The nineteenth season of Project Runway began Thursday, October 14, 2021.[1] 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.[2][3] 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, a first in the history of the show (except it isn't, as all-female finales existed in seasons 5 & 6) 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.
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.[7]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.[8]
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.
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.
Four designers compete for only three spots in the Season 19 finale. For the last challenge, the designers will need to show the judges their brand and vision for the future of fashion in a single look. It’s no small task as these finalists put everything they’ve got into this runway show to convince Brandon, Elaine, Nina and guest judge Karlie Kloss that they deserve the opportunity to make a collection for New York Fashion Week.
