Where are past 'Project Runway' contestants now? (2024)

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Credit: Dimitry Mak/Courtesy of Korina Emmerich; Lifetime

Since wrapping season 13, Emmerich said she's had "very little sleep and a lot of work." She debuted her contemporary womenswear collection at the Summer/Summer New York Fashion Week in 2014 and is currently developing new pieces for her online retail brand EMME NY on her studio website.

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Credit: Courtesy of Sandhya Garg; Lifetime

Garg showcased one of her collections at NYFW Spring/Summer 2016. She currently runs her ethically sustainable womenswear brand, Label Sandhya Garg, which is uniquely crafted with Indian-inspired prints and colorful textiles for the everyday fashion-forward woman and is sold in boutiques throughout the U.S. and the Middle East.

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Credit: Courtesy of Char Glover; Lifetime

As the "Tim Gunn Save" of season 13 and a returning contestant on Project Runway All Stars 6, Glover says, "the days of going outside without makeup or not looking decent are long gone." Raised in Detroit, the now L.A. resident manages her fashion line, Rocknremix. The women's fashion line is a mixture of vintage finds reconstructed with her designs: She calls it "Flygirl's fashion gumbo."

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Credit: Courtesy of Kini Zamora; Lifetime

Zamora finished season 13 as the second runner-up, and he's currently running his store Kini Zamora in his home state of Hawaii. He's contributed to many fashion shows for local, national, and international audiences and organizations, but mostly he's working on his designs: He says he's trying his best to balance his "local, island style clothing with modern, fashion-forward designs."

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Credit: Courtesy of Helen Castillo; Barbara Nitke/Lifetime

Castilloappeared on season 12and returned forAll Stars. Shebecame a L'Oreal brand ambassador for Feria Violet hair color after her time onProject Runway, and has recently collaborated with Mood Designer Fabrics for a 2022 fall collection. Castillo also teaches fashion design at Union City High School.

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Credit: Courtesy of Justin LeBlanc; Lifetime

Just like Castillo, LeBlanc completed in season 12 and went on to Project Runway All Stars season 4, where he placed seventh. In personal news, he married his "partner-in-crime," Kyle Dougan in 2017. Professionally, he's debuted yearly collections on his website where he begins "from multiple, simultaneous perspectives providing a novel sensory experience."

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Credit: Courtesy of Alexandria von Bromssen; Lifetime

The season 12 runner-up went on to compete in All Stars season 4. She currently owns The Camp Couture, a Bay Area program for kids 7-17 who want to learn about sewing and design, and Red Square Boutique, her store in San Mateo, California.

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Credit: Courtesy of Kate Pankoke; Lifetime

The Runway liferhas appeared on Project Runway seasons 11 and 12 as well as All Stars season 4. She said the show has given her fashion career a "wonderful boost." Pankoke is the creative director for her line Elaya Vaughn by Kate Pankoke. She has also dressed Lauren Strogoff, Tara Lipinski, and Shiri Appleby. Pankoke is currently freelance writing and editing for Wedding Chicks and Style Me Pretty.

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Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Valentine; Lifetime

Valentine originally appeared on season 11, but was brought back by fans for season 13's Runway Redemption. After coming in second place, she appeared as herself on ABC's Nashville. She's worked on custom pieces for the musical duo Twenty One Pilots and Mr. Robot-alum Carly Chaikin, and is currently selling new designs on her website. Along with Mondo Guerra and Carolina O'Neill, Valentine helped with season 14 Project Runway casting. But she said the best part of having been on the show is when she's out with her brother, James Valentine of Maroon 5, people want to take a picture with both of them.

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Credit: Courtesy of Gunnar Deatherage; Lifetime

Deatherage originally appeared on season 10 and returned for All Stars season 4. Since Runway he's worked closely with the music industry, designing furniture and interior constructions in music videos for Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and more. He's also the fashion editor for a Louisville art magazine called Nfocus, which he does in-between styling celebrities, creating sets, selling accessories, and uploading DIY design tips on his TikTok.

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Credit: Courtesy of Anya Ayoung Chee; Lifetime

Project Runway season 9 winner and returning contestant on All Stars season 7, Ayoung-Chee is living in her home island of Trinidad, where she runs her online design label, The Anya Young Chee Limited Edition; a matchmaking platform for creators and the marketplace, NUDGE Caribbean; and a fashion brand for carnival-related clothing, WyldFlwr. Through her business and brands, she is trying to support the development of fashion and creative industries in the Caribbean.

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Credit: Courtesy of Michael Costello; Lifetime

Third place winner of the original All Stars season, Costello was on season 8 his first go-around. Since then, Vogue Italia and Sports Illustrated have featured his designs—and Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Angela Basset, and even Beyoncé have worn his creations. Costello was in a recent controversy when calling out Chrissy Teigen for cyberbullying. He currently designs for his collaboration with Revolve and sells his design collections on his website.

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Credit: Courtesy of Mila Hermanovski; Lifetime

The season 7 contestant lives in L.A., where she works as a costume designer for major Hollywood projects. Her looks have been seen in films such as X-Men, Star Trek, and Top Gun: Maverick. Hermanovski appeared as herself on Lifetime's Little Women LA to help Elena start a line of clothing for little women.

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Credit: Courtesy of Emilio Sosa; Barbara Nitke/Lifetime

Sosahas focused mostly on Broadway since his timeas arunner-up in both season 7 andAll Stars season 2: He received two Tony Award nominations for Best Costume Design of a Musical for his works in Porgy and Bess (2012) and Trouble in Mind (2022).In 2015, he designed for Radio City's New York Spring Spectacular, and he's currently working on the revival play Trouble in Mind, which has been nominated for four Tony Awards in 2022, and is the recent chair of the American Theatre Wing Board of Trustees in New York.As for fashion, his brand, the ESOSA, has been seen on stars like Uzo Aduba, Taraji P. Henson, and Wendy Williams.

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Credit: Courtesy of Seth Aaron Henderson; Lifetime

Henderson, two-time winner of season 7 and All Stars season 3 and returning contestant of All Stars season 7, has since co-created the world's first line of 3D-printed shoes with Feetz and showcased them at FashioNXT in 2017. He currently lives in West Hollywood and runs his clothing store, SETHAARON.

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Credit: Courtesy of Gordana Gelhausen; Lifetime

Since season 6, Gehlhausen has been living and designing in LA. Although she focuses on red carpet couture gowns and private clients, she also designed and patented a backless bra. She says she thinks this is her biggest payoff since leaving Project Runway because "it has been a big challenge for many ladies, but [there was] no solution till now."

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Credit: Courtesy of Althea Harper; David M. Russell/Lifetime

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.

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Credit: Courtesy of Irina Shabayeva; Mike Yarish/Lifetime

Since winning Project Runway season 6 (the first season on Lifetime) and coming in third on All Stars season 7, Shabayeva has built a custom bridal and eveningwear business. She sells her designs to high-end boutiques around the world. Shabayeva is currently the creative director of a luxury crocodile and alligator couture brand Maison MJZ.

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Credit: Courtesy of Kenley Collins; Lifetime

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Credit: Courtesy of Leanne Marshall; Barbara Nitke/Bravo

Immediately after winning Project Runway season 5, Marshall moved to New York City, where she continues to develop her line today. She has been showing at NYFW since 2008—and will continue to this September—but she also designs for TV, editorial, and celebrities such as Julianne Hough, Jane Fonda, Carrie Underwood, Andi MacDowell, Mina Suvari, and more. In 2011 Marshall launched her signature bridal line, which is carried in more than 40 boutiques internationally as well as online. And in 2014, she released an exclusive selection of bridal dresses for BHLDN.

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Credit: Courtesy of Jillian Lewis; Lifetime

The season 4 contestant spent several years as a design director of the women's Black Label collection at Ralph Lauren, before leaving to travel the world with her husband, Lewaa. Through her travels, Lewis had been working as an independent design consultant for several companies, including Anthropologie. Now she currently directs her namesake line.

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Credit: Courtesy of Christian Siriano; Virginia Sherwood/Bravo

Arguably the most recognizable designer to emerge from Project Runway, theseason 4 winnerhas been busy since his 2008 win. Since launching his eponymous Christian Siriano collection, he has shown each season at NYFW—his collection can be found at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, among other department stores and specialty boutiques. In 2012, his first flagship store opened in NYC, and in 2013 he was inducted as a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. His works have appeared on everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker to Tina Fey, and Alexa Chung. Additionally, Siriano designed affordable shoes and handbags for Payless and has partnered with a makeup line for Victoria's Secret and clothing and accessories with Lane Bryant, Disney, Puma, Speigel, and more. He recently showed his Fall 2022 ready-to-wear collection on Vogue Runway.

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Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage; David M. Russell/Lifetime

The unforgettable contestant went on to reappear on Project Runway All Stars season 4, and has dressed clients such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Chaka Khan, and — most notably — was responsible for Meryl Streep's white 2010 Oscar dress. He also developed an exclusive line of foam wigs and accessories for Target, and at one time was working on a burlesque show with wild wigs and costumes, a production of My Fair Lady, and his own line of original costume designs. Unfortunately, in July 2017, he suffered a debilitating accident after he fell in his apartment and hit his head. March shared an update on the one-year anniversary of his accident and revealed he was put in a medically induced coma for two months. "Somehow I miraculously woke up — I couldn't talk and didn't know where I was for a couple of months," he wrote. "I ended up being paralyzed in both legs from the knees down. My right hand and arm are paralyzed." Keeping a positive attitude, March added: "I have good days and bad days and the worst days you can imagine, but I still have my brain, and for that miracle I am forever grateful. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and encouragement." Unfortunately, March died in 2019 due to a heart attack.

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Credit: Courtesy of Chloe Dao; Barbara Nitke/Bravo

The season 2 winner is now celebrating over 15 years of business with her boutique and clothing line in Houston, Texas. Dao exhibited her designs at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. And spreading the Runway love around the world, she served as a co-executive producer for Project Runway Vietnam during its first season.

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