The nineteenth season of Project Runway began Thursday, October 14, 2021. Sixteen designers competed to become "the next great American designer." Elle editor-in-chief Nina Garcia, fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, and former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief and journalist Elaine Welteroth returned as judges. Season 4 winner Christian Siriano returned to mentor the designers and use the "Siriano Save" to bring an eliminated designer back into the competition if he disagrees with the judges' verdict. Karlie Kloss did not return as host and head judge but appeared in the penultimate episode of the season as a guest judge.
The winner of the season was Shantall Lacayo from Miami, Florida. Lacayo marked the first time a contestant from an international spin-off participated and won in the original U.S. franchise, having previously competed and finished in third on the first season of Project Runway Latin America. This season brought in four women to the finale, with Chasity Sereal, Coral Castillo, and Kristina Kharlashkina finishing as runners-up.
Anna Yinan Zhou and Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste competed later on season 20 with Anna placing 8th and Prajjé placing 5th out of 14.
Designers
ContestantAgeHometownFinish Outcome Caycee Black 40 16th place Meg Ferguson 35 Tulsa, Oklahoma Episode 2 15th place Kenneth Barlis 32 Episode 3 14th place Darren Apolonio 27 Episode 4 13th place Sabrina Spanta 29 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Episode 5 12th place Katie Kortman 40 Yokosuka, Japan Episode 6 11th place Octavio Aguilar 42 Miami, FloridaEpisode 8 9th place Zayden Skipper 32 Atlanta, Georgia 37 Episode 9 8th place Anna Yinan Zhou 32 San Francisco, California 7th place Aaron Michael 39 Jackson, Mississippi Episode 11 6th place Bones Jones 30 Harlem, New York Episode 12 5th place Chasity Sereal 31 Houston, TexasEpisode 14 Coral Castillo 40 Los Angeles, California Kristina Kharlashkina 33 New York, New York 37 Miami, Florida
*Shantall Lacayo was a finalist on Project Runway Latin America season 1.
Designer progress DesignerEpisodesEliminated Episode1234567891011121314 Shantall IN IN IN WIN HIGH IN SAFE IN WIN WIN IN WIN ADV 14 — Finale Chasity LOW IN WIN IN IN IN WIN HIGH LOW LOW WIN LOW ADV Coral IN IN IN IN IN HIGH HIGH LOW IN IN LOW HIGH ADV Kristina IN HIGH IN HIGH IN WIN LOW WIN HIGH LOW HIGH LOW ADV Bones WIN IN LOW IN HIGH LOW HIGH IN IN IN IN OUT 12 - Model as MuseAaron IN HIGH IN IN HIGH IN HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH OUT 11 - Haute HairAnnaIN IN HIGH IN WIN IN LOW IN LOW OUT 10 - The HousewivesPrajjé IN WIN IN HIGH LOW HIGH HIGHLOW OUT 9 - The Last StrawOctavio HIGH IN HIGH IN LOW HIGH LOW OUT 8 - Couch Couture Zayden IN HIGH LOW IN IN LOW HIGH OUT Katie IN LOW IN LOW LOW OUT 6 - Fashion is Back, Baby!Sabrina LOW IN IN LOW OUT Darren HIGH LOW IN OUT 4 - Flower PowerKenneth IN LOW OUT 3 - If You Got It, Haunt ItMeg IN QUIT 2 - #STREETWEARCayceeOUT 1 - A Colorful Return
Due to mental health reasons, Meg withdrew from the competition, sparing Darren, Katie, and Kenneth from possible elimination.
Although Katie was deemed safe, the judges let her know they loved her look.
: Despite two designers being marked safe, every designer was given a critique.
The designer won Project Runway Season 19. The designer advanced to the Finale. The designer won the challenge. The designer was in the top two. The designer had one of the highest scores but did not win. The designer had one of the lowest scores but was not eliminated. The designer was in the bottom two. The designer was eliminated from the competition. The designer lost, but was saved from elimination by Christian Siriano using the "Siriano Save". The designer withdrew from the competition.
Model progress ModelEpisodes1 234567891011121314DDKKKTBJSL -OACC, ZSCSCC - BJ -SLSLJessica - SSPJKT -AM -AMKT -CS - - CSLuzAZSLAZAM -PJAM, BJSLAM - - - KTCCSarahPJAMSLCC -KK -KT - - - - CSKTMimiDA AZDAAZ -AZCS, PJOABJ - - - CCOUTCassandraCCCSCCKK -BJKT, SLBJ AZ - CC -OUTYuen KT-OADA -KT -AZSL -AM -OUTSLDarianaMF-KTBJ -CS -ZSPJ -KT -OUTCSRobertaKB-CSZS -CC - - - - SL -OUTGraceBJBJZSSS -SL AZ, OACCCS -OUTCSRachelSL-KBPJ -ZS -PJOUTAngeliqueZSKKAMCS -OUTIvanaCB-SSOA -OUTMarshaOA-KKOUTSLBriana AM-OUTRebeccaCS-OUTRuteSS-OUT
Female, male, and non-binary models were used for this challenge.
Different male and female models were used for this challenge.
Women from the Real Housewives of Potomac, Orange County and New York City are the clients for this challenge.
Coco Rocha was the only model for this challenge. There was no runway but instead a photo shoot.
Aaron Michael - AM Anna Yinan Zhou - AZ Bones Jones - BJ Caycee Black - CB Chasity Sereal - CS Coral Castillo - CC Darren Apolonio - DA Katie Kortman - KK Kenneth Barlis - KB Kristina Kharlashkina - KT Meg Ferguson - MF Octavio Aguilar - OA Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste - PJ Sabrina Spanta - SS Shantall Lacayo - SL Zayden Skipper - ZS
Episodes Episode 1: A Colorful Return Original airdate:
The season premiere begins at the iconic Lincoln Center where Christian Siriano, Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, and Brandon Maxwell welcome a talented group of new designers eager to show the world their skills and creativity. In a Project Runway first, the designers will be split into two teams living and working separately to create mini-collections celebrating color. The competition comes to a head on the day of the runway show when they reunite hoping their team is victorious while someone from the losing team will be going home.
TeamsAssigned DesignersWarm ColorsAaron, Bones, Coral, Darren, Kenneth, Octavio, Prajjé, ShantallCool ColorsAnna, Caycee, Chasity, Katie, Kristina, Meg, Sabrina, Zayden Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Jason Wu WINNER: Bones Jones ELIMINATED: Caycee Black
Episode 2: #STREETWEAR Original airdate:
In their first individual challenge, the designers take on streetwear – the most relevant and individualized style in fashion. Working with male, female, and nonbinary models, the competitors dig into their unique personal experiences and cultures to create breakout looks.
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Wisdom Kaye WINNER: Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste WITHDREW: Meg Ferguson After a verbal altercation with Kenneth and Prajjé about switching models with Kenneth, Meg withdrew from the competition due to the stress of the competition on her mental health. Because Meg had already gone home this episode, the judges decided not to eliminate anyone.
Episode 3: If You Got It, Haunt It Original airdate:
It’s Halloween and Christian has a few tricks up his stylish sleeve. The designers are sent to sleep in a haunted mansion to find inspiration for their challenge. If they can survive the night, they’ll have two days to create a hauntingly chic masquerade gown.
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Taraji P. Henson WINNER: Chasity Sereal ELIMINATED: Kenneth Barlis
Episode 4: Flower Power Original airdate:
For their fourth challenge, the designers show up to discover their work room has been “flower flashed”! Inspired by the colorful blooms, the designers must create their own unique floral print from scratch and turn it into a high-end runway look.
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Gigi Hadid WINNER: Shantall Lacayo ELIMINATED: Darren Apolonio
Episode 5: Go For the Gold...Sequin Original airdate:
Figure skating icons Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir steal the spotlight for this celebrity client challenge. This charismatic duo known for their savage takes and outlandish fashion have come to Project Runway for one reason – they need looks for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics. The designers will compete in pairs and the winning looks will be worn by Tara and Johnny in front of a global audience live in primetime from the Olympics.
Tara’s LookJohnny’s LookAnnaBonesShantallAaronChasity ZaydenKristinaCoralKatieOctavio PrajjéSabrina Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judges: Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir WINNER: Anna Yinan Zhou ELIMINATED: Sabrina Spanta
Episode 6: Fashion is Back, Baby! Original airdate:
For the first time ever, our designers will collaborate with some of New York City’s most talented accessory designers who – like our designers – are all working to revitalize the fashion industry. Purses! Shoes! Gloves! Jewelry! Oh my! Taking inspiration from one another’s work, each collaborating duo is challenged to create a coordinated one-of-a-kind look and new accessory.
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Steven Kolb WINNER: Kristina Kharlashkina ELIMINATED: Katie Kortman
Episode 7: Are You Fur Real? Original airdate:
It's the avant garde challenge! Working in pairs, the designers must create innovative avant garde looks highlighting one of the most trendy and complicated of materials, faux fur.
Designer TeamsAaron and BonesAnna and OctavioChasity and PrajjéCoral and ZaydenKristina and Shantall
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth Guest Judge: Billy Porter, Esteban Cortazar (Sitting in for Brandon Maxwell) WINNER: Chasity Sereal SIRIANO SAVE: Shantall Lacayo
Episode 8: Couch Couture Original airdate:
The designers are challenged to solve one of fashion's eternal struggles, if comfortable can really be chic; there's nothing comfortable about designing for a one day challenge with a surprise visit from Geoffrey Mac and Cyndi Lauper.
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Maria Cornejo WINNER: Kristina Kharlashkina ELIMINATED: Octavio Aguilar & Zayden Skipper
Episode 9: The Last Straw Original airdate:
The designers fall for an age-old prank when they’re invited out for cocktails by Christian Siriano only to discover that it’s actually challenge-time, not party-time. It’s time for the unconventional challenge where the designers will be asked to create an elegant cocktail dress from an actual cocktail bar.
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Christopher John Rogers WINNER: Shantall Lacayo ELIMINATED: Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste
Episode 10: The Housewives Original airdate:
Bravo's Real Housewives of Potomac, Orange County and New York City bring their signature attitudes to the catwalk for a client challenge like no other; emotions run high as each designer is paired with a Housewife to make them a reunion show look.
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Andy Cohen WINNER: Shantall Lacayo ELIMINATED: Anna Yinan Zhou
Episode 11: Haute Hair Original airdate:
It’s time for a twist… a hair twist, that is! In this one day challenge, the designers are each teamed with an up-and-coming hairstylist for a head-to-toe fashion collaboration. The pairs will work together to create an innovative design and hair look that complement each other that showcases their creativity to the judges.
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Precious Lee WINNER: Chasity Sereal ELIMINATED: Aaron Michael
Episode 12: The Model as Muse Original airdate:
For the first time ever in Project Runway history, the designers will be creating looks for the same Supermodel in this one-of-a-kind challenge. They must create editorial looks specifically inspired by internationally renowned model, Coco Rocha. And shockingly, there’s no runway! The final five are tasked to show artistic range by delivering a perfect look and a perfect photograph to show it off.
Judges: Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell Guest Judge: Coco Rocha WINNER: Shantall Lacayo ELIMINATED: Bones Jones
Episode 13: The Sky is the Limit Original airdate: