The third season of Project Runway, Bravo's reality competition for fashion designers premiered on July 12, 2006. This broke tradition from the previous two seasons, which premiered in December, with the finales taking place at Olympus Fashion Week in February.
Season 3 brought in a new set of sponsors, notably Macy's replacing Banana Republic. NBC re-aired the first two episodes of Project Runway 3 five days after their original Bravo airings. The third season also introduced live viewer poll questions. During the second half-hour of the first airing of each episode, Bravo posed a question to viewers pertaining to the current episode. Fans had the option to respond via text message or the BravoTV.com website.
The winner, Jeffrey Sebelia, received a spread in Elle magazine, a mentorship with INC (Inter-National Concepts) Design, a year of representation by Designers Management Agency, a 2007 Saturn Sky, and $100,000 to start a clothing line (furnished by TRESemmé haircare).
In 2012, Kayne Gillaspie and Uli Herzner later competed in the second season of the All Stars edition with Kayne placing 9th, and Uli placing 3rd. In 2013, Mychael Knight and Jeffrey Sebelia competed in the third season of the All Stars edition, with Mychael placing 8th and Jeffrey placing 7th. In 2023, Kayne Gillaspie competed on Project Runway season 20 placing 10th out of 14.
Contestants
+ Stacey Estrella40San Francisco, CAEpisode 115th place Malan Breton32Long Island City, NYEpisode 214th place Katherine Gerdes23Minneapolis, MNEpisode 313th place Keith Michael34New York, NYEpisode 4 Bonnie Dominguez31San Diego, CA11th place Bradley Baumkirchner32Los AngelesEpisode 510th place Alison Kelly25Brooklyn, NYEpisode 69th place Robert Best36West Hollywood, CAEpisode 78th place Angela Keslar33Amesville, OHEpisode 106th place Vincent Libretti49Santa Monica, CA Kayne Gillaspie27Norman, OK5th place Mychael Knight †28Atlanta, GAEpisode 144th place Laura Bennett 42New York, NY3rd place Uli Herzner 35Miami Beach, FL Jeffrey Sebelia 36Los Angeles (ages listed are the designers' ages at the time the show was taped in the spring of 2006.)
Models
The 15 models competing for an Elle spread in the third season were:
ModelOutcome Candace Pritchard 15th place Moon Yung 14th place Toni Heath 13th place Katia Biassou 12th place Katie Champion 11th place Danielle Schriffen 10th place Alexandra Donhoeffner 9th place Jia Santos 8th place Javi Hairston 7th place Amanda Fields 6th place Lindsay Bien Aime 5th place Clarissa Anderson 4th place Camilla Barungi 3rd place Nazri Segaro Runner-up Marilinda Rivera Winner
Challenges
+Designer Elimination Chart Designers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 Eliminated EpisodeJeffreyLOW IN IN HIGH IN HIGH LOW WIN WIN LOW LOW WINNER 14 - Finale, Part 2Uli IN HIGH WIN LOW IN IN HIGH LOW HIGH LOWWINLauraHIGH IN IN HIGH IN HIGH LOW HIGH LOW WINLOWMychael IN IN INHIGH WIN WIN HIGHHIGH LOW HIGH LOW Kayne IN WIN IN LOW HIGH LOW LOW LOWLOW OUT 10 - Black and White VincentLOW LOW IN LOW LOWLOW WIN LOWOUT OUT Angela IN LOW LOW WIN HIGH IN LOW OUT OUT RobertHIGH HIGH IN LOWLOW IN OUT 7 - Everyday Woman Alison IN IN HIGH HIGH IN OUT 6 - Waste Not, Want Not Bradley IN IN HIGH LOW OUT 5 - Iconic Statement Bonnie IN HIGH IN OUT 4 - Reap What You Sew KeithWIN IN LOWDQ Katherine IN LOW OUT 3 - Designer's Best Friend Malan IN OUT 2 - Fit for a Queen Stacey OUT 1 - Wall to Wall Fashion
The designer won Project Runway Season 3. The designer won the challenge. The designer came in second for that challenge, but did not win. The designer had one of the highest scores for that challenge, but did not win. The designer had one of the lowest scores for that challenge, but was not eliminated. The designer was in the bottom two, but was not eliminated. The designer lost and was out of the competition. The designer was disqualified from the competition. The designer returned to competition and was eliminated for a second time. : Keith was disqualified due to having fashion pattern books and leaving production for several hours to gain access with the Internet. : Designers previously eliminated who won a challenge were brought back to compete in this challenge. : No contestants were eliminated, and all went on to compete at Fashion Week.
Model competition +Model Elimination Chart Model 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 FinaleMarilindaSE BD BD BD JS JS JS JS JS JS JS WINNERNazriKM KM KM UH MK MK MK MK MK MK UH OUTCamilla BB AN AN KM LB LB LB LB LB LB LB OUTClarissa AN BB BB AN AN AN AN AN - AN MK OUT Lindsay VL UH UH BB UH UH UH UH UH UH OUT Amanda AL KG KG KY KY KY KY KY KY KY OUT Javi JS JS JS JS OUT VL OUT Jia KY VL VL VL VL VL VL VL VL WD Alexandra MK MK MK AL AL AL - OUT Danielle RB RB RB RB RB RB RB OUT Katie LB LB LB LB BB OUT Katia UH KY KY MK OUT Toni BD AL AL OUT Moon MB MB OUT Candace KG OUT
The model won Project Runway Season 3. The model wore the winning design that challenge. The model wore the losing design that challenge. The model was eliminated. The model was eliminated, but was brought back. The model withdrew from the competition.
Designer legend Alison Kelly: AL Angela Keslar: AN Bonnie Dominguez: BD Bradley Baumkirchner: BB Jeffrey Sebelia: JS Katherine Gerdes: KG Kayne Gillaspie: KY Keith Michael: KM Laura Bennett: LB Malan Breton: MB Michael Knight: MK Robert Best: RB Stacey Estrella: SE Uli Herzner: UH Vincent Libretti: VL
Model selection process: Episode 1: Models were randomly assigned to designers. Episodes 2 and 4: Designers chose their models, with the winner of the previous challenge choosing first and the other designers choosing in random order. Episode 3 and 6: The winner of the previous challenge was allowed to change his model. All other designers kept their previous model. Episode 5: Models were chosen in random order and picked their designers. Two models were eliminated in this episode to match the elimination of one designer and the disqualification of another in the previous episode. Episode 7: Models are the designers' mothers and sisters; designers could not choose their own family member. Episode 8: Designers chose their models, with the winner of the previous challenge choosing first and the other designers choosing in random order. Two models were eliminated because no models were used in the previous episode. Episode 9: New models were randomly assigned in Paris. Episode 10: Vincent and Angela were brought back, as were their models. Vincent's model Jia was involved in a bicycle accident and was not able to walk down the runway. Javi, a previously eliminated model, took her place. Jia was out for the rest of the competition while she recovered. All other designers used their models chosen in Episode 8. Episode 11: Designers chose their models from the remaining seven, with the winner of the previous challenge choosing first and the other designers choosing in random order. Because three designers were eliminated in the previous challenge, three models were eliminated for this challenge. Finale: Two previously eliminated models, Amanda and Alexandra, were used in two of the final designers' collections. Amanda was used in Uli's final collection, and Alexandra was used in Michael's final collection.
Episodes
Episode 0: Road to Runway Season 3
Tim Gunn and a panel of fashion professionals, which include previous Project Runway designers, interview thousands of possible contestants for the third season of Project Runway. Previous winners and contestants are profiled since the airing of previous seasons. One hour casting special before the Season 3 premiere. First aired July 20, 2006
Simone LeBlanc; Steven Rosengard and Jillian Lewis (from Season 4); Daniel Feld (from Season 5); and Gordana Gehlhausen (from Season 6) were semi-finalists for Season 3.
In the beginning of this episode, Gehlhausen can be seen briefly during the Los Angeles casting call, saying "literally if you give me a sheep, I'll give you a sweater".
Season 7 winner Seth Aaron Henderson, even though not a semi-finalist for the 3rd season, can be seen while Tim critiques his designs as "student work".
Episode 1: Wall to Wall Fashion The designers arrive in New York and are asked to create an outfit in just two days using only materials found in their apartments. All items found in the apartment must fit into a large bag and the designer who touches the object first gets it. This challenge requires the designers to create garments that innovate and best reflect who they are as a fashion designer. All of the designers are randomly assigned models. The winner has immunity for the next challenge and cannot be eliminated. Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors Guest Judge: fashion designer Kate Spade. WINNER: Keith OUT: Stacey First aired July 12, 2006
Episode 2: Fit for a Queen The remaining designers are asked to create a formal evening gown for guest judge and 2006 Miss USA Tara Conner in just two days and $300. The winning dress will be worn in competition by Tara in the Miss Universe 2006 pageant. This challenge requires the designers to be placed in teams of two with Tara Conner choosing seven team leaders. All of the designers are allowed to swap models. The winner has immunity for the next challenge and cannot be eliminated.
Team LeaderOther Team MemberUliBonnieJeffreyAlisonKayneRobertLauraMichaelVincentAngelaMalanKatherineKeithBradley Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia Guest Judge: Vera Wang (sitting in for Michael Kors), Tara Conner, Miss USA 2006 WINNER: Kayne (teamed with Robert Best) OUT: Malan (teamed with Katherine Gerdes) First aired July 19, 2006
Episode 3: Designer's Best Friend The remaining designers are asked to create an outfit and story for a dog and its owner in just two days and US$150. The winner has immunity for the next challenge and cannot be eliminated. Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia Guest Judge: Vera Wang (sitting in for Michael Kors), Ivanka Trump, VP Real Estate Development at Trump Organization. WINNER: Uli OUT: Katherine First aired July 26, 2006
Episode 4: Reap What You Sew The remaining designers are asked to create a three-piece outfit for Macy's in-house INC brand in just two days and US$100. All designers are allowed to swap models. Four designers are chosen by guest judge Mehmet Tangoren as team leaders, must work in teams of three, and can choose any model in their team. The winning design will be manufactured, produced, and sold at Macy's largest stores nationwide. The winner does not have immunity for this challenge.
Team LeaderTeam MembersAngelaLaura, MichaelKeithJeffrey, AlisonRobertKayne, VincentBonnieUli, Bradley Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia Guest Judge: Vera Wang (sitting in for Michael Kors), Mehmet Tangoren, VP of Contemporary Sportswear at Macy's. WINNER: Angela (teamed with Laura Bennett and Michael Knight) OUT: Bonnie (teamed with Bradley Baumkirchner and Uli Herzner) DISQUALIFIED: Keith First aired August 2, 2006
Designer disqualification