A silver-lining has appeared in the dispute between Malaysian supermodel Amber Chia and her enstranged business partner over the Malaysia’s Supermodel Search Presents Ford Supermodel of the World reality TV programme.

Ford Models in New York, the franchise owner of the show, is now considering working directly with Amber Chia on the troubled reality show.

An insider in Ford Models in New York revealed to The Daily Chilli that the giant modelling agency is interested in working with Amber.

"If it’s not now, it will be sometime in the future," assured the source.

It turns out that Ford Models is aware of the crisis involving the Malaysian supermodel and her estranged business partner, Yap Wen-Ji.

But as the giant modeling agency and the authority in The Ford Supermodel of the World competition, which is based in Paris need more time to investigate the matter, it has not been able to make any statement on the issue.

"But Ford Models will definitely release an official statement in time for Amber’s press conference tomorrow," confirmed the source.

Amber and her lawyer, Rajan Navaratnam are scheduled to hold a press conference at his office in Sri Hartamas at 3pm Wednesday.

The dispute between Amber and Yap came to a boil when the latter failed to show proof that she had a franchisee contract with Ford Models.

Amber had announced to the 22 contestants that she was calling a halt to the production because of this.

The show is Malaysia’s Supermodel Search Presents Ford Supermodel of the Worldbased on Ford Supermodel of the World, an international model search franchise created in 1980 by Eileen Ford, the owner of acclaimed New York-based modelling agency Ford Models.

During a signing ceremony to produce the eight-episode reality show, it was announced that the top male and female models of the show would win US$50,000 ($70,200) each, coupled with modelling contracts.

While the guys would be sent to the United States for training in professional modelling, the girls would stand a chance to compete in the Ford Model of the World contest, scheduled to be held in Brazil early next year.

"I consider Wen-Ji a friend,” Chia told The Daily Chilli.

"We started the show based on a lot of verbal agreements."

Yap, who was present at the ad hoc briefing stating the a stop in production, said:

"I don’t want to say anything that will affect Amber Chia’s reputation as a celebrity. I have the necessary documents from Ford Models."

But when Chia demanded that Yap produce the documents in front of everyone, Yap asked Chia and her lawyer, Rajan Navaratnam, to view the documents in her office.

However, Yap never showed up with the documents and has not yet made any other public statement in reply.