Project Runway cast: Where are they now?

Spawning numerous seasons and spinoffs, this fashion design competition introduced us to plenty of skilled creatives who "make it work." Here's what some past contestants have been doing since they sewed us what they're made of.

Justin LeBlanc (Season 12)
Photo: Courtesy of Justin LeBlanc; Lifetime

Project Runway first hit the air all the way back in 2004 and has been influencing fashion ever since.

The reality competition wasn't just popular; it brought the creative arts to the fore on reality TV and provided years and years of contestants with whom fans fell in love. (Not to mention, it was a perfect hosting job for Heidi Klum and gave TV the gift of Tim Gunn.) Fans follow the designers intensely for months, and then... well, it's easy to lose touch with favorites once the cameras stop rolling.

Here is what some popular Project Runway contenders have been up to since they appeared on the show.

01 of 24

Korina Emmerich (Season 13)

Korina Emmerich (Season 13)
Dimitry Mak/Courtesy of Korina Emmerich; Lifetime

Since wrapping season 13, Korina Emmerich said she's had "very little sleep and a lot of work." She debuted her contemporary womenswear collection at the Spring/Summer 2015 New York Fashion Week in 2014 and is developing new pieces for her online retail brand EMME Studio. Emmerich is also the creative director and cofounder of Relative Arts, a community space that showcases Indigenous art and designs.

02 of 24

Sandhya Garg (Season 13)

Sandhya Garg (Season 13)
Courtesy of Sandhya Garg; Lifetime

Sandhya Garg showcased one of her collections at NYFW Spring/Summer 2016. She 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.

03 of 24

Char Glover (Season 13)

Char Glover (Season 13)
Courtesy of Char Glover; Lifetime

As the "Tim Gunn Save" of season 13 and a returning contestant on Project Runway All Stars 6, Char 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."

04 of 24

Kini Zamora (Season 13)

Kini Zamora (Season 13)
Courtesy of Kini Zamora; Lifetime

Kini Zamora finished season 13 as the second runner-up, and he runs 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 he's mostly working on his designs: Zamora says he's trying his best to balance his "local, island style clothing with modern, fashion-forward designs."

05 of 24

Helen Castillo (Season 12)

Helen Castillo (Season 12)
Courtesy of Helen Castillo; Barbara Nitke/Lifetime

Helen Castillo appeared on season 12 and returned for Project Runway All Stars season 4. She became a L'Oreal brand ambassador for Feria Violet hair color after her time on Project Runway, and collaborated with Mood Designer Fabrics for a 2022 fall collection. In addition to showcasing her designs on her Instagram, Castillo also gives lessons in fashion design as a professor at Montclair State University, teacher at Union City High School, and mentor on her Patreon.

06 of 24

Justin LeBlanc (Season 12)

Justin LeBlanc (Season 12)
Courtesy of Justin LeBlanc; Lifetime

Just like Castillo, Justin LeBlanc competed in season 12 and went on to 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" — and works as a fashion studies professor at Columbia College Chicago.

07 of 24

Alexandria von Bromssen (Season 12)

Alexandria von Bromssen (Season 12)
Courtesy of Alexandria von Bromssen; Lifetime

The season 12 runner-up went on to compete in All Stars season 4. Alexandria von Bromssen owns Camp Couture, a Bay Area program for kids ages 7–17 who want to learn about sewing and design, and Red Square Boutique (her store in San Mateo, Calif.).

08 of 24

Kate Pankoke (Seasons 11 and 12)

Kate Pankoke (Seasons 11 and 12)
Courtesy of Kate Pankoke; Lifetime

The Runway lifer has appeared on Project Runway seasons 11 and 12 as well as All Stars season 4 and has said the show gave her fashion career a "wonderful boost." Kate 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 a freelance writer and editor for Wedding Chicks and Style Me Pretty.

09 of 24

Amanda Valentine (Season 11)

Amanda Valentine (Season 11)
Courtesy of Amanda Valentine; Lifetime

Amanda 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, rock band Mötley Crüe, and Mr. Robot-alum Carly Chaikin, and has sold unique 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.

10 of 24

Gunnar Deatherage (Season 10)

Gunnar Deatherage (Season 10)
Courtesy of Gunnar Deatherage; Lifetime

Gunnar 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.

11 of 24

Anya Ayoung-Chee (Season 9)

Anya Ayoung-Chee (Season 9)
Courtesy of Anya Ayoung Chee; Lifetime

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

12 of 24

Michael Costello (Season 8)

Michael Costello (Season 8)
Courtesy of Michael Costello; Lifetime

Third-place winner of the original All Stars season, Michael 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 Bassett, and even Beyoncé have worn his creations. Costello was in a 2021 controversy when calling out Chrissy Teigen for cyberbullying. He designs for his collaborations with Revolve and Saks Fifth Avenue, and sells his design collections on his website.

13 of 24

Mila Hermanovski (Season 7)

Mila Hermanovski (Season 7)
Courtesy of Mila Hermanovski; Lifetime

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). Hermanovski appeared as herself on Lifetime's Little Women: LA to help Elena Gant start a line of clothing for little women.

14 of 24

Emilio Sosa (Season 7)

Emilio Sosa (Season 7)
Courtesy of Emilio Sosa; Barbara Nitke/Lifetime

Emilio Sosa has focused mostly on Broadway since his time as a runner-up in both season 7 and All Stars season 2: He received four Tony award nominations for Best Costume Design in a Musical for Porgy and Bess (2012) and in a Play for Trouble in Mind (2022), Ain't No Mo' (2023), and Goodnight, Oscar (2023). In 2015, he designed for Radio City's New York Spring Spectacular, and is the chair of the American Theatre Wing Board of Trustees in New York. He has also created costumes for film and TV projects like Annie Live! (2021) and Descendants: The Rise of Red (2023). As for fashion, his brand ESOSA has been seen on stars like Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Uzo Aduba, Taraji P. Henson, and Wendy Williams.

15 of 24

SethAaron Henderson (Season 7)

Seth Aaron Henderson (Season 7)
Courtesy of Seth Aaron Henderson; Lifetime

SeathAaron 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 3-D printed shoes with Feetz and showcased them at FashioNXT in 2017. He lives in L.A. and runs his clothing store, SETHAARON.

16 of 24

Gordana Gehlhausen (Season 6)

Gordana Gehlhausen (Season 6)
Courtesy of Gordana Gelhausen; Lifetime

Since season 6, Gordana Gehlhausen has been living and working in L.A. under her fashion label, GOGA by Gordana. She focuses on red carpet couture gowns and private clients, and has had her designs worn by Ashlee Simpson, Patricia Arquette, Nina Dobrev, and more. Gehlhausen has also developed 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."

17 of 24

Althea Harper (Season 6)

Althea Harper (Season 6)
Courtesy of Althea Harper; David M. Russell/Lifetime

Althea Harper lives with her husband, Stewart (the man she was in a relationship with during filming), and their four children. She juggles her time working on her fashion line, Althea Harper, and also freelances for fashion companies.

18 of 24

Irina Shabayeva (Season 6)

Irina Shabayeva (Season 6)
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, Irina Shabayeva has built a custom bridal and eveningwear business. She sells her designs to high-end boutiques around the world, and has had some of them modeled by stars like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Carrie Underwood. Shabayeva is the creative director of the luxury crocodile and alligator couture brand Maison MJZ.

19 of 24

Kenley Collins (Season 5)

Kenley Collins (Season 5)
Courtesy of Kenley Collins; Lifetime

Being a mother to three children, the season 5 contestant designed everything with a maternal inspiration. After making a "mommy and me" collection and recording a studio album in 2016, she is working as a real estate agent in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

20 of 24

Leanne Marshall (Season 5)

Leanne Marshall (Season 5)
Courtesy of Leanne Marshall; Barbara Nitke/Bravo

Immediately after winning Project Runway season 5, Leanne Marshall moved to New York City, where she continues to develop her line. She has been showing at NYFW since 2008, but she also designs for TV, editorial, and celebrities such as Julianne Hough, Jane Fonda, Carrie Underwood, Andie MacDowell, Mena 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.

21 of 24

Jillian Lewis (Season 4)

Jillian Lewis (Season 4)
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, Jillian Lewis had been working as an independent design consultant for several companies, including Anthropologie. Since 2014, she has directed her namesake line.

22 of 24

Christian Siriano (Season 4)

Christian Siriano (Season 4)
Courtesy of Christian Siriano; Virginia Sherwood/Bravo

Arguably the most recognizable designer to emerge from Project Runway, the season 4 winner has been busy since his 2008 win. Since launching his eponymous collection — which can be found at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, among other department stores and specialty boutiques — Christian Siriano has shown each season at NYFW. 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 Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Lopez to Lizzo and Celine Dion, as well as on TV shows like Emily in Paris. (He's also made appearances on the series Ugly Betty and Difficult People and a 2023 Clueless-inspired Super Bowl ad.)

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 — and regularly shows his seasonal ready-to-wear collection on Vogue Runway.

23 of 24

Chris March (Season 4)

Chris March (Season 4)
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. Chris March 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." Sadly, March died in 2019 due to a heart attack.

24 of 24

Chloe Dao (Season 2)

Chloe Dao (Season 2)
Courtesy of Chloe Dao; Barbara Nitke/Bravo

The season 2 winner is celebrating decades of business with her boutique and clothing line in Houston. Chloe 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.

Related Articles