Project Runway Where Are They Now? What are they up to now?
by Ushapriyanga
Updated Mar 21, 2023
Project Runway
Project Runway is a reality TV program that premiered on Bravo in 2004, featuring fashion designers competing against each other by creating outfits within a specific time, material, and theme constraints. A panel of judges evaluates their designs, and typically one or more contestants are eliminated each week. The competition continues until only a few finalists remain, and they showcase their complete fashion collections at New York Fashion Week, with the judges ultimately choosing the winner. The show was created by Eli Holzman and was hosted by Heidi Klum until 2017. After several changes in the airing network, it returned to Bravo in 2018 with Karlie Kloss as the new host and Christian Siriano as the mentor. Project Runway won a Peabody Award in 2008 for using the reality competition genre to both entertain and inform. It has been adapted into over 30 international versions.
Project Runway Where Are They Now?
Korina Emmerich (Season 13)
Korina Emmerich, who was a contestant on Season 13 of Project Runway, said that she has been working hard since the show ended. Her work includes developing new designs for her contemporary womenswear collection, which debuted at the New York Fashion Week in 2014. Additionally, she has been expanding her online retail brand, EMME NY, on her studio website.
Sandhya Garg (Season 13)
Sandhya Garg, a contestant on Season 13, showcased one of her collections at NYFW Spring/Summer 2016. She now runs her sustainable womenswear brand, Label Sandhya Garg, which features Indian-inspired prints and colorful textiles for the fashion-forward woman. Her brand is ethically made and sold in boutiques throughout the U.S. and the Middle East.
Char Glover (Season 13)
Char Glover was a contestant on Season 13 and also appeared on Project Runway All Stars 6. She says that after appearing on the show, she no longer goes outside without makeup or looking decent. She manages her women's fashion line, Rocknremix, which features vintage finds that are reconstructed with her designs. She refers to her designs as "Flygirl's fashion gumbo."
Kini Zamora (Season 13)
Kini Zamora was the second runner-up in Season 13 and now runs his store, Kini Zamora, in Hawaii. He has contributed to many fashion shows for local, national, and international audiences and organizations. He is currently working on balancing his "local, island style clothing with modern, fashion-forward designs."
Helen Castillo (Season 12)
Helen Castillo was a contestant on Season 12 and returned for All Stars. She is now a L'Oreal brand ambassador for Feria Violet hair color and recently collaborated with Mood Designer Fabrics for a 2022 fall collection. She also teaches fashion design at Union City High School.
Justin LeBlanc (Season 12)
Justin LeBlanc competed in Season 12 and later appeared on Project Runway All Stars season 4. He is known for debuting yearly collections on his website, where he provides a novel sensory experience by starting "from multiple, simultaneous perspectives." He also married Kyle Dougan in 2017.
Alexandria von Bromssen (Season 12)
Alexandria von Bromssen was the Season 12 runner-up and also appeared on All Stars season 4. She currently owns The Camp Couture, a Bay Area program for kids ages 7-17 who want to learn about sewing and design. She also has her store, Red Square Boutique, in San Mateo, California.
Kate Pankoke (Seasons 11 and 12)
Kate Pankoke has appeared on multiple seasons of Project Runway, including Seasons 11 and 12, and All Stars season 4. She is the creative director for her line, Elaya Vaughn by Kate Pankoke, and has dressed Lauren Strogoff, Tara Lipinski, and Shiri Appleby. Pankoke is currently freelance writing and editing for Wedding Chicks and Style Me Pretty.
Amanda Valentine (Season 11)
Amanda Valentine appeared on Season 11 and 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 has worked on custom pieces for the musical duo Twenty One Pilots and Carly Chaikin, among others. She is currently selling new designs on her website and has helped with Project Runway casting for Season 14.
Gunnar Deatherage (Season 10)
Gunnar Deatherage participated in Project Runway season 10 and returned for All Stars season 4. After the show, he has worked closely with the music industry, designing furniture and interior constructions in music videos for stars such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and more. Deatherage is also the fashion editor for a Louisville art magazine called Nfocus. In addition, he styles celebrities, creates sets, sells accessories, and shares DIY design tips on his TikTok account.
Anya Ayoung-Chee (Season 9)
Anya Ayoung-Chee won Project Runway season 9 and returned as a contestant on All Stars season 7. She lives on her home island of Trinidad, where she runs her online design label, The Anya Young Chee Limited Edition, and a fashion brand for carnival-related clothing, WyldFlwr. Ayoung-Chee also created NUDGE Caribbean, a matchmaking platform for creators and the marketplace. Through her business and brands, she aims to support the development of fashion and creative industries in the Caribbean.
Michael Costello (Season 8)
Michael Costello placed third in Project Runway season 8 and returned to compete in the original All Stars season. Since then, his designs have been featured in Vogue Italia and Sports Illustrated, and his creations have been worn by celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Angela Basset, and Beyoncé. Costello recently gained attention for calling out Chrissy Teigen for cyberbullying. Currently, he designs for his collaboration with Revolve and sells his design collections on his website.
Mila Hermanovski (Season 7)
Mila Hermanovski participated in Project Runway season 7 and now lives in Los Angeles, where she works as a costume designer for major Hollywood projects. Her designs have been featured in films such as X-Men, Star Trek, and Top Gun: Maverick. Hermanovski also appeared as herself on Lifetime's Little Women LA to help Elena start a line of clothing for little women.
Emilio Sosa (Season 7)
Emilio Sosa was the runner-up in both Project Runway season 7 and All-Stars season 2. Since then, he has focused mainly on Broadway, receiving two Tony Award nominations for Best Costume Design of a Musical for his works in Porgy and Bess (2012) and Trouble in Mind (2022). Sosa has designed for Radio City's New York Spring Spectacular and is currently working on the revival play Trouble in Mind, which has been nominated for four Tony Awards in 2022. His brand, ESOSA, has been seen on stars like Uzo Aduba, Taraji P. Henson, and Wendy Williams.
Seth Aaron Henderson (Season 7)
Seth Aaron Henderson won season 7 of Project Runway and All Stars season 3, and returned to compete in All-Stars season 7. He co-created the world's first line of 3D-printed shoes with Feetz and showcased them at FashioNXT in 2017. Currently, he lives in West Hollywood and runs his clothing store, SETHAARON.
Gordana Gehlhausen (Season 6)
Gordana Gehlhausen participated in Project Runway season 6 and now lives and designs in Los Angeles. Her focus is on red carpet couture gowns and private clients. Gehlhausen also designed and patented a backless bra, which she considers her biggest payoff since leaving Project Runway.
Althea Harper (Season 6)
Althea Harper, a contestant on Project Runway Season 6, now resides in Connecticut with her husband, Stewart, and their four children. She is busy juggling her time between her fashion line, Althea Harper, freelancing for fashion companies, and taking care of three rescue dogs.
Irina Shabayeva (Season 6)
Irina Shabayeva won Project Runway Season 6, the first season on Lifetime, and came in third on All Stars season 7. She has built a custom bridal and eveningwear business, selling her designs to high-end boutiques worldwide. Shabayeva currently works as the creative director of a luxury crocodile and alligator couture brand, Maison MJZ.
Kenley Collins (Season 5)
Kenley Collins, a mother to three children, designed everything with a motherly inspiration as a contestant on Project Runway Season 5. After creating a "mommy and me" collection and recording a studio album in 2016, she is now working as a real estate agent in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Leanne Marshall (Season 5)
Leanne Marshall, who won Project Runway Season 5, moved to New York City immediately after the show and continues to develop her line today. She has been showcasing her designs at NYFW since 2008 and also designs for TV, editorial, and celebrities. Her signature bridal line is carried in over 40 boutiques internationally as well as online, and she released an exclusive selection of bridal dresses for BHLDN in 2014.
Jillian Lewis (Season 4)
Jillian Lewis, a Season 4 contestant, worked as a design director of the women's Black Label collection at Ralph Lauren for several years. After leaving the company to travel the world with her husband, Lewaa, she has been working as an independent design consultant for several companies, including Anthropologie. Currently, she directs her namesake line.
Christian Siriano (Season 4)
Christian Siriano, the winner of Project Runway Season 4, has been one of the most recognizable designers to emerge from the show. Since launching his eponymous collection, he has shown every season at NYFW and his collection is sold in major department stores and specialty boutiques. In addition to his clothing line, Siriano designed affordable shoes and handbags for Payless and has partnered with various brands. Recently, he showcased his Fall 2022 ready-to-wear collection on Vogue Runway.
Chris March (Season 4)
Chris March, a memorable contestant on Season 4, reappeared on Project Runway All Stars season 4 and dressed several high-profile clients. Unfortunately, in July 2017, he suffered a debilitating accident and was put in a medically induced coma for two months. He later shared an update on his condition, revealing that he was paralyzed in both legs from the knees down and his right arm and hand. March passed away in 2019 due to a heart attack.
Chloe Dao (Season 2)
Chloe Dao, the winner of Project Runway Season 2, is now celebrating over 15 years of business with her boutique and clothing line in Houston, Texas. She exhibited her designs at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and served as a co-executive producer for Project Runway Vietnam during its first season.
What Happened to the Project Runway Cast?
"Project Runway" has been entertaining audiences since its debut in 2004, showcasing aspiring designers and their struggles through unconventional challenges, model walk-offs, and fashion emergencies. While Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn left the show in 2017, the show's popularity remains strong with new judges and winners emerging every season. Recently, at BravoCon 2022, it was announced that season 20 will feature an all-star theme, bringing back some of the most talented designers from previous seasons to compete for the title. This article explores the post-Project Runway" lives of all the previous winners from season one to season 19, shedding light on their current careers and accomplishments.
How to Watch Project Runway?
Bravo's highly anticipated Season 19 of Project Runway is finally here after a year and a half of waiting. The show features 16 new designers competing in fashion challenges to win the coveted title. Christian Siriano and Elaine Welteroth, who are part of the show's panel, promise that it will be worth watching. For viewers without a cable subscription, they can watch the show live on Bravo's website with their cable login, or via several live TV streaming services such as Sling Blue, FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, new episodes of Season 19 are available on Peacock on Fridays, making it a convenient option for those who don't mind watching the show on the weekend
Project Runway Where Are They Now-FAQs
Project Runway first premiered on Bravo in December 2004.
Project Runway is a reality TV competition show featuring fashion designers competing against each other by creating outfits within a specific time, material, and theme constraints.
Project Runway was created by Eli Holzman.
Project Runway has been adapted into over 30 international versions.