Fashion Star season 2 returns tonight with a new host, a new retailer and 12 young hopeful designers who will compete for a multi-million dollar prize. Glamour Magazine‘s fashion editor-at-large Louise Roe replaces season 1 host Elle Macpherson while specialty fashion retailer Express joins Macy’s and Saks Fifth as the third buyer this season.

Tonight’s premiere, entitled “Showstoppers,” introduces the new batch of designers who will be divided into teams under specific mentors, consisting of Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and designer John Varvatos. As the title of the episode suggests, the first challenge is all about creating a selection of “showstopping” garments. The results are shocking as one contestant causes a bidding war between all three retailers while another contestant gets the biggest buy in Fashion Star history.

The 12 designers are: 

David Appel

Silvia Arguello

Priscilla Barrosso

Hunter Bell

Garrett Gerson & JesseRay Vasquez

Johana Hernandez

Cassandra Hobbins

Tori Nichel

Amber Perley

Brandon Scott

Daniel Silverstein

Bret Young

By the end of the night, two designers are put up for elimination though only one will be sent home.

As for the rest of Fashion Star season 2, viewers can expect dramatic twists as buyers make  on-the-spot decisions to purchase and carry the designs exclusively in their stores. In the end, only one designer will be crowned the winner and will receive $3,000,000 in orders for collections in Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Express stores.

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(Image courtesy of NBC)

Dean Bextor

Staff Writer, BuddyTV