The fifth season of Project Runway began filming the first week of June 2008 and premiered on July 16, 2008 at 9:00 p.m.ChicagoTribune.com Accessed on June 9, 2008 It was the final season of Project Runway that aired on Bravo. Subsequent seasons were shown on Lifetime.NYTimes.com Accessed on April 7, 2008
Returning as judges were supermodel Heidi Klum, fashion designer Michael Kors, and Elle editor-at-large Nina Garcia. Tim Gunn returned as a mentor to the designers.
The final four designers all produced collections for Bryant Park Fashion Week.Advocate.com Accessed on September 12, 2008 The winner of this season of Project Runway, Leanne Marshall, received an editorial feature in an issue of Elle magazine, a cash prize of $100,000 from TRESemmé hair care to start her own line, the opportunity to sell a fashion line on Bluefly.com, and a new 2009 Saturn Vue automobile.
Jerell Scott and Kenley Collins later appeared in Project Runway All Stars in 2012, with Jerell coming 5th, and Kenley 4th. Stephen "Suede" Baum, in the same year, competed in the second season of the All Stars edition placing 11th out of 13. Korto Momolu competed in the third season of All Stars, placing 2nd of 11. Stella Zotis appeared in the fifth season of All Stars, placing 11th of 13.
In 2023, Korto Momolu competed in Project Runway season 20, placing 6th of 14.
Contestants + Jerry Tam 32 Butte, MTEpisode 116th place Wesley Nault 23 Blackstone, MAEpisode 215th place Emily Brandle 27 Sacramento, CAEpisode 314th place Jennifer Diederich 27 East Syracuse, NYEpisode 413th place Kelli Martin 27 Columbus, OHEpisode 512th place Daniel Feld 25 Great Barrington, MAEpisode 611th place Keith Bryce 26 Salt Lake City, UTEpisode 710th place Stella Zotis 42 Astoria, NYEpisode 89th place Blayne Walsh 23 Yakima, WAEpisode 97th place Terri Stevens 39 Chicago, IL Joe Faris 41 Troy, MIEpisode 106th place Stephen "Suede" Baum 37 Seven Hills, OHEpisode 115th place Jerell Scott 28 Houston, TXEpisode 134th place Kenley Collins 25 New York, NYEpisode 143rd place Korto Momolu 33 Monrovia, Liberia Leanne Marshall 27 Portland, OR
Models The 16 models in season 5 are (in order of elimination):
Contestant AgeHometownOutcome Janine Bell 24 Maryland 16th place Runa Lucienne 19 Ohio 15th place Leslie Manzano 19 New Hartford, New York 14th place Alex Arace 24 New Jersey 13th place Shannone Holt 21 Brooklyn, New York 12th place Elena Abete 19 Austin, Texas 11th place Alyssa Aparicio 18 Bronx, New York 10th place Kendall Hightower 19 Houston, Texas 9th place Polina Frantsena N/A Boston, Massachusetts 8th place Karalyn West 21 Columbus, Ohio 7th place Germaine Volorioz 27 New Jersey 6th place Xaviera Tytler 22 Phoenix, Arizona 5th place Nicole Zaager 20 New York, New York 4th place Topacio Pena 22 Dominican Republic 3rd place Katarina Munez 20 New Jersey Runner-up Tia Shipman 21 Maryland Winner
Challenges
+Designer elimination chart Designers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Eliminated Episode Leanne INLOW HIGH IN LOW IN WINWINHIGHLOW LOW HIGHADVWINNER 14 – Finale, Part 2 Korto HIGHLOW IN WIN IN HIGH HIGHHIGHHIGH HIGH WINLOW ADV Kenley INHIGH WIN IN HIGH IN IN HIGHLOWHIGH LOW LOW ADV Jerell ININ IN LOW HIGH LOW HIGH IN WIN WIN HIGH WIN OUT 13 – Finale, Part 1 Suede INWIN IN IN IN IN IN LOW LOW LOW OUT 11 – Rock N' Runway Joe ININ IN HIGH IN WIN IN LOWHIGH OUT 10 – Transformation Terri IN IN HIGH HIGH IN HIGH IN IN OUT 9 – What's Your Sign? Blayne LOW IN IN IN LOW IN LOW IN OUT Stella LOW HIGH IN IN HIGH IN LOW OUT 8 – Double 0 Fashion Keith ININ LOW IN WINLOW OUT Daniel HIGH IN IN LOW LOW OUT 6 – Good Queen Fun Kelli WININ ININ OUT 5 – Welcome to the Jungle Jennifer ININ LOW OUT 4 – Rings of Glory Emily ININ OUT 3 – Bright Lights/Big City Wesley INOUT Jerry OUT
: Instead of winning immunity for this challenge, Suede's design was manufactured and sold on Bluefly.com. : Instead of winning immunity for this challenge, Keith's design will be worn by Brooke Shields on the second season of Lipstick Jungle. : Instead of winning immunity for this challenge, Leanne's design was manufactured and sold to American Express cardholders. : From this challenge onward, immunity was no longer given to the winners of each challenge. This episode also featured a double elimination. : All 4 of the remaining designers will create collections for New York Fashion Week, but only 3 designers will actually be showing their collections at Fashion Week.
The designer won Project Runway season 5. The designer won that challenge. Teal background and ADV means the designer advanced to Fashion Week. The designer came in second but did not win the challenge. 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.
+Model elimination chart Contestants 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Tia SU SU SU SU SU SU SU SU SU SU LM LM LM WINNER (LM) Katarina KT KT KT KT KT KT KT KT KT KT KT KT KT KT Topacio JD JF JF JF JF JF JF JF JF JF KC KC KC KC Nicole JT JS JS JS JS JS JS JS JS JS JS JS JS OUT Xaviera TS TS TS TS TS TS TS TS TS – SU OUT Germaine KL KL KL KL KL – KC KC KC KC OUT Karalyn LM LM LM LM LM LM LM LM LM LM OUT Polina BW BW BW BW BW BW BW BW BW – OUT Kendall SZ SZ SZ SZ SZ SZ SZ SZ OUT Alyssa WN WN KB KB KB KB KB OUT Elena DF DF DF DF DF DF OUT Shannone KC KC KC KC KC KC WD Alex JS JD JD JD OUT Leslie EB EB EB OUT Runa KB KB WD Bell JF OUT
: Alyssa was originally eliminated, but was brought back after Runa withdrew from the competition. : Germaine was originally eliminated, but was brought back after Shannone withdrew from the competition. : Due to the number of designers eliminated in the previous two episodes, the remaining designers were allowed to re-pick their models for this challenge. : Karalyn, Shannone, Polina and Alex were used in this challenge to show off the designers' bridesmaid dresses. However, they will not be in contention for the finale win.
Light green background means the model won Project Runway. Blue background means the model wore the winning design that challenge. Red background means the model wore the losing design that challenge. Grey background means the model was eliminated. The model was brought back into the competition. The model withdrew from the competition.
Designer legend Blayne Walsh: BW Daniel Feld: DF Emily Brandle: EB Jennifer Diederich: JD Jerell Scott: JS Jerry Tam: JT Joe Faris: JF Keith Bryce: KB Kelli Martin: KL Kenley Collins: KC Korto Momolu: KT Leanne Marshall: LM Stella Zotis: SZ Suede: SU Terri Stevens: TS Wesley Nault: WN
Episodes
Episode 1: Let's Start from the Beginning Repeating the first challenge on season 1 of Project Runway, the designers were asked to create a look using only materials purchased from a Gristedes grocery store. The designers were given 30 minutes and $75 to shop for items, and then one day to complete the outfit. Most designers were criticized by mentor Tim Gunn for utilizing fabric-substitutes such as tablecloths in their looks, which wasn't what the challenge was about. The winner received immunity for the next challenge. The guest judge, Austin Scarlett, competed on Season 1 of Project Runway and won this same challenge with a dress made of corn husks.
Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors Guest Judge: Austin Scarlett WINNER: Kelli OUT: Jerry First Aired: July 16, 2008
Episode 2: Grass Is Always Greener The designers were asked to create a cocktail dress with their models as their clients. They were asked to use environmentally friendly or conscious fabrics from Mood, with their models doing the fabric selections without their consultations. They were given $75 and one day to finish their garments. The winner did not receive immunity, but did get to sell their garment on Bluefly. Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors Guest Judge: Natalie Portman WINNER: Suede OUT: Wesley First Aired: July 23, 2008
Episode 3: Bright Lights/Big City The designers were tasked to create a look of their choice inspired by the vibrant nightlife of New York City. Tim Gunn drove the designers around the city via a sightseeing tour bus, then provided them with digital cameras to take photographs of their inspiration. Four groups of designers were dropped off at different stops and had an hour to take their photos. They were given $100 and one day to complete their design. The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
The four groups and their assigned stopovers are as follows: Suede, Daniel, Leanne, and Jennifer at Columbus Circle. Blayne, Keith, Stella, and Kenley at Times Square. Korto, Joe, and Kelli at the New York Public Library. Terri, Jerell, and Emily at Greenwich Village.
Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors Guest Judge: Sandra Bernhard WINNER: Kenley OUT: Emily First Aired: July 30, 2008
Episode 4: Rings of Glory The designers were brought to the Armory Track and Field Training Center by their mentor, Tim Gunn, and were introduced to U.S. Olympian and speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno. Their next challenge was to design a womenswear look for the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies. They were given 30 minutes to sketch and draw inspiration from the National Track and Field Museum, after which they were given $150 and one day to complete their designs. The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors Guest Judge: Apolo Anton Ohno WINNER: Korto OUT: Jennifer First Aired: August 6, 2008
Episode 5: Welcome to the Jungle Working in teams of two, designers were asked to make an outfit that could transition from day to night for Brooke Shields's character Wendy Healy on the television show Lipstick Jungle. The winning design was to be worn by Brooke Shields on Season 2 of Lipstick Jungle. Each team was given a budget of $150 and one day to complete their designs. After sketching individually for 30 minutes and pitching their ideas to Shields, six designers were picked by Brooke as team leaders (team leaders shown in bold below). The team leaders were picked in a random order and selected a teammate.
Blayne and Leanne Keith and Kenley Terri and Suede Korto and Joe Kelli and Daniel Jerell and Stella
The winner did not receive immunity for the next challenge.
Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors Guest Judge: Brooke Shields WINNER: Keith (teamed with Kenley Collins) OUT: Kelli (teamed with Daniel Feld) First Aired: August 13, 2008
Episode 6: Good Queen Fun The designers were asked to make an outfit for a drag queen. Chris March of season 4 made a guest appearance to deliver the challenge. The designers were picked at random to select which drag queen to work with. They were given $200 to shop for supplies and two days to complete their designs. The winner received immunity for the next challenge. The designers' models were not used in this challenge.
Designers and Drag Queens:
Blayne with Miss Understood Daniel with Annida Greenkard Jerrell with LeMay Joe with Varla Jean Merman Keith with Sherry Vine Kenley with Farrah Moans* Korto with Sweetie Leanne with Sharon Needles* Stella with Luisa Verde Suede with Hedda Lettuce Terri with Acid Betty
Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors Guest Judge: RuPaul special guest Chris March WINNER: Joe OUT: Daniel First Aired: August 20, 2008
Note: Sharon Needles and Farrah Moans have no connection to the Queens who appeared on seasons 4 and 9 (respectively) of RuPaul's Drag Race. Acid Betty, on the other hand, participated on the eighth season of the show.
Episode 7: Fashion That Drives You