Project Runway is an American reality television show in which contestants compete to be the best fashion designer, as determined by the show's judges. The series first broadcast in 2004, and seventeen regular seasons and seven all-stars seasons have aired as of June 2019. The first five seasons aired on Bravo, while the succeeding seasons aired on Lifetime.[1] Project Runway contestants are chosen by the show's producers through an application process that includes a videotape submission and "virtual portfolio" of sketches and completed designs, semi-final interviews at select cities, and a final interview.[2]
Two hundred contestants have competed, three of whom have competed twice—Daniel Franco competed in both Season 1 and Season 2 and Kate Pankoke in Season 11 and Season 12 in addition to Amanda Valentine in Season 11 and Season 13. Angela Keslar and Vincent Libretti were originally eliminated in Episodes 8 and 9, respectively, of Season 3, but were brought back due to that season's twist. Justin LeBlanc would have originally been eliminated in Episode 6 of Season 12, but was given a second chance due to the newly instituted "Tim Gunn Save". During Season 13, the "Tim Gunn Save" was used to retroactively bring Charketa Glover back into the competition for Episode 7 after she was eliminated in Episode 6. Seven contestants left Project Runway for reasons other than being eliminated by the show's judges. Keith Michael was disqualified in Season 3 for bringing design books to the contest, which is prohibited.[3] On the other hand, Jack Mackenroth of Season 4, Maya Luz of Season 7, Cecilia Motwani of Season 9, Andrea Katz of Season 10, Kooan Kosuke of Season 10, and Sandro Masmanidi of Season 12 all withdrew from the show due to personal reasons.
The 18 winners of the regular series are Jay McCarroll, Chloe Dao, Jeffrey Sebelia, Christian Siriano, Leanne Marshall, Irina Shabayeva, Seth Aaron Henderson, Gretchen Jones, Anya Ayoung-Chee, Dmitry Sholokhov, Michelle Lesniak, Dom Streater, Sean Kelly, Ashley Nell Tipton, Erin Robertson, Kentaro Kameyama, Sebastian Grey, and Geoffrey Mac. The 7 winners of the All-Star series are Mondo Guerra, Anthony Ryan Auld, Seth Aaron Henderson, Dmitry Sholokhov, Dom Streater, Anthony Williams and Michelle Lesniak.
- ^ "Lifetime Television's 'Project Runway' Becomes Highest Rated Premiere Ever for the Series and in the Network's History". PR Newswire. 2009-08-21. Archived from the original on 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ ""Project Runway" – Season 7: Application Instructions" (PDF). Bunim/Murray Productions. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
- ^ McFarland, Melanie (2006-10-17). "On TV: A stunning 'Project Runway' season wraps up on Bravo". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 2009-08-25.