Watch:Heidi Klum Teases What Fans Can Expect in Return of ‘Project Runway’
One day you’re in, and the next
Well, if you’re a past winner of Project Runway, you’ll never be all the way out, though of course the long-term success of those who triumph on reality competitions can vary to a wide degree
And now a new crop of designers will be hoping to stay in till the end when Project Runway’s 22nd season premieres July 9 on Freeform. Having returned to the show last year after almost a decade away, Heidi Klum is back as host, while past guest judge Tyra Banks is now a fixture on the panel alongside fellow exacting fashion experts Nina Garcia and stylist Law Roach
While everyone who parades a look past the judges will want to be on top, only so many will get to stay there—and only one designer’s collection will be deemed the ultimate winner at season’s end
Which, for those who have heard Klum say, “Congratulations, you are the winner of Project Runway,” is quite the mood
read
Why Heidi Klum Really Returned to Project Runway After 8 Years Away
Including for season 21 winner Veejay Floresca, whose confidence tank was pretty full throughout the season—especially when she was trading barbs with runner-up Jesus Estrada and his twin brother Anthony Estrada—but when her moment came she was overcome with emotion just like everyone else
Disney/Spencer Pazer
And, incidentally, she’s ready to be the next Christian Siriano, who since winning season four has arguably had the most distinguished career as a designer of any contestant in Project Runwayhistory—and has been the show’s resident mentor since 2019
But Floresca’s not coming for his crown. Rather, there’s enough room on the red carpet for the both of them
“If Christian is Kelly Clarkson,” she quipped on Tamron Hallin October, “I want to be the Carrie Underwood of Project Runway.”
Dreaming big never goes out of style, so in celebration of the record 22 designers who will kick off season 22 competing for the grand prize of a fashion spread in Elle magazine and much more, see where all the previous winners are now:
Getty ImagesSeason 1: Jay McCarrollWe’ll never forget Jay McCarroll’s incredible finale show, with each autumn-themed look color-coordinated to match a pair of headphones. Despite having never won a challenge, he was still a worthy winner.
He started a blog and stayed in the press for a while with a documentary, a feature film and a line sponsored by the Humane Society.
Most recently, he worked in the wardrobe department of te HBO limited series Mare of Easttown.Getty ImagesSeason 2: Chloe DaoChloe Dao won an iconic season of Project Runway up against Santino Rice and Daniel Vosovic. And while a lot of people were rooting for Daniel, you can’t argue that Chloe didn’t deserve the win.
In 2013, she became a judge on the Vietnam version of Project Runway.Getty ImagesSeason 3: Jeffrey SebeliaNot a lot of fans were thrilled when Jeffrey took home the win after spending the whole season as the villain, making moms cry and making us question his decision-making skills every single time we saw his neck tattoo.
After a couple of failed lines and companies and a stint on Project Runway: All Stars, he now seems to be doing pretty well designing clothes for kids.Getty ImagesSeason 4: Christian SirianoRarely does a glamorous event go by without a Christian Siriano creation on the red carpet.
The fiercest of them all, Christian’s eponymous label has proved especially popular with celebrities—from Taylor Swift to Leslie Jones to Michelle Obama—and he’s served as resident workroom mentor on Project Runway since 2019.Getty ImagesSeason 5: Leanne MarshallLeanne Marshall was known for the feminine waves she loved to incorporate into looks, and her finale show was that to a T.
Now, she puts that signature feminine stamp on all her clothes, but she’s mostly known for her gorgeous wedding dresses.Getty ImagesSeason 6: Irina ShabayevaThe Georgia native’s armor-inspired finale collection was truly badass, though she wasn’t all that pleasant to watch during her season.
Since then, she competed on Project Runway: All Stars twice, and now she’s doing lots of collections to benefit charities and is known for her bridal designs, too.LifetimeSeason 7: Seth Aaron HendersonAfter winning Project Runway, he went on to win season three of Project Runway: All Stars—becoming the first designer to win both. He returned to compete on season 7 of All Stars in 2019, but was the second designer eliminated.
The reality star has become known for his sustainable designs as well as creating shoes with 3D printers.LifetimeSeason 8: Gretchen JonesNo joke, we have still not forgiven Project Runway for crowning the boring bully Gretchen over Mondo Guerra in season 8. Mondo did go on to win the first season of All Stars, but we’re still mad.
As of 2018, Gretchen graduated from the London College of Fashion with an MBA.LifetimeSeason 9: Anya Ayoung-CheeRegardless of her (serious) lack of sewing skills, beauty queen Anya was a fan favorite from the beginning, so it wasn’t much of a shock when she took home the win. Maybe not the most fair of decisions by the judges when you compare her work to her fellow competitors, but the argument kind of comes down to whether you consider Project Runway to be a sewing competition or design competition.
Anyway, Anya is still designing. In 2019, she competed in Season 7 of Project Runway: All Stars.LifetimeSeason 10: Dmitry SholokhovHailing from Belarus, the designer won both season 10 of Project Runway and season 4 of All Stars but, to be honest, we mostly just remember his accent and not his designs.
Now, he’s clearly doing some very cool stuff, because we want almost every design he posts on Instagram. In 2019, he was named the Fashion Designer Of The Year by Metropolitan Fashion Awards in Los Angeles.LifetimeSeason 11: Michelle Lesniak FranklinAfter winning Project Runway’s inaugural “teams” editon, the Portlander continued to design. In 2019, she won season 7 of Project Runway All Stars.LifetimeSeason 12: Dom StreaterDom prints were just to die for, and her final collection was certainly worthy of that win. In fact, she nabbed another win on All Star’s season five.
In addition to bring a freelance designer, the textile maven worked a five-year stint at Urban Outfitters, according to her LinkedIn.
LifetimeSeason 13: Sean KellyPossibly nothing has made us as happy as that time Sean created that rainbow dress for the rain runway, which changed from white to full of color as the water hit it. We would have given him the win for that look alone.
He returned for another chance at a title on season seven of All Stars, but came in seventh place.LifetimeSeason 14: Ashley Nell TiptonAshley’s win was notable because all her models were plus size—and she used the show as a platform to make totally cute, fashionable, wearable clothes for plus size women. In addition to a collab with JCPenney, she recreated a line of roller skates. LifetimeSeason 15: Erin RobertsonFrom fashion to…pickleball? That’s right. After winning Project Runway, the Utah native co-founded Pickle Pop, a Los Angeles-based pickleball facility. But don’t worry—she’s still designing as well, creating coats from quilts.Arun Nevader/Getty Images for Art Hearts FashionSeason 16: Kentaro KameyamaIn a season that celebrated body diversity like never before, Kentaro was crowned the Project Runway winner for the “unexpected emotion” that his collection showed during New York Fashion Week.
Since then, he named the Fashion Design Chair at FCI Fashion School and showed his work and the 2019 New York Fashion Week. He also launched The Brothers Project, a line featuring branded street wear. Rommel Demano/BFA.com/ShutterstockSeason 17: Jhoan “Sebastian” GreyAfter he was named the winner of Project Runway, Nina Garcia called him “the personification of the American dream.” Less than a year later, the Colombian-born designer already created a women’s wear line.Barbara Nitke/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty ImagesSeason 18: Geoffrey MacA master of latex, the edgy designer’s “Midnight Rider” collection was shown during 2021 New York Fashion Week.Greg Endries/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty ImagesSeason 19: Shantall LacayoTen years after making it to the Project Runway Latin America season one finale, the Nicaragua-born designer got her win on the OG show’s 19th season. Since then, she relocated to Miami, where she continues to design.Michael Ostuni/Patrick McMullan via Getty ImagesSeason 20: Bishme CromartieWith three challenge wins under his belt, it was no wonder that Bishme took hom the ultimate prize on season 20. Since his Project Runway victory, he showcased collections during the 2021 and 2024 New York Fashion Weeks.Cindy Ord/Getty ImagesSeason 21: Veejay FlorescaAfter appearing on Project Runway Philippines and Hulu’s Dress My Tour, Veejay rose above what may be been the cattiest crop of contestants yet on Project Runway (not least due to her cutting comments in the workroom) to be crowned the winner in 2025.
Out-designing her fellow finalists with a collection dedicated to her late father, Veejay also became the first trans woman to ever win the show.
Since then, in addition to making red carpet appearances at events including the 2025 Glamour Women of the Year Awards, she showed a collection during New York Fashion Week in February 2026.
