FREEFORM SETS 'A STAGE FOR EVERYONE' AT SECOND ANNUAL FREEFORM SUMMIT ON MARCH 28 IN HOLLYWOOD

NETWORK AIMS TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE CONCEPT OF THE PAGEANT WITH THEMED EVENT FEATURING PANELS FOCUSED ON INCLUSION AND REDEFINING THE STATUS QUO

Freeform announced today the second annual Freeform Summit, a network and industrywide event featuring some of the biggest names at the forefront of the network's 2019 programming slate, to be held in Hollywood on THURSDAY, MARCH 28. The summit will also spotlight key influencers, tastemakers and pop culture titans who have dedicated their voices to creating culture and effecting change. This year, the theme for the event will be a reimagined beauty pageant, providing "a stage for everyone" to have a voice, be ambassadors of change and tell stories that matter. Panels will deliver candid conversations surrounding representation, authentic storytelling, inclusion and mentorship, and emphasize how far young adults have pushed society to reexamine cultural norms.

"Today's generation of young adults are teaching us to see the world differently and strive for diverse representation in everything we do within storytelling, fashion, music and the entire entertainment landscape," said Tom Ascheim, president, Freeform. "So whether you're a pageant queen or a drag queen, at this year's Freeform Summit the stage belongs to everyone and there are no judges allowed."

The format of the summit is guided by Freeform's identity, which continues to set itself apart from other content platforms by delivering stories that celebrate the power, possibility and inclusivity of youth culture - stories that break boundaries, are bold, sophisticated, inspirational, culturally significant and most importantly, on the pulse of young adult life. The event will highlight talent, executives, showrunners and directors across multiple Freeform series including "Good Trouble," "grown-ish," "Marvel's Cloak & Dagger," "Siren," "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists," "The Bold Type," and the upcoming series "Besties."

Panels, moderators and participants of the 2019 Freeform Summit to be announced at a later date.

FREEFORM SUMMIT

At the inaugural Freeform Summit held in 2018 in Hollywood, participants included Yara Shahidi, Kenya Barris, Karey Burke, I. Marlene King, Jeph Loeb, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Joe Pokaski, Joanna Coles, Amanda Lasher, Karlie Kloss, Katie Stevens, Aisha Dee, Meghann Fahy, Melora Hardin, Nikohl Boosheri, Peter Paige, Bradley Bredeweg, Joanna Johnson, Olivia Holt, Aubrey Joseph, Chloe x Halle, Trevor Jackson, Esther Povitsky, Benji Aflalo, Kid Ink, Eline Powell, Elliot Fletcher, Patrick Starrr, Elaine Welteroth, Phillip Picardi, Ariana Romero, Kirbie Johnson, Luvvie Ajayi, Rhonesha Byng, Katherine Power, Shan Boodram and many more.