Strange as it may seem, America’s Next Top Model is one of the most popular TV shows on The CW. Last fall’s cycle averaged a 2.15 rating among females 18-34, the network’s target demographic. America’s Next Top Model ranks as the second most-watched series on the network, below The Vampire Diaries.

The CW has announced that they’re ready to kick off cycle 16 of the reality show on February 23rd.

Here’s the official press release, including details on the new contestants…

“AMERICA’S NEXT Top Model” STRUTS DOWN THE HIGH-FASHION RUNWAY TO KICK-OFF CYCLE 16 ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, ON THE CW TOP DESIGNERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, STYLISTS AND SUPERMODELS LEND THEIR EXPERTISE AS GUEST JUDGES

PRIZE PACKAGE INCLUDES A SPREAD IN THE COVETED MAGAZINE VOGUE ITALIA, AND CONTRACTS WITH IMG MODELS AND COVERGIRL

February 2, 2011 (Burbank, California) – The CW’s hit series AMERICA’S NEXT Top Model returns to the world of high fashion when Cycle 16 premieres on Wednesday, February 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET).

Lending their expertise as guest judges during this high fashion cycle are international fashion designer Lana Marks, model/stylist Erin Wasson, stylist Rachel Zoe, Sudanese model and actress Alek Wek, stylist/creative consultant Lori Goldstein, Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini, fashion model Sonia Dara, IMG Models executive Ivan Bart, Vogue Italia editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani, Brazilian designer Daniella Issa Helayel, and costume designer/stylist Eric Daman (“Gossip Girl”).

Fourteen model hopefuls will compete for the ultimate career-launching prize package: a contract with IMG Models, one of the top international modeling management companies in the world; a fashion spread in Vogue Italia and an additional spread and cover of Beauty in Vogue; and a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics.

Tyra Banks leads the panel of judges, comprised of influential fashion editor André Leon Talley and photographer Nigel Barker. Jay Manuel serves as the photo shoot creative director while Miss J Alexander returns as the runway trainer.

“AMERICA’S NEXT Top Model” CYCLE 16 PARTICIPANTS

Name: Alexandria
Age: 21
Height: 5′ 10″
Hometown: Newport Beach, California
Current Location: Huntington Beach, California
Occupation: Currently unemployed
Favorite Designer: Karl Lagerfeld
Biggest ANTM Fear: Accidentally falling or doing something embarrassing while modeling.
Most Confident About: My drive to never give up on what I want.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: Adventures in new places. I love snowboarding, hiking, surfing, cliff-diving, hanging out with my sister and any of my five brothers.

Name: Angelia
Age: 20
Height: 5′ 10″
Hometown: Landstuhl, Germany
Current Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida
Occupation: College student, studying Marine Biology
Favorite Designer: Vera Wang
Biggest ANTM Fear: Getting along with the other models, and not making it past the casting week.
Most Confident About: My unique look.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love going to the beach and snorkeling in Key West. I also love snowboarding, rollerblading, fishing and swimming. And of course, dancing!

Name: Brittani
Age: 19
Height: 5′ 10 ½”
Hometown: Beech Creek, Pennsylvania
Current Location: Howard, Pennsylvania
Occupation: College student, studying English, International Studies and Spanish
Favorite Designer: Marc Jacobs
Biggest ANTM Fear: Living in the house with the other models.
Most Confident About: My walk. The runway is my favorite part of the modeling world.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love dancing, and any form of artistic expression, including collages, painting and crafts. Also reading, writing and being with friends and family.

Name: Dalya
Age: 21
Height: 5′ 9″
Hometown: Clear Lake, Texas
Current location: Corona, California
Occupation: Currently unemployed
Favorite Designer: A tie between Alexander McQueen and Giambattista Valli
Biggest ANTM Fear: Having the judges misunderstand me.
Most Confident About: I am most confident in my ability to work any runway you put me on!
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: Hanging with my friends, shopping and reading. But I’m forever in model mode!

Name: Dominique
Age: 23
Height: 5′ 9″
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Current location: Houston, Texas
Occupation: College graduate with a degree in Marketing
Favorite Designer: Stacey Bendet’s Alice & Olivia Clothing line
Biggest ANTM Fear: Not knowing what to expect.
Most Confident About: I’m most confident about my walk.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: Hanging with family and friends. And you can find me at a local museum, book store or window shopping. I also love to dance and go to the theater when I can.

Name: Hannah
Age: 20
Height: 5’10”
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Current location: Austin, Texas
Occupation: College student majoring in Photo-Communications.
Favorite Designer: John Galliano
Biggest ANTM Fear: That I might come across as a ditz.
Most Confident About: My personality, my sense of style and my ability to make friends easily.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love photography, stop-animation and film. I like to write and doodle.

Name: Jaclyn
Age: 20
Height: 5′ 10″
Hometown: Belton, Texas
Current location: Belton, Texas
Occupation: Waitress and college student
Favorite Designer: Valentino
Biggest ANTM Fear: Having to do any sort of modeling with a shark!
Most Confident About: Being myself and the person my parents raised me to be.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love to be outdoors! Hiking, rock climbing and sailing on our lake here in Belton — I love all sports. Go Steelers! Go Spurs, Go!

Name: Kasia
Age: 26
Height: 5′ 9″
Hometown: Wheaton, Illinois
Current location: New York, New York
Occupation: College graduate with a degree in Journalism
Favorite Designer: Marc Jacobs, among many others
Biggest ANTM Fear: That being myself won’t be enough.
Most Confident About: I am most confident about my high fashion look.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love taking acting classes and reading anything I can get my hands on about films, acting and directing. I also go to a lot of art museums, exhibits and shows in New York City.

Name: Mikaela
Age: 21
Height: 5′ 9″
Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida
Current location: Boca Raton, Florida
Occupation: College Student, studying theater
Favorite Designer: A tie between Roberto Cavalli and Calvin Klein
Biggest ANTM Fear: Not making it into the house. I don’t want to let myself or anyone else down.
Most Confident About: I am definitely confident about my runway walk.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love to make short films with my friends. I can spend the entire day at the movies with my boyfriend. And I hang out with my family a lot!

Name: Molly
Age: 22
Height: 5′ 10″
Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
Current location: Charleston, South Carolina
Occupation: College student, studying biology
Favorite Designer: Alexander McQueen
Biggest ANTM Fear: Not getting along with everyone.
Most Confident About: Definitely the photo shoots.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love watching movies and TV shows, reading, swimming and shopping.

Name: Monique
Age: 19
Height: 5′ 11″
Hometown: Hebron, Illinois
Current location: Pell Lake, Illinois
Occupation: College student and waitress at a sports bar
Favorite Designer: Dolce & Gabanna
Biggest ANTM Fear: Tripping and falling over.
Most Confident About: I am most confident about being in front of the camera.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: Lately, all I’ve been doing is snowboarding and working out. I enjoy anything with music and I love art. And, of course, bubble baths.

Name: Nicole
Age: 20
Height: 5′ 11″
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Current location: Orlando, Florida
Occupation: College student
Favorite Designer: A tie between Alexander Wang and Balmain
Biggest ANTM Fear: That the other girls might be overly dramatic and mean.
Most Confident About: I am confident that I can handle criticism well.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love to shop, look at fashion editorials and read books about the brain. And working out – it releases my stress!

Name: Ondrei
Age: 18
Height: 5′ 7″
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Current location: Muskegon, Michigan
Occupation: Currently working in a retail clothing store
Favorite Designer: Betsey Johnson. I love her clothing and the way her colors go from loud to chic and the style is so free-spirited.
Biggest ANTM Fear: That people won’t see my true potential to become a model.
Most Confident About: I am confident that I leave my mark in people’s eyes and hearts.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I love photography and writing poetry.

Name: Sara
Age: 18
Height: 5′ 10″
Hometown: Rio Grand Valley, Texas
Current location: Edinburg, Texas
Occupation: College student with two part-time jobs
Favorite Designer: Betsey Johnson
Biggest ANTM Fear: That I won’t be able to articulate what I am feeling and thinking, and that I won’t improve throughout the competition.
Most Confident About: I am absolutely confident in my ability to stay grounded and remain true to myself and where I cam from.
Favorite Non-Modeling Activities: I’m really involved with Planned Parenthood activities on our campus. I go dancing with all my friends on weekends.

What do you think? Looking forward to the return of ANTM to The CW? Any early favorite contestants?

Image courtesy The CW.