Project Runway Contestants With The Most Successful Post-Show Careers (2024)

FAQs

Who was the most successful Project Runway contestant? ›

Easily the most successful "Project Runway" alum, Christian Siriano was 21 when he first joined the show and wowed the judges with his designs.

Michelle Lesniak Franklin, Project Runway Season 11 Winner

Michelle Lesniak Franklin was the winner of "Project Runway" season 11. Following the competition, Franklin changed the name of her line from Michelle Is Well to Au Clothing. Her designs are currently sold in two boutiques in Portland and on her website.

Althea Harper (Season 6)

Harper lives in Connecticut with her husband, Stewart (the boyfriend she had during filming), and their four children. She juggles her time working on her fashion line, Althea Harper. She also freelances for fashion companies and takes care of three rescue dogs.

October 17, 2017, Atlanta, GA

Mychael Knight / Died

"Due to the back-to-back film schedule for Season 10 and Season 11 this summer, Michael was not able to commit to all the dates required for filming Season 11," Lifetime explained in 2012. "Always part of the Project Runway family, Michael will be seen in the future on the show," they added.

Heidi Klum and Gunn left "Project Runway" after 16 seasons because they said they were being held back creatively. In 2018, host Heidi Klum and mentor Gunn chose to leave "Project Runway" together to create a new design competition show with Amazon called "Making the Cut."

Andrea Katz (Season 10, 2012)

Producers went to her home, and her doorman said she was upstairs but didn't want to see anyone.” Why she left: Supposedly, she was paranoid after being named one of the bottom three contestants on the previous challenge. Eliminated designer Raul Osorio was allowed to rejoin the show.

The happy news was announced in the Project Runway After Show. The clip, which you can check out above, ended with the update that Anna and her husband are expecting their first child, who is due to be born in April. A sonogram of Anna's little bundle of joy was also included in the video.

Heidi Klum

“​​My friend Nina's name has deservedly become synonymous with elegance and style.

Who replaced Heidi Klum on Project Runway? ›

As using a measuring tape outside of the contestant workroom is expressly against the rules of Project Runway, Claire had her previous win revoked and was disqualified from the competition.

The two aren't just friends; they're a mutual admiration society, and Michael recently flew out to Denver to help Mondo co-host a benefit for the Colorado AIDS Project and Rainbow Alley, a center for queer youth.

After gaining popularity with his show-stopper evening and wedding gowns, he went on to become creative director for the major bridal fashion house Amsale before launching his own signature collection of couture bridal and evening gowns.

September 5, 2019, Stockton, CA

Chris March / Died

“He had a big booming laugh; he was a joy and delight,” the producer and talk-show host added. In an email to EW, a Bravo spokesperson stated, “We are deeply saddened by the news of Chris March's passing. He was a favorite among Bravo fans and the fashion community.

Essence - Dom Streater, the first African American winner on Project Runway, debuts first New York Fashion Week collection.

Michael Kors has lost its status as one of the coolest brands in the fashion industry. The company's stock is underperforming, leading Morgan Stanley's analysts to remove Michael Kors from its “Best Ideas” list. Michael Kors has lost its status as one of the coolest brands in the fashion industry.

Runway doesn't pay the contestants, and many must quit their jobs to be on the show. The winner may get a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine, a new car, $50,000 in design software, and $100,000 in seed money to start a new clothing line, but not a cent for groceries.

Who replaced Michael Kors? ›

Replacing Kors on the judging panel is designer Zac Posen. "I have a pretty big seat to fill @MichaelKors. So honored!

Brooklyn, N.Y., native Keith Michael, 34, was asked to leave because he had pattern-making books in his room – a violation of the contest's rules – and at one point had gone AWOL from the production.

Gunn added that after 16 seasons, he'd grown tired of the show's formulaic approach to episodes. "We couldn't break out of it," he said.

Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn Dish on Their 18-Year Friendship and 'Making the Cut' The hosts of the hottest design competition series talk to Shondaland about their first meeting, working with Amazon, and their love of fashion.

Nearly making it to the finals, she made the bold decision to leave the show, to hone her skills as a designer, away from the camera's watchful eye. Maya's work spans not only in design, but also as a visual artist, illustrator, multi media collage, podcast production, writing, and Dj'ing.

Since her big break on Project Runway, she has gone on to walk for numerous brands at New York Fashion Week and signed with all-transgender agency Slay Model Management in Los Angeles. Her mission today is to help make the fashion industry more inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly.

Yes there have been straight and/or bisexual men on Project Runway.

Isaac Mizrahi and longtime beau, Arnold Germer, have tied the knot. The Project Runway: All Stars judge and fashion designer announced the news on Wednesday's edition of The Wendy Williams Show, using his wedding band as a conversation starter.

For Season 19 of Project Runway, Karlie is taking a step back from her hosting duties. In March 2021, Karlie gave birth to her and Joshua's son, Levi Joseph Kushner, so she's taking some to focus on being a new mother. She'll pop in and out of Project Runway Season 19, but she's no longer a full-time host.

What happened to Joshua from Project Runway? ›

Season nines's first runner-up drew attention for not holding back on his opinions about his fellow competitors and their designs. He is currently developing his own line and continues to design for his private clients.

At age 66, Tim Gunn has been single since he was a young man

Gunn also talked about this devastating relationship experience back in 2012, on an episode of the former talk show The Revolution.

As of March 2023, Heidi Klum's net worth is roughly $160 Million. Heidi Klum is a German-American model, television personality, businesswoman, fashion designer and actress from Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.

The good news: Tim is most definitely not done with show business. In fact, he and his Project Runway costar Heidi Klum left the show to take on a whole new fashion television project: a brand new reality series on Amazon Prime Video.

Obviously people are always like, “Oh, are you going to say 'auf Wiedersehen' again? ' It happened organically on Project Runway for me to say "auf Wiedersehen" and I did not want to do the same thing again. Even though it's something that all Germans say when we say goodbye to people.

After Project Runway

Shabayeva has created many ready to wear and couture collections.

Because yes, Claire and Lord John end up married in book seven, and yes, they drunkenly (and full of grief for the loss of Jamie, whom they both love with all of their heart) consummate that marriage. And then Jamie shows up alive and well!

Right now she's in school full time and working on two collections. Check out her line Visual Novel, her collection-based fashion line that launched in September 2018, and keep an eye out for her accessories line (that she's doing for fun), Dessac.

Runway doesn't pay the contestants, and many must quit their jobs to be on the show. The winner may get a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine, a new car, $50,000 in design software, and $100,000 in seed money to start a new clothing line, but not a cent for groceries.

Who is the oldest contestant on Project Runway? ›

When Nancy Volpe-Beringer was announced as a contestant for “Project Runway” season 18 at age 64, she made history as the show's oldest designer ever. I honestly wasn't sure how far she'd make it in the competition, since the winners skew young and fashion is all about what's modern and now.

After moving to New York City at the age of 18, Dmitry enrolled and graduated from Parsons School of Design, earning his BFA in Fashion Design. The designer has made three appearances on Project Runway, winning both Season 4 and Season 10 of Project Runway: All Stars.

6. Despite getting to wear the most beautiful, expensive, glamorous outfits, models unfortunately don't actually get to keep the clothes. Sometimes you may get lucky and get to keep something, but this rarely happens.

Some of the clothes designed on the series end up being sold on the Project Runway website. Season-seven winner Seth Aaron Henderson said at a Fashion Week El Paso press conference in 201 that clothes produced by contestants "go up for auction immediately after the show."

Boy models in the work room! Boy models in the work room! All hands on deck (but keep them to yourself)! In many a past season of Project Runway the introduction of a menswear challenge was likely to send at least a few of the designers spiraling into meltdowns.

A: Just over a month: 32 days. That's according to Tim Gunn, who said during a Washington Post chat that they "tape for 32 consecutive days — no breaks! We're all done in by the end, including me!" With 11 episode to shoot in that time, that leaves about three days for each challenge.

GRAND LEDGE - Claire Buitendorp said she didn't mean to cheat. One week after her twin sister Shawn tearfully bowed out of a head-to-head challenge against her on the latest season of Lifetime's "Project Runway," Claire was booted from the show.