Meet The 'Project Runway' Season 21 Designers and Judges Including A Former Drag Race Contestant

Project Runway is back, back, back again — this time on a new network, a different lineup of main judges and mentors, and a sickening cast of designers sewing for their lives.

via: Deadline

The cast includes Project Runway alums, former RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, twins, and more.

Heidi Klum is set to return as host and judge of the competition series. OG Project Runway judge Nina García and stylist superstar Law Roach are joining Klum as judges.

Project Runway Season 4 winner Christian Siriano returns as mentor to the designers.

The competition series debuted on Bravo in 2004 and revolutionized the reality genre. Project Runway ran for five seasons on Bravo before moving to Lifetime for eleven more seasons. For its 17th season, the show returned to Bravo, where it ran for four seasons.

Project Runway Season 21 premieres on Freeform with two episodes on Thursday, July 31. The episodes will be available to stream shortly after on Hulu and Disney+.

Spyglass Media Group and Alfred Street Industries produce Project Runway. Gary Barber and Sean Hoagland serve as executive producers for Spyglass. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, Michael Rucker, and San Heng serve as executive producers for Alfred Street Industries. Klum, Siriano, and Garcia also serve as executive producers.

Check out the full cast of designers below.

Madeline Malenfant: Vintage and period-piece obsessed designer, Madeline Malenfant, grew up on Nantucket and always dreamt of being a fashion designer. Deeply inspired by the Renaissance period, her unique historical design style blends era-esque silhouettes with a modern twist.

Ethan Mundt: Known as RuPaul’s Drag Race legend “Utica Queen,” Ethan Mundt is now bringing his fierce fusion of high fashion, avant-garde artistry, and theatrical storytelling to Project Runway. He aims to bring drama, sophistication, and a touch of surrealism to everything he creates.

Antonio Estrada: After designing alongside his twin, Jesus Estrada, Antonio Estrada is ready to own his voice as a designer and put the spotlight on his own intuitive couture. Born in Mexico and raised in California, Antonio is a self-taught designer known for his bold, versatile designs that blend glamour with a touch of playful rebellion.

Jesús Estrada: ‘Project Runway’ Season 7 alum, Jesus Estrada, is back, alongside his twin brother Antonio, to reclaim his narrative and show the world the designer he’s become. Born in Mexico and raised in California, Jesus Estrada is a charismatic designer known for vibrant queer designs that blend old Hollywood Glamour with a modern edge.

Yuchen Han: Originally from Xining, China, Yuchen Han is an ambitious and authentic designer on a personal mission to empower others through his futuristic and enlightenment-focused designs. Often finding inspiration from sci-fi films, Yuchen is obsessed with Aliens and fiercely owns who he is.

Veejay Floresca: A fearless designer and proud trans woman from the Philippines, Veejay Floresca is known for her fiercely competitive and unapologetic personality along with her aesthetic that combines modernity, wearability, and art. 

Belania Daley: Known for her fearless and feisty personality, Belania Daley, elevated streetwear designer, is ready to put her signature pattern-mixing and color-blocking designs into the spotlight. Growing up on Long Island, Belania learned how to sew at the age of 13 and has since honed impressive technical skills. 

Joan Madison: A vibrant and high-energy designer from Queens, NY, Joan Madison brings optimism, creativity and bling to everything she touches. Known for her big, dramatic designs and theatrical style, she’s ready to make her dreams come true.

Angelo Rosa: A proud single dad and passionate streetwear designer from Providence, RI, Angelo Rosa fuses his Dominican heritage with his New York grit. His designs blend luxury streetwear with bold, edgy details that reflect his creativity and resilience.

Caycee Black: ‘Project Runway’ Season 19 alum and Houston, TX native Caycee Black, returns and is bringing her out-of-this-world designs back to the runway. Caycee is known for her hand-painted prints, gender fluid designs, and love for breaking traditions in the chicest way possible.

Alex Foxworth: Growing up in Greensboro, NC, sharp and opinionated designer, Alex Foxworth, is the juxtaposition of Southerner meets New Yorker. Inspired by her Japanese grandmother from Nagasaki, she incorporates traditional kimono techniques into timeless, mindful designs.

Joseph McRae: Charlotte, NC native Joseph McRae is a self-taught designer and electrical engineer known for his southern charm and sass. After leaving his 13-year job, Joseph is now betting on himself and bringing his bold, boundary-breaking designs to the runway.

*****

As someone who has been a longtime fan of Project Runway, I am having mixed emotions. On one hand I am excited Heidi is back, and that Utica is competing as a designer, since there are some drag queens who are impeccable designers.

However I am upset that Tim Gunn was humiliated by producers. For those unaware when it was first started hearing all the news regarding Project Runway, Tim Gunn revealed that he and Heidi had been texting one another about doing the show together again.

"Heidi sent me a text saying, 'There's talk about bringing Project Runway back with us, with you and me, and would you do it?,'" Gunn told People. "And I said, 'Would I do it? Of course, there's not a moment of hesitation in me."

He added, "So Heidi and I were texting and texting, and several months later, she sent me a text asking, 'Are you happy with your contract?' I'm a truth-teller. I don't even mince words. I said, 'Well, I haven't seen a contract.' And she said, 'You haven't?'"

Gunn recalled asking his agent to figure out what went wrong. Gunn's agent "contacted the executive producers of this new show, and they said, 'We don't want him.' And [my agent] said, 'Well, he's done 19 seasons of Runway, 16 with Heidi. The two of them won an Emmy together as hosts, and now you're going to separate them?' And they said, 'Yes.'"

"Several weeks after that conversation, they went back to [my agent] and said, 'Well, we've thought about it, and we'd be willing to offer Tim a small cameo in one episode,'" Gunn explained in the same People interview. "What do I do? Wave from a bus? As the designers are going into Mood [Fabrics]? Heidi comes to see me at the retirement home and we play croquet? So, no, thank you."

He continued, "As Heidi would say, you're either in or you're out. And I'm out."

Gunn admitted that he was "initially devastated, then kind of humiliated," upon hearing the news that he wasn't brought back for a new season of Project Runway. And yet, the fashion and reality TV icon is making it work nonetheless.

"I thought, how lucky am I to have had the experiences that I've had over the last 20 years?" he said. "This is phenomenal. I stopped the boo-hooing. I thought, it's really throwing hubris in the face of an angry God to mourn not being on this new show. So I've come to terms with it."

Gunn continued, "Am I disappointed? Sure. And most of all, it's about not working with Heidi. But we move on, and things happen for a reason. I don't know what the reason is yet, but it will be revealed."

It is Gunn's understanding that Klum was also devastated about him not returning to the series. "She was really upset. She kept saying, 'I'm fighting for you, I'm fighting for you.' Which is lovely of her, and nothing that I should expect. And I said, 'Heidi, just take good care of yourself. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.'"

When asked by People if he plans on watching season 21, Gunn was — as always — a class act.

Yes, Gunn is planning to watch the new season. "I have her back and I'm with her in spirit always," he added.

I love Heidi, and I was glad to hear she fought hard to get him back on the show. However, while I am upset the band isn't completely back together I am here for Christian Siriano continuing on as a mentor to the designers. If there's anyone who has walked in the shoes of the competitors and can provide some perspective it's Christian.