SYFY'S "FACE OFF," CRITICS' CHOICE AWARD-WINNER FOR BEST REALITY COMPETITION SERIES, RETURNS

SEASON 9 OF THE HIT SERIES PREMIERES TUESDAY, JULY 28 AT 9 PM ET/PT ON SYFY

NEW YORK - June 25, 2015 - Fresh off of being named the Best Reality Competition Series by the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, Syfy's hit reality competition series Face Off - the network's most watched unscripted series - will return on Tuesday, July 28 at 9PM for an exciting ninth season consisting of fourteen all-new episodes.

Season 9 begins with a cosmic bang as sixteen new talented artists work in teams of two to construct original alien animals that incorporate two models into one massive creation. This difficult task of fashioning the largest creatures ever seen on Face Off proves to be eye opening and taxing for multiple contestants, and a surprise announcement from the judges keeps everyone on edge.

And on Tuesday, August 11 at 9PM, Face Off will celebrate its 100th episode in style, as the artists turn real-life engaged couples into whimsically undead duos. Following the challenge, host McKenzie Westmore, recently an ordained minister, will marry the couples as they say their vows in front of friends and family.

Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. As a member of the multi-generational family dynasty whose name is synonymous with the make-up effects field, actress McKenzie Westmore brings expertise to her role as host of the series. Some of SFX world's most celebrated figures judge the competition - multiple Academy Award-winner Ve Neill (The Hunger Games, Pirates of the Caribbean), industry veteran Glenn Hetrick (CSI: New York, Heroes, Legion), and creature designer Neville Page (Avatar, Prometheus). World-renowned Hollywood makeup artist Michael Westmore (Star Trek) serves as the contestant mentor.

The Face Off contestants will be whittled down week by week, until only three remain for a finale showdown. The winning artist will receive $100,000, a 2015 Fiat and a VIP trip courtesy of Kryolan Professional Make-Up to one of their 85 international locations. Kryolan Professional Make-Up continues as the official make-up sponsor of Face Off.

To find out more about the cast of Season 9, see bios, photo galleries and video, visit www.syfy.com/faceoff. Photography and bios are also available at www.nbcumv.com.

Below are the Season 9 Face Off participants:

CONTESTANTS

Ben Ploughman Age: 34 Hometown: Austin, TX Residence: North Hollywood, CA Twitter: @benplowguy

Brittany Leslie Age: 25 Hometown: Mt. Sinai, NY Residence: West Hollywood, CA Twitter: @brittanykleslie

Evan Hedges Age: 29 Hometown: Boulder, CO Residence: Denver, CO Twitter: @HedgesEvan

Jasmine Ringo Age: 31 Hometown: Atlanta, GA Residence: Las Vegas, NV Twitter: @MonsterNotWar

Jason Henricks Age: 36 Hometown: Crane, OR Residence: Los Angeles, CA Twitter: @ZombieDog_LA

Jordan Patton Age: 25 Hometown: Parkersburg, WV Residence: Pittsburgh, PA Twitter: @jpattonFX

Kevon Ward Age: 27 Hometown: Rock Spring, WY Residence: Denver, CO Twitter: @kevonwardkkw

Libby Rose Goldberg Age: 28 Hometown: Ojai, CA Residence: New York, NY Twitter: @libbyrosemakeup

Megan Wilbur Age: 24 Hometown: Hightstown, NJ Residence: Ewing, NJ Twitter: @cupcake_meg

Melissa 'Missy Munster' Stell Age: 20 Hometown: Palmdale, CA Residence: Palmdale, CA Twitter: @MissyMunsterfx

Nora Hewitt Age: 25 Hometown: Barkhamsted, CT Residence: Pittsburgh, PA Twitter: @Nora_Hewitt

Omar Sfreddo Age: 40 Hometown: Miami, FL Residence: Hollywood, FL Twitter: @Omar_SFX

Ricky Vitus Age: 22 Hometown: Schenectady, NY Residence: Bellport, NY Twitter: @RickyVitus

Scott Fensterer Age: 43 Hometown: Orlando, FL Residence: Orlando, FL Twitter: @scottstoybox

Sidney Cumbie Age: 31 Hometown: Pace, FL Residence: Burbank, CA Twitter: @sidneycumbie

Stevie Calabrese Age: 26 Hometown: Grayslake, IL Residence: Chicago, IL Twitter: @AsSeenOnStevie

Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serving as executive producers.

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Twitter: @FaceOffSyfy

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Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine Greater.)