SOAPNET AIRS "SOUTHERN BELLES: LOUISVILLE COUNTDOWN TO THE BELLES," A SNEAK PEEK AT THE FIVE SEXY BELLES IN SOAPNET'S NEW ORIGINAL DOCUSOAP, "SOUTHERN BELLES: LOUISVILLE." THE SNEAK PEEK AIRS THURSDAY, MAY 14 AT 11:00 PM

--Following the Season Finale of "Being Erica"--

The Series Premiere of "Southern Belles: Louisville" Airs Thursday, May 21 at 10 PM

SOAPnet will air "Southern Belles: Louisville Countdown to the Belles," a 30-minute introduction to the five belles in its new original docusoap, "Southern Belles: Louisville." The inside-look airs Thursday, May 14 at 11PM (ET/PT), immediately following the season finale of "Being Erica."

�Southern Belles: Louisville Countdown to the Belles" will delve into the lives of these fabulous and sexy modern Southern women as they go on a journey of self-discovery. These five single ladies are living life their way and breaking the rules of southern tradition in the progressive, art-centric and warm community of Louisville, Kentucky. Though the series will showcase the intense friendships and family values that are part of the Southern way of life, this is not the South that stereotypes are made of. These five modern women all at critical crossroads in their lives: Some are confronting their biological clocks, some are still looking for Mr. Right and are trying to find their career paths, and one is preparing for her wedding.

Our "Southern Belles: Louisville" include:

Kellie Frey, 32: Kellie is a divorcee who married into high society. Newly divorced for the second time, at 32 Kellie is attempting to stand on her own two feet for the first time without the security of a man. Ironically she has decided to start a matchmaking service and hopes she can learn how to run a business as she goes. Having been divorced twice, Kellie thinks she's a natural because she knows what doesn't work in a relationship. She sets her mom and Julie up on dates in the hope that she can find both of them true love.

Emily Gimmel, 24: Emily is the prodigal daughter who turned her back on the riches of her family's business to pursue a career as a TV reporter. She's been pursuing her entertainment dreams since she was a teenager and now has landed a job offer in Las Vegas, a far cry from her family's conservative ways. Her father doesn't approve of daddy's little girl being in 'Sin City' and fights to keep her at home. He would love to see Emily join the family's multimillion dollar manufacturing company. Afraid to lose her Kentucky roots, Emily takes the Vegas job part time and commutes back and forth from Louisville. Will she be able to pursue her broadcasting future in Las Vegas permanently without alienating her family in the process?

Hadley Hartz, 26: Hadley is the girl next door who is beautiful, bubbly and fun to be around. She's well educated and smart�except when it comes to the things that really matter: her love life and her career. She has a history of dating the wrong kind of guys and making poor career choices. Mired in a low paying dead end job as a personal assistant, Hadley struggles to grow up and find out what she wants out of life. Will she get burned again or will she be able to take control of her life for the first time and start planning out a real future for herself?

Shea Johnson, 28: On the outside it looks like Shea has it all. She's a sophisticated socialite who comes from money. Behind the fa�ade, she's actually just a regular girl with her own family issues. She's finally met someone who can give her something she's never had: stability. And she's planning her wedding, even though he hasn't proposed. Will her high-maintenance ways throw a wrench into her plan for a perfect life?

Julie Smith, 34: Julie is a model on the verge of her 35th birthday. It's time for her to face the hard truth, that to stay in the game she's going to have to adapt and evolve � goodbye catwalk, hello soccer mom shoots. Julie creates a to-do list and sets out to accomplish everything on it, which include finding a man and getting her modeling career back on track. As she works on keeping her career afloat, she ventures into the choppy waters of the Louisville dating scene and lets Kellie set her up on blind dates. It's time for her to stop living on the sidelines and take some risks. Will Julie be able to find true love before it's too late?

SOAPnet owns the world of character-driven soapy drama, from daytime and primetime dramas to reality shows and movies. The network features same-day episodes of popular daytime dramas including "All My Children," "Days of our Lives," "One Life to Live," "General Hospital" and "The Young and the Restless"; favorite primetime series "The O.C.," "One Tree Hill" and "Beverly Hills 90210"; and original programs including "Greg Behrendt's Wake Up Call," "Being Erica," "MVP" and "General Hospital: Night Shift." Wrapped in a 24-hour environment, SOAPnet is the one destination for stories focused on real emotions and revealing truths about intriguing, yet flawed characters.