Ex-Playboy Centerfold Sued Over Makeover Reality Show

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A skincare company claims in court that it paid model India Allen $25,000 to sponsor a celebrity makeover reality TV show that never saw the light of day.

American Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Inc. (AMA Skincare) sued India Allen and her company MQA Productions, doing business as Media Quik, in Superior Court.

AMA Skincare claims it gave Allen $25,000 for a celebrity makeover show called "Reality reMODEL." In return, Allen allegedly promised that AMA Skincare would be the show's official sponsor, and that its clinics and physicians would appear in at least six episodes of the series.

Allen, a former Playboy Playmate of the Year, was cast to go through the first celebrity makeover on the show.

But "Reality reMODEL" was "constantly plagued and beset by delays and setbacks," according to the complaint, with Allen canceling four visits to film at AMA Skincare clinics or not showing up at all.

When AMA Skincare started to get cold feet, Allen allegedly stated in emails that the project was "moving forward" and later represented that a "Reality reMODEL" pilot had aired on TLC in mid-October 2012.

But the company says it was never able to confirm if the pilot ever made it to the small screen.

The "Reality reMODEL" website claims the show airs Saturdays on TLC at 7:30 a.m. But there is no trace of the show on the TLC website, and it does not appear on the channel's online daily schedule.

"By April 2012, four months after new episodes were supposed to have begun airing, defendant Allen's assurances had simply failed to materialize," the 15-page lawsuit states. "New episodes had not been aired in 2012 as had been represented by defendant Allen, nor did AMA Skincare receive any of the 'guarantees' that it was entitled to under the express terms of the agreement."

AMA Skincare says it lost around $32,000 in business on days set aside for Allen to film, and supplied her with $10,000 of skin treatments she never paid for.

Allen has refused to pay the sponsorship money back, the company claims.

Represented by Edwin Cottone of Newport Beach, Calif., AMA Skincare is suing for breach of contract, fraud and deceit, money had and received, services rendered, conversion and unjust enrichment.

Allen told Courthouse News the complaint is "false" and said she is demanding that AMA Skincare retract the claims.

In an emailed statement to Courthouse News on Thursday, AMA Skincare attorney Edwin Cottone wrote that the parties had "agreed to resolve the dispute in a private forum," and said the complaint "will be dismissed without prejudice."

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit