Project Runway season 21
| Project Runway | |
|---|---|
| Season 21 | |
| Judges | |
| No. of contestants | 12 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Freeform |
| Original release | July 31, 2025 – present |
| Season chronology | |
The twenty-first season of American reality competition series Project Runway set to premiere on July 31, 2025. This marks the first season to air through cable network Freeform, departing from its previous network Bravo. It documents twelve contestants progressively eliminated based on the critiques from the judges, until only a few contenders remain.
After stepping down in season sixteen, German model Heidi Klum returned alongside Colombian journalist Nina García, with stylist Law Roach joining the judicial panel. Fashion designer Christian Siriano returned as a mentor for the designer contestants. Jesus Estrada and Caycee Black were previous competitors whom returned to compete again.
Development
[edit]During the bankruptcy of the Weinstein Company, the series was an asset which was later reacquired from NBCUniversal in 2018. They soon rebooted Project Runway for cable network Bravo, starting with its seventeenth season.[1] Coincidentally, German model Heidi Klum and academic Tim Gunn left the series after both signed a project deal for Amazon Studios.[2] 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.[3]
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.[4] Gary Barber, Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Nan Strait, and Dan Volpe are served as executive producers.[5]
People confirmed that Klum will return for its fourthcoming season, after departing from the series since season sixteen on January 3, 2025.[6] 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."[7]
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The rest of the judicial panel was soon announced to the public on March 24, 2025.[8] This included Colombian journalist and recurring judge Nina García returning, with stylist Law Roach joining alongside. Fashion designer Christian Siriano, who won in season four, returned as a mentor for the designer contestants.[9]
Marketing
[edit]A first-look teaser was later released on May 19, which features Heidi Klum dressed in a peach-colored gown.[10] As she centered herself in a Colosseum-like structure, Klum states, "I'm back! And it's good to be home."[11] The teaser ended and showed its premiere date being on July 31 for Freeform.[12]
Contestants and various guest judges were revealed on June 11, and set to appear in the upcoming season.[13] Veejay Floresca competed in the Philippine iteration (2008) of the franchise,[14] with Caycee Black and Jesus Estrada returning to compete again.[15] Celebrity guest judges will be listed in chronological order.
- Sofía Vergara, actress and television personality
- Tyra Banks, model
- Nikki Glaser, actress and comedian
- Sara Foster, actress and producer
- Jenna Lyons, fashion designer and businesswoman
- Christian Cowan, fashion designer
- Joan Smalls, model and television personality
- Zac Posen, fashion designer
- Mickey Guyton, singer and actress
- Harris Reed, fashion designer
- Michael Kors, fashion designer
Contestants
[edit]| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caycee Black[b] | TBA | Houston, Texas | TBA |
| Belania Daley | Long Island, New York | ||
| Antonio Estrada | TBA | ||
| Jesus Estrada[c] | |||
| Veejay Floresca | Manila, Philippines | ||
| Alex Foxworth | Greensboro, North Carolina | ||
| Yuchen Han | Xining, China | ||
| Joan Madison | New York City, New York | ||
| Madeline Malenfant | Nantucket, Massachusetts | ||
| Joseph McRae | Charlotte, North Carolina | ||
| Ethan Mundt | Utica, Minnesota | ||
| Angelo Rosa | Providence, Rhode Island |
Episodes
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 252 | 1 | TBA | July 31, 2025 | |
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| ||||
Broadcast
[edit]The twenty-first is set to premiere two episodes through Freeform at 9:00 p.m. (EST) on July 31, 2025. Subsequently, the season will air weekly at 10:00 p.m. consisting of ten episodes. Episodes will later be released throughout Hulu and Disney+ with next-day availability starting on August 1.
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ All ages, names, with cities, and outcome are stated at time of filming.[16]
- ^ Caycee Black previously competed on season nineteen, placing sixteenth.[17]
- ^ Jesus Estrada previously competed on season seven, placing thirteenth.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ Sandberg, Bryn Elise (May 14, 2018). "Project Runway returning to Bravo". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ Schwartz, Ryan (September 7, 2018). "Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn leaving Project Runway franchise to develop new reality series at Amazon". TVLine. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ Padwal, Saylee (July 3, 2024). "Project Runway season 21: News, potential release window, potential cast and everything we know". ScreenRant. Valnet. Archived from the original on June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (October 17, 2024). "New Project Runway season lands at Disney". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 17, 2024). "Project Runway moves from Bravo to Freeform; new season set for 2025". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 29, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ Chiu, Melody; Philips, Hedy (January 3, 2025). "Heidi Klum is returning to Project Runway after 8 years". People. Dotdash Meredith. ISSN 0093-7673. OCLC 794712888. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ Greene, Jordan (February 15, 2025). "Tim Gunn 'wasn't asked back' to Project Runway with Heidi Klum: 'I was initially devastated'". People. Dotdash Meredith. ISSN 0093-7673. OCLC 794712888. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (March 24, 2025). "Nina Garcia and Law Roach join Heidi Klum as judges for Project Runway season 21; Christian Siriano returns as mentor". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ Bailey, Alyssa (March 24, 2025). "Nina García returns to Project Runway". Elle. Louis Hachette Group. Archived from the original on March 24, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (May 19, 2025). "Project Runway season 21 gets premiere date and first look teaser with Heidi Klum as host on Freeform, Hulu and Disney+ reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Vaughan, Claudia (May 26, 2025). "Breaking down the teaser for Project Runway season 21". TheThings. Valnet. Archived from the original on May 31, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Puckett-Pope, Lauren (May 21, 2025). "Project Runway season 21: What we know so far". Elle. Louis Hachette Group. Archived from the original on May 30, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Malec, Brett M. (June 11, 2025). "Project Runway's season 21 contestants and celebrity guest judges revealed". E! Online. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Purnell, Kristofer (June 12, 2025). "Filipino trans designer Veejay Floresca joins new Project Runway season". Philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Sim, Bernardo (June 12, 2025). "Meet the Project Runway season 21 designers and judges". Out. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ "Project Runway season 21: Meet the contestants". E! Online (Press release). June 11, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Swift, Andy (October 15, 2021). "Project Runway makes a bold return in season 19: Was the right designer cut first? And do you miss Karlie Kloss". TVLine. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ "Project Runway: Episode 4 recap". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. February 5, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
