(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) -- The Webby Awards announced today that Illusion 2K, Inc., the world's first modeling agency devoted exclusively to representing virtual supermodels, will be the exclusive sponsor of the live Internet broadcast of this year's star-studded awards show.

The Internet broadcast of the entire event can be accessed on Yahoo! Entertainment beginning at 6:30 PM PDT on Thursday, May 11 (go to http://entertainment.yahoo.com/webby/). The Webby Awards also announced that Illusion 2K will sponsor the Webby Winners Soiree, a celebration devoted to this year's Webby winners, to be held on Friday May 12.

Widely hailed as ``the Oscars of the Internet'' by The New York Times, The Webby Awards are the leading international honors for Web sites. The awards are presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a diverse, 350-person organization whose members include Esther Dyson, David Bowie, Francis Ford Coppola, Robin Williams and Julia Child.

More than 3,000 digerati and celebrities will descend on San Francisco's legendary Nob Hill for the May 11 awards show, which has become the industry's hottest ticket thanks to its eclectic judges, outrageous fashions, and mandatory five-words-or-less acceptance speeches.

``We are delighted to be working with a dynamic Web company like Illusion 2K,'' said Tiffany Shlain, the founder and director of The Webby Awards. ``Their innovative approach to glamour and fashion on the Web is right in synch with the Webby style.''

``Illusion 2K expects to play a key role in the emerging virtual entertainment industry, '' says Ricardo Bellino, CEO and President of Illusion2K. ``Our first virtual model, Webbie Tookay, was inspired by the style and excellence embodied in The Webby Awards. We are proud to sponsor this event.''

The live webcast will provide complete coverage of the event, which will be hosted by Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cumming (Cabaret) and feature a roster of high-profile presenters, including Talk Magazine editor in chief Tina Brown and actress and comedian Sandra Bernhard. In addition to Webcasting the ceremony, where the winners in 27 categories will be revealed, the Webby Awards will take users behind-the-scenes for pre-and-post-party coverage.

About Illusion 2K

Illusion2K is a company specifically created for the development and management of models, actresses and virtual celebrities, special projects for the Internet, and licensing. Led by Chairman John Casablancas, founder of Elite Group, the largest modeling agency in the world, and CEO Ricardo Bellino, Illusion 2K has alliances with the Opportunity and Victori groups to represent and manage the career of its established and developing virtual models. Illusion2K Network will have operating bases in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, in addition to the worldwide support of Elite Models' 27 agencies which promote and represent their virtual models and actresses.

About the Webby Awards

Widely hailed as the ``Oscars of the Internet,'' The Webby Awards are the leading international honors for Web sites. Nominees and winners are chosen by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. The Webby Awards are an IDG event. Sponsors for the 2000 Webby Awards include Intel, Hewlett-Packard, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Adobe, Modem Media, Flyswat, Visa, Warburg Dillon Read, BeSeen, Xpedior, AboveNet, Audi, commission junction, worldlyinvestor.com, PlanetClick, Adauction.com, Fleishman Hillard, netRaker, The Creative Group, Netpulse, Entertainment Weekly, Business 2.0, Access Magazine, NewCity.com, Metropolis Editorial, ArtByte, MacWorld, San Francisco Bay Guardian, MacWorld Expo, MSN bCentral, Internet World, Upside Media, and We Also Walk Dogs. Balloting is audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers. For more information, visit http://www.webbyawards.com/press/index.html.

About the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences

The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences is dedicated to the creative, technical, and professional progress of the Internet and evolving forms of interactive media. The goal of The Academy is to assemble a unique and brilliant panel of leading new media experts, Web visionaries, journalists, and luminaries to propel the World Wide Web into the future. The Academy is an intellectually diverse organization that includes over 350 members such as film director Francis Ford Coppola, musician David Bowie, Chairman of Miramax Talk Media Tina Brown, cyberguru Esther Dyson, creator of ``The Simpsons'' Matt Groening, National Public Radio personality Ira Glass, computer scientist Jaron Lanier, and Oxygen Media President Geraldine Laybourne. Members also include writers and editors from publications such as Wired, Details, Fast Company, Elle, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Vibe, Forbes, and Premier. For more information, visit http://www.iadas.net.

About IDG

IDG publishes more than 290 computer magazines and newspapers and 700 books and offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net, which comprises more than 240 targeted Web sites in 55 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer- related expositions worldwide and provides IT market analysis through 49 offices in 41 countries worldwide. Company information is available at http://www.idg.com.