‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (2024)

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  • Jay McCarroll

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (1)

    As the winner of the show's first season, McCarroll was awarded $100,000, a mentorship from Banana Republic and a spot in the prestigious 2005 New York Fashion Week event, but the gregarious designer turned down the money and the mentorship, citing contractual issues. After leaving New York, McCarroll taught at Philadelphia University and had a fashion line on QVC. In April 2008, he launched his blog and designer fashion boutique, The Colony by Jay McCarroll. In 2010, McCarroll won the seventh season of Celebrity Fit Club on VH1, having lost 40 pounds on the reality show.

  • Chloe Dao

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (2)

    Since beating out Daniel Vosovic and Santino Rice on the second season of the reality show — then airing on Bravo — Dao has continued to expand her Houston-area clothing boutique Lot (later renamed Chloe Dao boutique). Recently, Dao acted as judge for season one of Project Runway Vietnam.

  • Jeffrey Sebelia

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (3)

    Sebelia’s Cosa Nostra was a favorite among such stars as Gwen Stefani, Elton John, Madonna and Tommy Lee even before his time on Project Runway. After his season three win, and during a tumultuous financial time for Cosa Nostra, Sebelia took the position of head designer with a new fashion house named Fluxus. In 2011, he debuted a kid’s clothing line called La Minitura, a fun mix of British posh and pop-punk that can be found at Kitson and Barney’s New York.

  • Christian Siriano

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (4)

    Probably the most well-known Runway alum, Siriano was just 20 years old when he competed on the television program, and his ultra-feminine designs and trademark catchphrase “fierce” made him a fan favorite. Siriano's eponymous fashion line, Christian Siriano, debuted at New York Fashion Week in September 2008. His collection is available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, and he has a popular line of footwear for Payless Shoesource. He also has designed for multiple celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Kaley Cuoco.

  • Leanne Marshall

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (5)

    The Portland, Ore., native stills maintains her familiarity with the fashion world. Most recently, Marshall can be found designing wedding gowns in her Brooklyn, N.Y., studio. She even had a spring/summer wedding dress collection that was shown at 2013's New York Fashion Week.

  • Irina Shabayeva

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (6)

    A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Shabayeva is originally from the Republic of Georgia. After her Project Runway win, She designed Selena Gomez’s dress for the 2011 People’s Choice Awards and the ombre gown worn by Grammy winner Carrie Underwood on the cover of her album Blown Away. Shabayeva launched a limited-edition collection exclusively for Macy's INC in February 2011.

  • Seth Aaron Henderson

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (7)

    Henderson's most recent show was at Portland Fashion Week in October 2011 and featured sustainable fabrics made from recycled plastic bottle, reinforcing his philosophies on "clothing with a conscience."

  • Gretchen Jones

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (8)

    Jones’ victory over Mondo Guerra is considered the most controversial win the show has ever seen, with judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia clearly in favor of Jones' collection and Heidi Klum and guest judge Jessica Simpson favoring Guerra. Jones now lives in Brooklyn, where she runs her ready-to-wear women’s line, Gretchen Jones NYC, and consistently shows at New York Fashion Week. For the spring-summer 2013 season, she was chosen as one of GenArt's Fresh Faces.

  • Anya Ayoung-Chee

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (9)

    After winning a coveted spot in New York Fashion Week, Ayoung-Chee has showed her Project Runway collection at Jamaica Fashion Weekend. Recently, the former Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe accepted a yearlong position as travel ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago.

  • Dmitry Sholokhov

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (10)

    The ballroom dancer-turned-fashion designer was crowned the season 10 champion and has created a collection of eight co*cktail and evening dresses exclusively for Lord & Taylor.

  • Michelle Lesniak Franklin

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (11)

    The Portland, Ore.-based designer survived the first-ever "teams" edition to become the 11th-season winner. In April, she told THR that her immediate plans were "to get an accountant to figure out how to do my taxes with all that money [prizes included $100,000 in cash], and start hiring help and building a team. I'm a one-woman show right now, and I can't do it anymore. It's too tough. It's time for an expansion and to take over the world." She also was planning on taking part in a couple fashion shows this year, with a bigger launch in spring 2014.

  • Mondo Guerra

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (12)

    After coming in second to Gretchen Jones in season eight of the reality competition, Guerra was the winner of the first Project Runway: All-Stars in 2012. In commemoration of World AIDS Day, the openly gay Mexican-American designer — who revealed his HIV-positive status on Project Runway — created a limited edition of T-shirts. He also designed a limited edition "Movers & Shakers" T-shirt to benefit Dining Out for Life and introduced his "Haute Dog" spring line at Fashion Week El Paseo in March. His exclusive collection of eyewear with national optical boutique SEE hit stores this fall, and he partnered with Merck for "I Design," a national HIV/AIDS education campaign. Guerra also recaps Project Runway for THR.com.

  • Anthony Ryan Auld

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (13)

    As the winner of the second All-Stars season, Auld will create a custom-branded capsule collection for Nine West and was awarded a cash prize of $150,000, a sewing and embroidery studio provided by Brother Sewing and Embroidery, an all-expenses paid trip around the world to attend fashion weeks in cities such as Paris, London, Milan and Tokyo. In January, he told THR he had plans to show at several fashion weeks throughout the year and planned to invest part of his $150,000 cash prizewith fellow All Stars competitor Joshua McKinley. "I really believe in what he does with tanks and how innovative he can be, and we'll be working together more," he said. "This seed money will help him push his business. I really believe in him and the passion behind everything he does."

  • Dom Streater

    ‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (14)

    Dom Streater went from working two jobs to support herself to winning season 12 of Project Runway and a $500,000 prize package — the biggest in series history. She has since been able to quit one of those jobs and work full-time as a designer. She's currently at work in her fall/winter 2014 collection with plans to show at Philadelphia Fashion Week in February. "I was very inspired by Russian ballet, and I'm excited about the softer side of design that I don't get to access," she told THR after her win.

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‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? (2024)

FAQs

‘Project Runway’ Winners: Where Are They Now? ›

Christian Siriano Is The Most Successful Project Runway Alum

Undoubtedly the most successful Project Runway contestant is Christian Siriano, who was named the winner of Project Runway season 4 at 21 years old.

Who is the most successful winner from Project Runway? ›

Christian Siriano Is The Most Successful Project Runway Alum

Undoubtedly the most successful Project Runway contestant is Christian Siriano, who was named the winner of Project Runway season 4 at 21 years old.

Who is the most famous designer to come out of Project Runway? ›

It's hard to argue that anyone other than Christian Siriano could be Project Runway's most successful alum. The designer is the youngest winner of all time, and since his win in 2007 he's gone on to create looks for some of the most prestigious events in fashion.

What happened to Gretchen Jones from Project Runway? ›

Gretchen Jones, Project Runway Season 8 Winner

Though Gretchen's win was controversial because she won over that season's fan favorite, Mondo Guerra, she managed to do just fine, establishing a formidable fashion career. She now owns her own clothing line, MothLove, which she launched nationally in 2010.

What happened to Mila from Project Runway? ›

Mila Hermanovski (Season 7)

The season 7 contestant lives in L.A., where she serves as a costume designer for major Hollywood projects. She has worked for films like Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), The Harder They Fall (2021), Top Gun: Maverick (2022), and Barbie (2023).

Why is Michael Kors no longer on Project Runway? ›

"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.

Do Project Runway All Stars get paid? ›

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.

What did mychael Knight died from? ›

Was Kim Kardashian on Project Runway? ›

Read all. In the first ever outdoor challenge, the runway show is held outside in New York for all to see. Kim Kardashian serves as guest judge.

Why did Karlie Kloss left Project Runway? ›

Aside from the decision to restructure the Emmy-winning series, which has been on since 2004, Karlie had her first child, Levi Joseph, with husband Joshua Kushner in March 2021. According to Bravo, this was right around the time production for Season 19 was set to begin.

Why did Heidi Klum leave Project Runway? ›

Heidi Klum and Gunn left "Project Runway" after 16 seasons because they said they were being held back creatively.

Why did Cecilia leave Project Runway? ›

Argentina native Cecilia decided to quit the show on the fourth episode. That was after she alienated Marie Claire's fashion director Nina Garcia in a challenge that involved making the judge an outfit that she could wear both at work as well as at an industry event at night.

Why did Meg from Project Runway leave? ›

Citing the “intensity of the competition,” Ferguson then decided to leave the show for the sake of her mental health. Jean-Baptiste went on to win the competition at the end of the episode. “Project Runway” first premiered in 2004.

What happened to Mondo Guerra from Project Runway? ›

After coming out as HIV positive on the show, Guerra has become a spokesperson for two national HIV campaigns — Merck's Project I Design and Subaru's Dining Out For Life. Guerra was also the first contestant on the show to come from Denver, Colorado.
...
Mondo Guerra
OccupationFashion designer
Websitewww.mondoguerra.com
2 more rows

What happened to Chelsea from Project Runway? ›

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.

Where is Katie from Project Runway? ›

In 2021 Katie was a designer on season 19 of Bravo's Project Runway. Today, she lives with her husband and four children in Japan, where she designs her own line of clothing, textiles and handmade accessories.

When did Heidi Klum stop Project Runway? ›

Project Runway premiered in 2004, with Gunn, 67, serving as a mentor to the designers. Klum, 48, judged alongside Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. In September 2018, the pair announced they were leaving the Bravo series after 16 seasons. Their newest venture, Making the Cut, debuted on Amazon last year.

When did Tim Gunn stop Project Runway? ›

Klum and the designers' mentor Tim Gunn both left the show in 2018 to helm another fashion competition show, Making the Cut on Amazon Video.

Who replaced Heidi Klum on Project Runway? ›

Karlie Kloss and Christian Siriano Replacing Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn on 'Project Runway' Karlie Kloss is one busy model! The fashion star is replacing Heidi Klum on Project Runway as host and executive producer, while designer Christian Siriano, a PR alum, will take over Tim Gunn's role as mentor.

What do they do with the outfits on Project Runway? ›

If not, go ahead and . A: The garments that we see created each week are auctioned off by a site that sells products from TV and film. The garments from each show go up for auction after that episode airs.

How much does a runway model make a day? ›

Beginners and more experienced models alike can receive $125–$175 per hour, with a two-hour minimum for all jobs. In smaller markets, commercial models can earn anywhere from $25–$75 per hour. Plus-size and catalogs models will generally be paid the same hourly, half-day, and full-day booking rates.

Who is the youngest to win Project Runway? ›

Christian Vincent Siriano (born November 18, 1985) is an American fashion designer and member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Siriano first gained attention after winning the fourth season of American design competition show Project Runway in 2007, becoming the series' youngest winner.

Who was caught cheating on Project Runway? ›

Click to start this article in. The season was notable as the first to feature plus-size models but it's also remembered for a less positive reason too – the Project Runway season 16 cheating scandal. This involved contestant Claire Buitendorp who entered the contest with twin sister Shawn.

Did Swatch from mood died? ›

Love, The Mood Family.” TMZ reported that "Eric says the last few months were rough for Swatch ... his hips were starting to go, and he became blind by the end." It's with heavy hearts that we inform you our beloved Swatch passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday morning at 15½ years old.

Where is Anthony from Project Runway All Stars? ›

Born in Birmingham, Alabama and based in Atlanta, Anthony Elle is a DIY enthusiast, television personality and product developer featured on Luxe For Less. He's the winner of Project Runway All Stars Season 6.

What happened to Kara Saun from Project Runway? ›

Saun specializes in designing for music and dance-driven projects, such as working as the costume designer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew and Comedy Central Roasts. Now, Saun has a Los Angeles-based fashion and costume design house called Kara Saun.

How much do Project Runway winners get? ›

The ultimate winner is selected by the judges, and receives $100,000 to start their own design line, a feature spread in Marie Claire magazine, and a mentorship from a design firm (ended on Season 3). The winner is also given the optional opportunity to sell their collection on bluefly.com.

What happened to Kimberly on Project Runway? ›

She tried out for Season 6 of the show but was told she needed more experience. She returned three years later and was a finalist in Season 9. In Season 6 of Project Runway All Stars, she was eliminated in episode 7.

Why did Maya Luz leave Project Runway? ›

Maya Luz (Season 7, 2010)

She managed to receive six high scores and was never in the bottom. Why she left: In episode 11, the thought of making a red carpet look for host Heidi Klum to wear somehow rattled her. Instead of sketching a design, she sought out mentor Tim Gunn and told him she felt too young for the show.

Why did Andrea leave Project Runway? ›

Let's talk about the quitters first. Andrea left in the middle of the night because of last week's runway critique of her and Chrisopher, which she found demeaning. As the designers discuss her reasons for leaving in the workroom, Kooan suddenly announces that he wants to leave, too.

Is designer Chris March still alive? ›

Do models get paid to walk the runway? ›

Runway Shows: According to Rodney Harris, the owner of Atlanta-based company Slamm Management, a new fashion model may not be paid at all for their work on a runway. You could earn between $200–$1,000, or, instead of payment, get to keep some clothing from the show.

What happens to the clothes after Project Runway? ›

Sometimes the show auctions off designs, even if they're not completed. Some of the clothes designed on the series end up being sold on the Project Runway website.

How much do models get paid to walk the runway? ›

A runway model can earn $300 – $800 per show. However, being a runway model is not that easy since there are many stringent requirements. You must have a signature walk, be tall and slim, and be comfortable with wearing outlandish, revealing, or unflattering clothes.

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