Project Runway winners have gone in wildly different directions since leaving the show. While some became global fashion powerhouses, others built niche design studios or stepped into consulting and education. Some of the most successful winners of the show include Christian Siriano, Leanne Marshall, Seth Aaron Henderson, and Chloe Dao.
Key Takeaways
- Christian Siriano is widely considered the most commercially successful winner of Project Runway, as he owns a global fashion brand.
- Several winners, like Dmitry Sholokhov and Sean Kelly, built strong niche luxury labels, while others, including Erin Robertson and Veejay Floresca, leaned into artistic or independent fashion careers.
- The show continues to serve as a long-term career launchpad rather than a one-time fame moment.
Project Runway Winners: Where Are They Now?
Project Runway has produced designers with very different career outcomes. Some winners built luxury brands, others shifted into niche design work. A few stepped away from fashion entirely or moved into education and consulting. Their post-show journeys reveal how unpredictable the fashion industry can be.
Jay McCarroll (Season 1)
After winning the first season of Project Runway, Jay McCarroll refused to follow the typical reality-TV winner path, instead choosing to maintain full creative independence. He later launched his own collection at New York Fashion Week and continued working in fashion on his own terms. The designer has shifted into costume design, television work, and smaller creative projects.
Chloe Dao (Season 2)
Before fame, Chloe Dao was already in the fashion business, co-owning a boutique in Houston. After her win in 2006, she used the exposure to expand her brand and customer reach. Her designs are known for being feminine, wearable, and well-constructed. Chloe expanded her influence internationally by serving as a judge on Project Runway Vietnam, showing her transition from contestant to industry mentor.
Jeffrey Sebelia (Season 3)
Jeffrey Sebelia gained attention for his edgy, punk-inspired designs and technical skill. He launched his children's wear label, Cosa Nostra, in 2003, but the brand later faced business challenges and eventually closed. He works more quietly in creative roles, focusing on behind-the-scenes fashion and design projects. As per his LinkedIn profile, he has worked with multiple fashion companies and currently serves at DtE in California.
Christian Siriano (Season 4)
After Christian Siriano emerged the best on the fourth season of the show, he quickly launched his own fashion label in New York. He gained early attention for his bold, theatrical designs and strong technical skill. The top designer became one of the most successful alumni of the show, building his global fashion brand, Christian Siriano, and dressing major celebrities such as Rihanna, Lupita Nyong'o, and Billy Porter. He is also widely recognised for championing size inclusivity and making high-fashion designs accessible to a wider range of body types.
Leanne Marshall (Season 5)
Leanne Marshall's fashion career focuses on soft, romantic, and sustainable design. After the show, she launched her bridal and ready-to-wear collections under her own label, focusing heavily on elegant draping and eco-conscious materials. The fashion designer became especially known in the bridal industry for creating flowing, minimalist wedding gowns with a modern aesthetic.
Irina Shabayeva (Season 6)
Irina Shabayeva is known for her intricate, glamorous couture and evening wear designs. She launched her own label and gained recognition for dressing celebrities such as Kelly Osbourne and Selita Ebanks. Her designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including New York Fashion Week. Shabayeva operates independently, focusing on custom couture pieces and selective runway presentations.
Seth Aaron Henderson (Season 7)
Seth Aaron Henderson is known for futuristic, structured, and eco-conscious fashion designs. The fashion designer launched his own label and gained recognition for blending edgy aesthetics with sustainable fashion practices. His work has appeared in major fashion events, including Portland Fashion Week and other independent runway showcases. He focuses on innovation, custom pieces, and environmentally conscious fashion projects.
Gretchen Jones (Season 8)
Gretchen Jones has mastered conceptual, socially conscious, and sustainable fashion design. She launched her own label after the show and focused on creating ethically driven collections that blended storytelling with modern tailoring. Gretchen has gained more prominence for her thought leadership in fashion rather than constant runway production, contributing to discussions on responsible design and creative systems.
Anya Ayoung-Chee (Season 9)
Anya Ayoung-Chee built her career on vibrant, Caribbean-inspired fashion that reflects her Trinidadian heritage. She launched her label and gained recognition for swimwear and resort collections that celebrate bold colour and cultural identity. Beyond fashion design, Anya Ayoung-Chee expanded into entrepreneurship and social impact work, supporting youth and creative development projects in Trinidad and Tobago.
Dmitry Sholokhov (Season 10)
Dmitry Sholokhov is known for his refined tailoring and minimalist aesthetic fashion style. He went on to launch his own label, focusing on sophisticated evening wear and modern, structured designs that emphasise clean lines and luxury fabrics. Currently, Sholokhov is the creative director at Dmitry Sholokhov Corp, an organisation he established over a decade ago.
Michelle Lesniak Franklin (Season 11)
Michelle Lesniak Franklin stood out for her avant-garde approach and bold, artistic silhouettes. She continued developing her independent label, focusing on conceptual womenswear that blends structure with experimental textures. The designer has leaned into niche design work and creative projects that highlight her distinctive artistic vision. Her notable clients include Hollywood actress Jordana Brewster and drag queen Darienne Lake.
Dom Streater (Season 12)
Dom Streater made history as the first African-American woman to win Project Runway in Season 12, earning praise for her vibrant prints and modern ready-to-wear aesthetic. After the show, she worked for Urban Outfitters and went on to launch her own label, Dom Streater Studio, in Philadelphia. She remains active through independent design projects and collaborations.
Sean Kelly (Season 13)
Sean Kelly caught everyone's attention with his bold, colour-changing fringe collection and went on to win Season 13 of the show. His focus was on evening wear, but that changed after the show, shifting to costume design and performance wear, creating pieces for dancers, drag performers, and stage productions. The designer's men's swimwear company, Hercules New York, allegedly closed in 2024.
Ashley Nell Tipton (Season 14)
Ashley Nell Tipton is the first plus-size designer to win Project Runway. The designer launched collections focused on plus-size fashion, collaborating with major retailers to expand accessibility. She focuses on empowering curvier women through stylish, wearable pieces that challenge traditional industry standards. Tipton who is also a plus-size model and speaker, advocates for inclusivity and mental health awareness.
Erin Robertson (Season 15)
Erin Robertson surprised everyone when she joined the show a few weeks after completing her studies. Her unconventional use of textiles and bold colour combinations made her stand out and eventually emerge as a winner. She launched her label An-Erin and later focused on textile innovation. Additionally, she sells fashion art and co-founded the Los Angeles pickleball facility Pickle Pop.
Kentaro Kameyama (Season 16)
Kentaro Kameyama brought a poetic, artistic sensibility to the competition with designs often inspired by music and emotion. He has continued developing his label while blending fashion with his background as a pianist and composer. The Japanese designer has maintained a niche career focused on artistic expression rather than large-scale commercial fashion.
Jhoan Sebastian Grey (Season 17)
Sebastian Grey won Project Runway Season 17 with his refined tailoring and romantic, fluid silhouettes. Following his victory, he launched his namesake label, focusing on elegant womenswear that highlights craftsmanship and modern femininity. His collections have been featured at major fashion events like New York Fashion Week.
Geoffrey Mac (Season 18)
Geoffrey Mac built his reputation on edgy, streetwear-inspired designs with a rebellious aesthetic. He has expanded his label, focusing on graphic-heavy pieces, leatherwork, and bold statement fashion. Instead of following a purely high-fashion route, he leaned into music, nightlife, and subculture influences to shape his brand identity.
Shantall Lacayo (Season 19)
Shantall Lacayo impressed judges with her polished tailoring and strong commercial sensibility. Building on her victory in Season 19, she expanded her brand, SHANTALL, with ready-to-wear collections that blend modern structure with Latin American influences. The Latin American designer also offers innovative reworkings of some classic looks.
Bishme Cromartie (Season 20)
Bishme Cromartie claimed victory with a collection inspired by the demise of his sister. His work blends tailored structure with expressive, often dramatic elements that reflect personal experiences. The designer's work has been featured in major fashion events, and he has dressed famous clients such as American singers Mary J. Blige and Lizzo.
Veejay Floresca (Season 21)
Veejay Floresca became the first transgender woman to win Project Runway. She has continued developing her brand through bridal and high-fashion pieces rooted in Filipino identity and advocacy. The reality TV star balances fashion design with activism, using her platform to support LGBTQ+ visibility and social causes.
Who Are the Most Successful Project Runway Winners?
Christian Siriano is widely considered the most successful, with a global fashion brand and major celebrity clientele. Others like Seth Aaron Henderson and Dmitry Sholokhov have also maintained steady design careers.
What Happened to Jay McCarroll After Winning Project Runway Season 1?
Jay McCarroll rejected the $100,000 prize due to contract terms and chose creative independence. He later launched collections and showed at New York Fashion Week.
Project Runway winners have gone on to build very different but impactful careers in the fashion industry. Some, like Christian Siriano, achieved global success with major celebrity clients and a strong commercial brand. Others chose independent, creative, or niche paths, but all continue to influence fashion in their own way.
