The twenty-first season of the American reality competition series Project Runway premiered on July 31 and concluded on September 25, 2025. It marked the first season to air through cable network Freeform, departing from its previous run on Bravo since its 2004 debut. The season featured twelve contestants competing in garment design challenges, with participants eliminated throughout the competition based on judges' critiques until a winner was determined.
After initially departing in season sixteen (2017), German model Heidi Klum reprised her role as head judge alongside Colombian fashion journalist Nina García returning, with stylist Law Roach joining the judging panel for the first time. Fashion designer Christian Siriano also came back as a mentor for the designer contestants. Michael Kors returned as a guest judge for the season finale. Former contestants Jesus Estrada (of season seven) and Caycee Black (of season nineteen) returned to compete again.
Veejay Floresca became the first transgender woman to be announced as the winner of the season. She received a cash prize of $200,000, a six-month representation from Agentry PR, a mentorship with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), alongside a magazine spread in the American edition of Elle. Jesus Estrada and Ethan Mundt ultimately finished as runners-up.
Development
During its bankruptcy of the Weinstein Company, the series was considered an asset which was later reacquired from entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal in 2018.[1] They soon rebooted Project Runway for cable network Bravo, starting with its seventeenth season (2019).[2] Coincidentally the former host and mentor, German model Heidi Klum and television personality Tim Gunn, left the series after both signed a project deal for production company Amazon MGM Studios.[3]
After its twentieth season concluding in 2023, it was uncertain if the series would be renewed for a twenty-first season. Later it was speculated that its release window would take place in 2025.[4]The Hollywood Reporter first reported that cable network Freeform renewed the series and closed a distribution deal on October 17, 2024. It is co-produced by Alfred Street Industries and Spyglass Media Group for a ten-episode run premiering the next year.[5] South African film producer Gary Barber, with Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Nan Strait, and Dan Volpe are served as executive producers.[6]
People confirmed that Klum will return for its forthcoming season, after departing from the series since season sixteen (2017) on January 3, 2025.[7] Former mentor Gunn felt "devastated, then kind of humiliated" for being excluded in returning, explaining to People, "I thought, how lucky am I to have had the experiences that I've had over the last 20 years? [...] I've come to terms with it. Am I disappointed? Sure. And most of all, it's about not working with Heidi, but we move on and [...] I don't know what the reason is yet, but it will be revealed."[8]
The rest of the judges panel for Project Runway was soon revamped and announced to the public on March 24, 2025.[9] This included Colombian journalist and permanent judge Nina García returning, with stylist Law Roach joining alongside. Fashion designer Christian Siriano, who won in season four (2007), returned as a mentor for the designer contestants.[10]
Marketing
A first-look teaser was later released on May 19, which featured Klum dressed in a peach-colored gown.[11] As she centered herself in a Colosseum-like structure, Klum shouts out, "I'm back! And it's good to be home."[12] It showed the season premiere date being on July 31 for Freeform, ending the teaser with, "Get in, or you're out."[13]
Eleven guest judges and twelve contestants were revealed on June 11, set to appear in the upcoming season.[14] Jesus Estrada and Caycee Black returned to compete again,[15] alongside Veejay Floresca who competed in the Philippine iteration (2008) of the franchise.[16] A promotional trailer for the season was released on July 1,[17] showcasing the workshop, runway scenes, the main stage, and confessionals.[18] Within nine days of its release, it gave momentum for the series approximately receiving 42 million views across social media platforms, reported by Deadline Hollywood for Freeform.[19]
To further promote the series, Roach and Siriano appeared on televised program Good Morning America (GMA), where they had three contestants design and create an outfit dedicated to caffeinated beverages on July 17.[20] Belania Daley won the challenge with Klum wearing the garment for GMA on August 6.[21] The judges have also promoted the series on various media such as Nightline,[22]The View,[23] and Entertainment Weekly.[24]
Celebrity guests or judges are listed in chronological order:
Twelve contestants enter the workroom where they are greeted by Heidi Klum and Christian Siriano and where it is announced that the competition will be divided into two fashion houses. They were instructed to create a collection inspired by either princesses or villains originated from Disney.
House of Princesses: Antonio, Belania, Caycee, Joan, Joseph, and Madeline
House of Villains: Alex, Angelo, Ethan, Jesus, Veejay, and Yuchen
The runway took place at the United Palace in New York City where the House of Villains was revealed to be the winning group of the week. The panel of judges announced that Jesus and Yuchen had one of the highest scores but remained safe, with Ethan winning the challenge. Antonio and Joseph of the House of Princesses soon received negative critiques with Caycee later eliminated, having the outcome in twelfth place.
Eleven contestants remained in the workroom with Siriano announcing they will continue to compete in groups; he gave Ethan the opportunity to swap a designer from a fashion house in the next challenge. Siriano revealed both houses needs to create a cohesive activewear collection.
House of Burn: Alex, Angelo, Ethan, Madeline, Veejay, and Yuchen
House of Lotus: Antonio, Belania, Jesus, Joan, and Joseph
After the runway, the House of Lotus were announced as the winning group for the week with Belania and Joseph having one of the highest scores but remained safe; they revealed Jesus won the challenge. The panel of judges soon tallied their score with Angelo and Veejay being the lowest for the House of Burn, with Alex later eliminated, having the outcome in eleventh place.
House of Ethan: Angelo, Ethan, Joan, Joseph, and Yuchen
House of Jesus: Antonio, Belania, Jesus, Madeline, and Veejay
After the runway, the House of Jesus were declared as the winning group of the week from the judges, making Belania the winner of the challenge; Antonio and Jesus had the highest scores but remained safe. As for the other house, Ethan and Joan soon received negative critiques with Angelo later eliminated, having the outcome in tenth place.
Winner of Project Runway season 21: Veejay Floresca
Eliminated: Jesus Estrada and Ethan Mundt
Broadcast
The twenty-first season premiered two episodes through Freeform at 9:00 p.m. (EST) on July 31, 2025.[54] It also was released throughout various streaming services such as Crave for Canada simultaneously,[55] alongside Disney+ and Hulu for the United States with next-day availability starting on August 1.[56] Subsequently, the series moved its new time slot to 10:00 p.m next week on August 7.
Reception
Media outlets praised for the series returning alongside Klum,[57] but also critcized it when they learned Gunn was not involved this season.[58] He revealed that an executive producer offered him a cameo appearance, but declined as it was not reasonable to return for a short time, this soon upset many fans of the franchise.[59]
After showcasing their contestants, Ethan Mundt was quickly to be well-received from various publications,[60] as he also appeared on another television series titled RuPaul's Drag Race (2021).[61]
Footnotes
↑ All ages, names, with hometowns, and outcome are stated at time of filming.[32]
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