Answers with Andy Khawaja

Answer 1

Your latest entrepreneurial venture is an online reality show that follows models as they compete for the chance to win 1 million dollars and a Hollywood acting contract. This show is unique in that you film each episode in a different global location. What gave you the idea for this show?

I travel the world and have many friends that are models from all over. I noticed they are not given a fair chance and often taken advantage of in their profession, so I wanted to give them a shot at becoming a millionaire superstar and change their lives publicly while making it entertaining at the same time.

You travel to the Bahamas, Dubai, Hong Kong, Bora Bora, Mexico and Thailand to film the first 7 episodes. What was your method for choosing those 7 locations?

We picked the most exotic and beautiful destinations to match with our exotic and beautiful model contestants!

Which of these beautiful locations was your favorite to film in?

I really loved when we are all swimming with the sharks in Bora Bora.

Have you encountered any challenges in filming "Model Turned Superstar"?

There's always challenges with anything you do, but you must always conquer them and push forward. That's how I live my life.

What was your process for selecting the ~100 models that were chosen to complete in "Model Turned Superstar"?

First, the models are filtered by their agencies or agents, and then they must submit their model profile and conduct Skype interviews or appear in person before they can be selected to participate. We had to filter over 10,000 profiles to pick the 100 that were initially chosen. Next season, I expect we will have over 1,000,000 submissions.

How fierce is the competition on "Model Turned Superstar" as these women fight tooth and nail for their chance at superstardom?

It becomes very fierce and personal. Some girls yell, others cry, others have issues with their parents or boyfriends, and some just give up but with anything, it's about the survival of the fittest.

How does "Model Turned Superstar" compare to CW's popular show "America's Next Top Model"?

Three main differences:

1. Our girls are already established models when they submit their profile applications.
2. They are international and come from all over the world, not just America.
3. They want to be a Hollywood movie-star, not just a top model. You will see that many of the top designers like Chanel or Louis Vuitton are not using top supermodels anymore, they are using top Hollywood movie-stars and we are helping our international models get to that high-profile level at a young age as fast as possible.

The models will have to conquer their fears and prove themselves in various daring ways to get their picture-perfect shot. What kinds of daring feats will we see the models engage in on the show?

Swimming with sharks, kissing stingrays, swinging from trees, riding elephants, camels and wild horses, etc...

Alessandra Ambrosio, Ana Beatriz Barros and Irina Shayk are all celebrity judges on "Model Turned Superstar." How valuable is their expertise on the show?

They are great supermodels with easy going personalities, and we are very happy to have them as part of the show.

You are also the creator of Allied Wallet - an e-commerce payment process that seeks to simplify buying through the internet. How do you balance creating a reality television show and running your own company?

The key to my success is being persistent, working smart, and not wasting any time. I'm always on the go jet setting across the world to build my businesses. I have a great team, and I will not let anything get in my way.

You seem to have an ever-curious entrepreneurial spirit in all that you do. Have you always been this way?

Always, since I was a child.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An astronaut for NASA or an FBI agent.

Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs of today's day and age?

Don't let anyone get in your way or tell you that it cannot be done.

When you are not jet setting from your Allied Wallet offices in London or Los Angeles to filming "Model Turned Superstar" in Thailand or Hong Kong, where do you settle down?

I never really settle down - I think if I did, it would make me sick.

What gets you up in the mornings?

Making money and giving back to the community.

Where can we go if we want to know more about "Model Turned Superstar"?

ModelTurnedSuperstar.com and Twitter: @model2superstar