Project Runway season 21

Project Runway
Season 21
Judges
No. of contestants12
Release
Original networkFreeform
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 initially departing in season sixteen, German model Heidi Klum will return alongside Colombian journalist Nina García, with stylist Law Roach joining the judicial panel. Fashion designer Christian Siriano will return as a mentor for the designer contestants. Jesus Estrada and Caycee Black were previous competitors who will return to compete again.

Development

During the bankruptcy of production company 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 (2019).[1] Coincidentally the former host and mentor: German model Heidi Klum and academic Tim Gunn, left the series after both signed a project deal for Amazon MGM 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] South African film producer Gary Barber, with 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]

Heidi Klum, Nina García, and Law Roach (left to right) announced as current judges

The rest of the judicial panel was soon announced to the public on March 24, 2025.[8] 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.[9]

Marketing

A first-look teaser was later released on May 19, which featured Klum dressed in a peach-colored gown.[10] As she centered herself in a Colosseum-like structure, Klum shouts out, "I'm back! And it's good to be home."[11] It showed the season premiere date being on July 31 for Freeform, ending the teaser with, "Get in, or you're out."[12]

Contestants and various guest judges were revealed on June 11, set to appear in the upcoming season.[13] Jesus Estrada and Caycee Black returned to compete again,[14] alongside Veejay Floresca who competed in the Philippine iteration (2008) of the franchise.[15] A promotional trailer for the season was released on July 1,[16] showcasing the workshop, runway scenes, the main stage, and confessionals.[17] Celebrity guest judges will be listed in chronological order.

Contestants

Project Runway season 21 contestants and their backgrounds[a]
Contestant Age Hometown Finish Outcome
Caycee Black[b] 44 Houston, Texas TBA TBA
Belania Daley 34 Long Island, New York
Antonio Estrada 37 TBA
Jesus Estrada[c] 37 TBA
Veejay Floresca TBA Manila, Philippines
Alex Foxworth TBA Greensboro, North Carolina
Yuchen Han TBA Xining, China
Joan Madison TBA New York City, New York
Madeline Malenfant 31 Nantucket, Massachusetts
Joseph McRae TBA Charlotte, North Carolina
Ethan Mundt 30 Chicago, Illinois
Angelo Rosa TBA Providence, Rhode Island

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal release date
2521"New House / New Rules"July 31, 2025 (2025-07-31)

  • Guest Judge: TBA
  • Challenge Winner: TBA
  • Eliminated: TBA
2532"Feel the Burn"July 31, 2025 (2025-07-31)

  • Guest Judge: TBA
  • Challenge Winner: TBA
  • Eliminated: TBA

Broadcast

The twenty-first season is set to premiere two episodes through Freeform at 9:00 p.m. (EST) on July 31, 2025. It will also be released simultaneously through streaming services Disney+ and Hulu. Subsequently, the series will move its new time slot to 10:00 p.m. consisting of ten episodes.

Footnotes

  1. ^ All ages, names, with hometowns, and outcome are stated at time of filming.[18]
  2. ^ Caycee Black previously competed on season nineteen, placing sixteenth.[19]
  3. ^ Jesus Estrada previously competed on season seven, placing thirteenth.[20]

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Malec, Brett M. (June 11, 2025). "Project Runway's season 21 contestants and celebrity guest judges revealed". E! Online. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  14. ^ Sim, Bernardo (June 12, 2025). "Meet the Project Runway season 21 designers and judges". Out. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  15. ^ Purnell, Kristofer (June 12, 2025). "Filipino trans designer Veejay Floresca joins new Project Runway season". Philstar.com. The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  16. ^ Nolfi, Joey (July 1, 2025). "Project Runway star clashes with judge Nina Garcia in preview: 'That attitude is a problem'". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  17. ^ Franklin, McKinley (July 1, 2025). "Heidi Klum makes her Project Runway return in season 21 trailer". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  18. ^ "Project Runway season 21: Meet the contestants". E! Online (Press release). June 11, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Project Runway: Episode 4 recap". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. February 5, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
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