Season 1
American Princess is an American reality competition television series produced by Granada Entertainment in which 12 ordinary women are transformed into proper ladies with a chance to win a British title, a dance with their very own Prince Charming and $50,000 in cash.
The series originally aired in the USA on WE tv from 7 August, 2005 to 7 October, 2007. There are 14 hour-long episodes in two seasons.
American Princess premiered in South Africa on DStv's GO channel on Monday 3 November 2008, at 19h30. There are six episodes in the first season.
Repeats
Tuesdays: 14h00
Synopsis
Some are born into it...
A few marry into it...
But others have to earn it...
On American Princess, 12 ordinary women are transformed into proper ladies with a chance to win a British title, a dance with their very own Prince Charming and $50,000 in cash.
Once upon a time there were 12 American women who wanted to be part of a fairy tale – their dream: to be transformed into proper ladies of society. In this series only one lucky winner will live happily ever after.
To get them in shape, these "diamonds in the rough” are transported to England for an intensive "princess bootcamp” where they will be trained in all things royal by top experts in etiquette, grooming, presentation and aristocratic style.
Hosted by Yugoslavian royal and actress Catherine Oxenberg, each episode challenges the participants to learn what it takes to become royalty. The winner will claim a British title, a dance with a real European prince and $50,000 cash.
Assisting them in their crown-chasing efforts are Paul Burrell, author and former butler to Princess Diana and Jean Broke-Smith, one of the UK's leading etiquette and grooming experts.
According to Burrell: "Becoming a princess is a process, one that requires hard work, the will to succeed, an ability to take direction and often times, intense criticism. This gives us the chance to bring the My Fair Lady dream to life and make an immense contribution to these young women – one that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."
Assisting Paul and Jean each week is a guest judge and expert in his/her field. Judges include: OK! Magazine’s editor-in-chief Sarah Ivens; Access Hollywood co-host Tim Vincent; renowned elocutionist Francis Wright; noted Royal Correspondent James Whitaker; Provost Sergeant in the British Army, Tim Weston; Deborah Bull, a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet; and Jan Ward, head florist at Princess Anne's wedding.
Each week, the contestants will participate in a rigorous, old-fashioned curriculum where they are taught the noble disciplines including posture, speech, dance, cooking, dining etiquette and media training.
After each lesson, the participants take part in an assortment of competitions that will most certainly test their newly-learned skills, including hob-knobbing with foreign dignitaries, ballet lessons in the Royal Opera and instruction in the art of cricket.
After being judged on how well they complete the tasks, winners are rewarded with the chance to attend royal functions, dine at top restaurants and tour London with some of Europe’s most eligible bachelors.
Losers will be pushed to their limits with tasks that include cleaning a kitchen so that it passes the white glove test, stuffing hundreds of envelopes for a charity mailing, and learning the art of French polishing.
At the end of each episode, one or more unlucky contestants are sent home.
In the finale, the remaining women attend a glittering ball with all the pomp and circumstance associated with royalty. It is at this event that the American Princess will be crowned.