Jessica Simpson Is NBC's Fashion Star

Jessica Simpson has signed on as a celebrity mentor on NBC's Fashion Star, the network announced Monday.

Hosted by Elle Macpherson, Fashion Star is a new realty competition series that searches for the next big brand in fashion, and allows viewers to actually purchase the winning designs each week.

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"NBC is delighted to work with singer, designer, actress and pop culture icon Jessica Simpson," said Paul Telegdy, executive vice president of alternative programming. "With an almost billion dollar lifestyle brand under her belt she is sure to be an excellent mentor to our up-and-coming designers."

Comparisons to Project Runway, which originally premiered on NBC's sister cable network Bravo before moving to Lifetime, are inevitable. Fashion Star, however, appears to focus more on the retail and marketability of the design brands. Simpson once acted as a guest judge on Runway.

A premiere date for Fashion Star has yet to be announced.