“Project Runway” Unveils 22 Contestants for 22nd Season, Its Biggest to Date (Exclusive)
“Project Runway” Unveils 22 Contestants for 22nd Season, Its Biggest to Date (Exclusive)
Catherine SantinoWed, May 27, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC
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'Project Runway' season 22 contestants.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman (3)
Introducing the new class of creatives at Project Runway!
Project Runway unveils its lineup of 22 designers for its biggest season to date. Season 22 debuts in the evening on July 9 on Freeform, and will stream shortly after on Hulu and Disney+, followed by weekly airings.
Heidi Klum, Law Roach and Nina Garcia return as judges, and season 4 winner Christian Siriano returns as mentor.
Ahead, meet the designers who will compete for a chance to take their careers to the next level.
01 of 22
Aaron Potts
Aaron Potts.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Aaron Potts founded a unisex line called A.Potts, which blends function, modernity and a wink of drama.
02 of 22
Andrea Moore
Andrea Moore.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Andrea Moore Beaulieu is a street‑fashion designer, entrepreneur and mother of three who is known for her gender‑neutral silhouettes, unexpected textile pairings and refined craftsmanship.
03 of 22
Andriy Volkov
Andriy Volkov.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Ukrainian-born designer Andriy Volkov is a couture artist whose work bridges worlds and draws on global influences while remaining deeply rooted in the traditions that move him most.
04 of 22
Anna Molinari
Anna Molinari.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Anna Molinari is a rising sustainable‑fashion influencer who aims to show that one‑of‑a‑kind design can thrive without harming the environment.
05 of 22
Bao Tranchi
Bao Tranchi.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Bao Tranchi is a Next in Fashion finalist and mother of two with a thriving career in both costume and celebrity design.
06 of 22
Bi Pham
Bi Pham.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Born in Da Nang, Vietnam, and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Bi Pham shifted from science to fashion to explore modernity and sensuality through premium ready‑to‑wear.
07 of 22
Bryan Barrientos
Bryan Barrientos.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Bryan Barrientos is a Peruvian-American designer whose designs have been seen at New York Fashion Week and the Met Gala.
08 of 22
Chloe Magleby
Chloe Magleby.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Chloe Magleby, a designer from Provo, Utah, pushes the boundaries of sustainable fashion with her label, Public Parts.
09 of 22
Dani Bennett
Dani Bennett.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Thrifting throughout her small‑town upbringing sparked Dani Bennett's love for upcycling as well as her emerging brand, moonhAg.
10 of 22
Elizabeth Shevelev
Elizabeth Shevelev.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Elizabeth Shevelev is an emerging New York City artist and designer known for experimental textile manipulation and an anti‑perfect design ethos.
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11 of 22
Jeffrey Kelly Abess
Jeffrey Kelly Abess.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Jeffrey Kelly Designs, founded by Lebanese American designer Jeffrey Kelly Abess, is renowned for its high-fashion statement pieces that merge couture craftsmanship with modern glamour.
12 of 22
Jennifer Daniels
Jennifer Daniels.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Jennifer Daniels is a formally trained designer and FIT graduate who appeared on Project Runway as a model for four seasons.
13 of 22
Joseph McCrae
Joseph McCrae.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Joseph McRae is the founder of New York label JOSEPHMcRAE, returning to Project Runway after appearing in Season 21.
14 of 22
Jude Mikulencak
Jude Mikulencak.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Originally from New Orleans, Jude Mikulencak is a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based designer whose practice is inspired by and rooted in classic tailoring.
15 of 22
Naheim Muhammad
Naheim Muhammad.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Naheim Yusuf is a young designer from Inglewood, Calif., who found his calling in fashion, creating spiritually driven and functional designs.
16 of 22
Octavius Terry
Octavius Terry.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Octavius Terry is the CEO and head designer of OCTAVIUS MARSION, a men’s ready‑to‑wear brand seen on major celebrities and global red carpets.
17 of 22
Omolara "LRÉ the Artist" Odupita
Omolara 'LRÉ the Artist' Odupita.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
LRÉ the Artist is a disabled Air Force veteran and first‑generation Nigerian creative who channels emotion and silhouette into transformative design.
18 of 22
Plane Jane
Plane Jane.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Plane Jane, as seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 and House of Villains season 3, hosts the Kudos for Spilling podcast.
19 of 22
R’Bonney Nola
R’Bonney Nola.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
R'Bonney Nola Gabriel is a Filipina American sustainable fashion designer, model, host and Miss Universe 2022.
20 of 22
Robert Crone
Robert Crone.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
A costume designer who primarily creates custom work for drag artists, Crone’s work is highly theatrical, with a strong fashion influence.
21 of 22
Varvara "Bobby" Diakonenkova
Varvara "Bobby" Diakonenkova.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Originally from Moscow, Varvara "Bobby" Diakonenkova came to the United States to pursue fashion design and uses fashion to speak about world politics and feminism.
22 of 22
Yangyang Xu
Yang Yang Xu.
Credit: Disney/Heidi Gutman
Born in China, trained in London, and now based in New York, Yangyang Xu is a womenswear and print designer shaped by a cross‑cultural lens and refined technical training.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
