Digicel Rising Stars host Yendi Phillipps having fun with Devon Stone, a contestant at the Kingston leg of the 2009 Digicel Rising Stars audition, which was held at the Girl Guides Association of Jamaica Headquarters. - File

In only a few weeks, a decision could be made as to who will be hosting the seventh season of the Digicel Rising Stars competition.

Since late last year, rumours have been circulating as to whether Miss Jamaica World 2007, Yendi Phillipps, will be stepping back into her role as the host of the competition - a role she had for the last two years since previous host Denise Hunt left the popular talent competition.

According to rumours it is believed that Chill Room host Kiki is in the running to take the lead spot on the show.

haven't decided

When THE WEEKEND STAR spoke to Digicel Rising Stars, creator and Executive Producer Mike Hogan, he stated, "As of now, we haven't decided on the host as yet."

The rumours of Phillipps leaving were further fuelled by Phillipps' decision to follow her dreams of a modelling career working with the Base Model Agency in Cape Town in South Africa. Phillipps left Jamaica in October of last year for a six-month tenure at the agency.

According to Hogan, the show is undergoing its routine market research to see what fans believe needs to be changed in areas such as the set, host, prizes and other fields. Hogan says the research should be back in the next two weeks, after which final decisions will be made and the show should launch its seventh season in mid-March.

Hogan said, "We do this every year, it's a big show and we have to do considerable research to see if people are pleased with the host or any other given area and make adjustments. Personally for me, I would like to see a major change in the set going into the seventh season, but people say if it ain't broken don't fix it."

Digicel's Rising Stars is said to be the number-one reality talent show in Jamaica having been launched in 2003 with host Denise Hunt.

Since then, the show has expanded to a larger venue - the Courtleigh Auditorium from TVJ's studio, more audition locations and has launched countless careers. Digicel Rising Stars winners include Cavan, Christopher Martin, One Third, Romain Virgo and female winners Cameal Davis and Brown Sugar.