Chia and her personal lawyer, Rajan Navaratnam.

"I may have been exploited," says a teary-eyed Chia in an exclusive interview with Daily Chilli.

"I'm soft-hearted. I entered this business partnership with her (Yap) based on trust. I see her as a friend - someone who is passionate about the local modelling industry as much as I do.

"She's the one who approached me to work with her. We shared a dream of finding the next 'Amber Chia'.

"But we've only got a lot of verbal agreement for this project. It's her unwillingness to sign an official production agreement with me and show me that she has indeed signed the franchisee agreement which makes me suspect that something is not right somewhere."

The former Guess girl said she had spent about RM100,000 ($40,740) from her own savings for the production of the show, which is only into its second episode.

The Malaysia's Supermodel Search Presents Ford Supermodel of the World is based on Ford Supermodel of the World, an internationally renowned model search franchise created by Eileen Ford, owner of New York-based giant modelling agency Ford Models, in 1980.

Chia and Yap unveiled their first collaboration in an MOU (memorandum of understanding) signed in Kuala Lumpur last month.

During a press conference, both revealed that the winning models in the male and female categories in the Malaysia's Supermodel Search would win US$50,000 each.

The female models also stand a chance to compete in the Ford Model of the World, scheduled to be held in Brazil early next year.

Aside from co-producing the modelling show with Yap, Chia also doubles as the chief judge and mentor for the 22 aspiring models from around the country.

In her defence, Yap claimed that she had the necessary documents from Ford Models.

However, she said she would only unveil them to Chia and Rajan privately in her office.

"All you need to do is call Ford Models. I've never wanted this (mess) to happen to Amber Chia.

"It's never her fault. Maybe we can hold another press conference/ I can make a phone call to Ford Models and you and Amber can speak to them directly," she suggested.

Both Chia and Yap are expected to hold a press conference on Monday.

Earlier, Chia shed tears while telling the 22 contestants of Malaysia's Supermodel Search Presents Ford Supermodel of the World at the Celebrity Fitness in Bangsar that production of the show had been halted.

Also read:
» Amber in contractual disagreement with reality show's creator