THE SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON AND OFF THE CATWALK DURING

THE 11^TH ANNUAL MIAMI FASHION WEEK^®   

Models, Celebrities, Entertainers and VIPs Converge

at Largest International Fashion Event in the U.S.

MIAMI (March 12, 2009) - The 11^th annual Miami Fashion Week^® is definitely the place to see and be seen next week, mixing and mingling among a confirmed list of international celebrities, entertainers and even some royalty.

Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza and Miss USA Crystle Stewart will attend the opening night festivities and fashion shows along with a group of 23 special guests from South Florida's Armed Services. The Armed Forces special guests are all members of the U.S. Army Garrison - Miami Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, a program that supports all single military personnel assigned to U.S. Southern Command, headquartered in Doral.

Also confirmed to appear at Miami Fashion Week shows and after parties are: Grammy Award winning singer Albita; actress Sofia Comparini; singer Ricardo Montaner; singer, actress Patricia Manterola; actress Elsa Pataky; supermodel Elena Tablada; noted journalist Chabeli Iglesias; stage, movie and television star Alejandro Chaban; actor Gabriel Porras; television personality María del Carmen Sojo; celebrity hairstylist Samy; Miss España 2006 and top model Elisabeth Reyes; and actress and former Miss Panama Patricia De León, among many others. 

The culmination of Miami Fashion Week will be the annual Miami Moda & Music Awards, this year co-hosted by radio personality Ileana Garcia and MEGA TV host Alan Villafaña.  Actor Vincent de Paul from the movie "Poseidon" and the original cast of "Hairspray," actress Angelica Celaya, and South Florida drag diva Elaine Lancaster will be among the star-studded award presenters.  Performances will feature Patricia Manterola, Alexia, Ria, and South Florida's own Albita who will sing "Mis Tacones" ("My Heels") from her new album.

The largest event in the country spotlighting international fashion runs March 19 through March 22 at SOHO Studios in Miami's Wynwood Art District.  This year's 60 attending designers represent the four corners of the globe -- Dubai, Pakistan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Belgium, Spain and Italy, as well as from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. 

The public is invited to attend fashion shows and the first-ever International Culinary Arts Pavilion - themed nightly tastings based on the countries the designers are showing from each evening created by Miami's most renowned chefs.  Tickets are $25 per fashion show and are available now from www.miamifashionweek.com/tickets.  Culinary Arts Pavilion admission is $20 each night with tickets available at the door.