“Project Runway” is set to make its triumphant and fashionable return for Season 21 on July 31. The season will not only see an all-new group of designers battle it out for a chance to show their collections at New York Fashion Week, and to win a cash prize to help them launch their own fashion line, but will also feature the return of the show’s original host Heidi Klum.
Since the competition series debuted in 2004, 20 different designers have snatched the ultimate prize with their cutting-edge fashions. The past winners of “Project Runway” have gone on to stitch up their own labels, design looks for celebrity red carpet appearances, and partner on high-profile fashion collaborations.
Here’s a closer look at what every winner of “Project Runway” is up to now.
Season One: Jay McCarroll
GettyPennsylvania-based designer Jay McCarroll appeared on the debut season of “Project Runway” in 2005. Despite not winning a single challenge throughout the competition, McCarroll secured a spot at New York Fashion Week 2005 before being declared the season’s winner. At the time, the grand prize was just $100,000, though McCarroll ultimately turned down the prize money, citing a contractual clause that would have given the show’s producers a 10 percent stake in his future professional projects.
In the two decades since, McCarroll has developed his own documentary “Project Jay” for Bravo, unveiled his first solo collection at NYFW 2006, and returned to the reality TV sphere to compete on VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club.” Most recently, McCarroll joined the wardrobe department of HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” in 2021.
Season Two: Chloe Dao
GettyTexas designer Chloe Dao emerged victorious from Season 2 of “Project Runway” thanks to her feminine take on women’s evening wear. After unveiling her jewel-toned collection at NYFW 2006, Doa returned to Houston to continue developing her own brand and online boutique. In the years following her win, Dao launched a collection with QVC and partnered with Nuo Tech to create a line of fashionable travel accessories.
The Laos-born designer later appeared as a judge on “Project Runway Vietnam,” though the gig was short-lived. Today, Dao continues to work as a women’s wear and bridal designer.
Season Three: Jeffrey Sebelia
GettyPrior to joining the cast of “Project Runway” Season 3, Jeffrey Sebelia launched his own clothing line Cosa Nostra in Los Angeles. Despite not being a life-long designer, Sebelia rocketed to the top of the competition, winning over the judges with his colorful NYFW collection – a stark deviation from the grungy, punk-rock looks he’d presented throughout the season.
Despite winning the season, Sebelia was widely criticized for his “villainous” personality on the show. His post-”Project Runway” success was similarly rocky. After being hired to design a live-action “Bratz” movie, Sebelia was ultimately removed from the project due to inappropriate language. In 2009 he was also forced to shut down his Cosa Nostra fashion line. Since then, Sebelia has returned to the world of fashion, launching a kids’ clothing collection called La Miniatura and returning to compete on “Project Runway All Stars” in 2017.
Season Four: Christian Siriano
GettySeason 4 winner Christian Siriano is widely considered to be “Project Runway’s” biggest success story. At just 21 years old, Siriano became the show’s youngest ever winner when he took home the $100,000 grand prize in 2008 with his dark and dramatic NYFW collection.
Since then, Siriano has made a name for himself designing show-stopping red carpet looks for celebrities like Billy Porter, Janelle Monae, Rihanna, Michelle Obama and more. In 2019, Siriano returned to “Project Runway” as a mentor, taking over the role from Tim Gunn. Siriano will return to mentor designers for Season 21 later this month.
Season Five: Leanne Marshall
GettyThanks to her wave-inspired finale collection, designer Leanne Marshall was declared winner of “Project Runway” Season 5 in 2008. In addition to the prize money, Marshall similarly won the opportunity to collaborate with Bluefly.com to design an eco-friendly fashion collection.
Following her run on the show, Marshall launched her namesake wedding dress collection in 2011. By 2022, however, she announced that she would be retiring the brand, calling it a “misfit” due to “outdated traditions” and “lack of sustainability.”
Season Six: Irina Shabayeva
GettyBorn in the country of Georgia, Irina Shabayeva emerged victorious from the “Project Runway” Season 6 finale after defeating her fellow finalists with her warrior-inspired NYFW collection. In the years following her win, Shabayeva went on to dress celebrities like Carrie Underwood, Selena Gomez and Sarah Michelle Gellar for photoshoots and red carpet appearances.
In 2013 Shabayeva returned to “Project Runway” to compete on the third “All Stars” season, though she was unable to secure a second win. Today, the designer works as the creative director for two fashion labels, her self-named Irina Shadayeva Couture, and for Maison MJZ.
Season Seven: Seth Aaron Henderson
GettyAfter winning Season 7 of “Project Runway” in 2010, Seth Aaron Henderson went on to become the show’s first-ever two-time winner when bested the competition on Season 3 of “All Stars”. The Los-Angeles based designer, known for his bold and graphic aesthetic, similarly returned to compete on “All Stars” Season 7 in 2019.
Apart from his “Project Runway” career, Henderson serves as creative director of his namesake fashion label SethAaron, as well as working with L.A. Roxx to stitch together jaw-dropping looks for stars like Megan Thee Stallion, T-Pain and Jennifer Hudson.
Season Eight: Gretchen Jones
GettyGretchen Jones celebrated one of “Project Runway’s” most controversial wins after she was declared the Season 8 victor over fan-favorite designer Mondo Guerra. The season’s judges got into a heated debate over which of the top two designers should take home the prize, with Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn voicing their support for Guerra, while Nina Garcia and Michael Kors lobbied for Jones. In the end, Jones came out on top.
Since her time on the show, Jones has worked as a fashion director for Pendleton Woolen Mills, earned her MBA in design from the London College of Fashion, and launched her own fashion brand, Weird Specialty.
Season Nine: Anya Ayoung Chee
GettyFormer Miss Universe Trinidad, Anya Ayoung Chee had just four months of sewing experience when she joined the cast of “Project Runway” Season 9 in 2011, making her eventual victory even more impressive. As the season’s winner, Chee took home an impressive prize package, including $100,000 in seed money from L’Oreal Paris to launch her own brand, a tech package from HP and Intel worth $50,000, and a retail partnership with Piper Lime.
Her reality TV career continued with appearances on Tim Gunn’s spinoff series “Under the Gun” and a return to “Project Runway All Stars” Season 7 in 2019. Today, Ayoung-Chee acts as the creative director of her own Burning Man-inspired resort wear label WYLD FLWR.
Season 10: Dmitry Sholokhov
GettyKnown for his all-black fashions, Belarus-born designer Dmitry Sholokhov became the second “Project Runway” contestant to win the show twice after taking home the grand prize on Season 10 and “All Stars” Season 4. In 2019 Sholokhov returned for a third shot at the title on “All Stars” Season 7, ultimately finishing the season as a runner-up to Michelle Lesniak Franklin.
Following his victories, Sholokhov turned his attention to building his eponymous fashion label and working as an instructor at the Parson School of Designs. In 2019 he was named Fashion Designer of the Year at the Metropolitan Fashion Awards.
Season 11: Michelle Lesniak Franklin
GettyMichelle Lesniak Franklin originally appeared on Season 11 of “Project Runway” in 2013. Unlike past seasons, “Project Runway” kicked off its second decade by challenging competitors to a season-full of team challenges. While Michelle’s lack of formal training landed her in the bottom of the competition early on, she was eventually able to recover and even secure the title of “the next great American designer” thanks to her unique printmaking skills.
While the Portland-based designer has since shut down her own fashion brand, she did return to “Project Runway” to compete on “All Stars” Season 7 in 2019, beating out 13 former winners to win the show yet again.
Season 12: Dom Streater
GettyDom Streater’s geometric prints and retro aesthetics secured her victory on “Project Runway” Season 12 before she returned to win the competition once again on “All Stars” Season 5.
Streater presented her first NYFW collection in 2014 and has since collaborated with brands like Urban Outfitters, Otterbox, Belk and Velodyne in addition to launching her very own freelance design studio in Philadelphia.
Season 13: Sean Kelly
GettyNew Zealand-born designer Sean Kelly dominated the competition on Season 13 of “Project Runway,” bringing show-stopping looks, including his iconic color-changing gown for the season’s “rainway” challenge, to the judges week after week. By the end of the season, Kelly was the clear winner.
Since his time on the show, Kelly has launched his own men’s swimwear line with his label Hercules New York. Like other past winners, Kelly was invited back to compete on “Project Runway All Stars” Season 7 in 2019, where he finished the competition in seventh place.
Season 14: Ashley Nell Tipton
GettyAshley Nell Tipton made history on Season 14 of “Project Runway” when she became the show’s first designer to present an exclusively plus-size collection at NYFW. Her whimsical, pastel designs not only secured her the win, but also changed the way “Project Runway” approached body diversity in future seasons.
Since winning, Tipton has collaborated with brands like JCPenney, Simplicity and K&M Accessories. In 2017 she launched her very own clothing, eyewear and jewelry line and has since worked as a design consultant and sewing instructor.
Season 15: Erin Robertson
GettyErin Robertson’s colorful, quirky, and unconventional designs led to her “Project Runway” Season 15 victory just months after she had graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Following her 2016 win, Robertson launched her own business, An_Erin, selling everything from handmade “fashion art” to her admired blanket coats. The designer has since revealed that she is taking a break from fashion, however, to focus on a new endeavor at Santa Montica’s indoor pickleball venue, Pickle Pop.
Season 16: Kentaro Kameyama
GettyWhen Kentaro Kameyama won Season 16 of “Project Runway” in 2017, he showcased not only his talents as a fashion designer, but also as a classical pianist, presenting his finale NYFW collection accompanied by his own original music.
Born in Japan, Kameyama launched his eponymous brand after he won “Project Runway,” pivoting away from his minimalist design aesthetic to a more casual, sporty style. In addition to his work with his label, Kameyama also offers his talents to California’s Idyllwild Arts Academy as their fashion design chair.
Season 17: Jhoan ‘Sebastian’ Grey
GettyJhoan “Sebastian” Grey became the first designer to be declared the winner of “Project Runway” by someone other than Heidi Klum. After Klum left the show in 2017, supermodel Karlie Kloss took over hosting duties for Season 17, where she ultimately named Grey the victor over finalists Hester Sunshine and Gary Spampinato.
After winning the competition, Grey took his debut collection to NYFW in 2020, blending his Columbian heritage with his family’s leatherworking legacy to knit together garments from a single piece of fabric. More recently, Grey launched a self-named women’s wear collection with HSN.
Season 18: Geoffrey Mac
GettyBy the time he appeared on the cast of “Project Runway” Season 18, Geoffrey Mac had already compiled an impressive list of celebrity clients, including Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Britney Spears, all of whom sported Mac’s custom avant-garde latex designs while performing on tour.
After winning the show, Mac continued to build his own fashion label, offering ready-to-wear versions of his show-stopping latex designs.
Season 19: Shantall Lacayo
GettyLong before Shantall Lacayo appeared on Season 19, the Nicaraguan designer joined the cast of the first season of “Project Runway Latin America” in 2010. When she returned to compete on the American series in 2021, Lacayo became the first Latin American woman to win the show.
Lacayo returned to Miami after winning to continue building her eponymous fashion label, offering modern and versatile women’s wear.
Season 20: Bishme Cromartie
GettyThe most recent “Project Runway” winner, Bishme Cromartie, originally appeared on Season 17 with Jhoan “Sebastian” Grey before returning to claim the grand prize on Season 20.
Since winning the show, Cromartie has designed red carpet looks for artists and celebrities like Lizzo, Andra Day and Niecy Nash.
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‘Project Runway’ Winners – Where Are They Now?