'The Glee Project' Introduces Diverse Season 2 Cast

Last year's winners of The Glee Project, Damian McGinty and Samuel Larsen, are regulars on Fox's Glee, in keeping with the promise that the Project winners go on to have an arc on the popular high school musical show. The Glee Project will return this summer for a second season this summer, and the cast — just announced Wednesday — includes many "underdogs" who are often overlooked on other reality shows like American Idol and The Voice.

The Glee Project‘s 14 contestants include Mario, 24, who has been blind since the age of nine; Charlie, 22, who has severe ADHD and low-spectral autism; and Tyler, 21, a mixed-race, Jewish, transgender individual, according to EW.com.

Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy, casting director Robert Ulrich, choreographer Zach Woodlee and a new judge this season — vocal coach Nikki Anders — will comprise the reality series' judging panel, evaluating the contestants on their abilities to entertain on television. Season 2 will get started this summer on Oxygen, with Glee star Lea Michele serving as a guest mentor on the premiere episode.

Read more about The Glee Project here.