Nicole Richie Will Reportedly Judge on Fashion Star

Nicole Richie is said to be joining Jessica Simpson and Elle Macpherson on NBC's forthcoming fashion reality show Fashion Star, reports "Page Six." Like Simpson and Macpherson, Richie has parlayed her celebrity into an accessibly priced clothing line, Winter Kate, which fits Fashion Star's premise of focusing on clothes that can be sold at the mass consumer level. Sources say that Richie will act as a judge, which seems to conflict with NBC's previous statements that the contestants will be chosen purely on the basis of viewer popularity; Americans will be able to vote for their favorite pieces by actually buying them online, thus proving their mass desirability (the show's winner will be awarded with a multi-million-dollar contract with a yet-to-be-named major retailer). NBC hasn't yet weighed in on the rumor, so chances are Richie might just be another "celebrity mentor" like Simpson, who will provide words of mass-marketing wisdom to the designer contestants. The show's airdate is still undetermined.
Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie (born September 21, 1981) is an American actress, model, socialite, designer, and entrepreneur. The adopted daughter of Lionel Richie, Nicole rose to fame when she co-starred on "The Simple Life" with Paris Hilton.

In This Photo: Nicole Richie, Samantha Ronson, Joel Madden, Benji Madden
Nicole Richie relaxes on the beach with friends as they wait for the Malibu fireworks show to start. Joining Nicole were husband Joel Madden, his brother Benji, and Lindsay Lohan's ex Sam Ronson.
(July 4, 2011 - Photo by PacificCoastNews.com)

(L- R) Actress Vanessa Hudgens, musician Joel Madden and Nicole Richie arrive at the 19th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at the Pacific Design Center on February 27, 2011 in West Hollywood, California.
(February 26, 2011 - Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images North America)