Who was homeless for two years after his big win?
Who gave up a glamorous fashion life to make mermaid tails in Idaho?
And who underwent a surprising surgery?
Keep watching to find out!
Despite not having the most endearing personality, Jeffrey Sebelia was Season 3's winner.
New York Magazine quoted Michael Kors when speaking about Sebelia's attitude, saying:
"It certainly was not his charming personality ... I guess he was acting that way in order
to become more famous."
In 2007, Sebelia told New York Magazine that he was broke and that his first big project
after the show was working on costumes for the live-action "Bratz" movie.
He didn't seem thrilled with the job to begin with, but referring to Bratz as quote, "those
sl---ty dolls" to the New York Magazine reporter cost him the position altogether.
Even after those bumps in the road, Sebelia has still built a successful career as a designer.
He came back for "Project Runway: All-Stars" in 2013.
Since then, he's now launched his own clothing line for children called La Miniatura.
People reported that the designer said that he created the children's brand so that his
son could, quote, "dress with some dignity!"
Christian Siriano is probably the largest name from "Project Runway."
He quickly impressed both the judges and viewers during Season 4, earning first place in the competition.
His designs have since become a staple at fashion weeks as well as on red carpets worn
by celebrities like Cardi B, Whoopie Goldberg, Laverne Cox, Ariana Grande, Lizzo, and more.
He's also even been featured in Times Top 100.
Even though reality TV was where a lot of people first heard of him, Siriano told Elle
he wouldn't recommend young designers to take that route, saying:
"I auditioned when I was 20.
I was a kid.
Those decisions you make so early shouldn't shape your entire career."
Fortunately for Siriano, he's had a lot of other career-defining moments since "Project Runway."
One decision he got a lot of attention for was adding plus sizes to his fashion line,
a decision he claims tripled his business.
Speaking to Elle, Siriano questioned why more designers don't have inclusive sizing, adding:
"Why wouldn't you do that?!
Do we not want to triple the business?
… The whole point of being a designer is to make people feel good; we're here to make
people look cute in a dress.
You want to look cute in a dress, and you're a size 26?
Why not?!"
Although Leanne Marshall struggled at the beginning of Season 5 on "Project Runway"
she didn't let that discourage her.
By the third episode, she'd climbed to the top three, and despite the stiff competition,
her elegant and flowing designs captured the judges' attention and won her the entire competition.
Fresh off of her "Project Runway" win, Marshall moved to New York City to launch her own line,
and she's still living there today.
When she spoke to LamodaChannel, she said:
"I'm a New Yorker, I'm always walking all over the city, and that's generally when I
get my ideas for inspiration."
She's used that inspiration to make a ready-to-wear line as well as beautiful pieces worn by stars
like Danielle Bradberry, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Allison Schroeder.
Marshall's effortlessly elegant gowns translated smoothly into designing wedding dresses, and
in 2011 she launched her wedding line.
Since then, she's gained a lot of well-deserved recognition as a bridal designer.
She even designed her wedding gown for her 2018 Wyoming elopement.
Marshall shared with BRIDES that she felt a lot of pressure designing her dress to make it perfect.
Eventually, she added:
"A dress — just like a partner — will let you know when it's the one.
You won't be able to get it out of your head!"
Seth Aaron Henderson not only won Season 7 of "Project Runway," but he also came back
to the franchise for "Project Runway: All Stars" Season 3, earning another victory.
According to Insider, Henderson focused on creating sustainable fashion after his time
on the show.
He worked with brands like SolarWorld that had the same vision and included organic fabrics
and reused water bottles in his fashion lines.
Recently, Henderson's career has gone in an unexpected direction.
"I wanted something new!
A new challenge."
In 2019 he became the lead designer for an Idaho-based company.
While Idaho isn't known for its fashion industry the way New York or Paris is, it is the home
of Fin Fun, a company that makes mermaid tails.
Speaking to Idaho Falls Magazine, Henderson said he was ready for a new chapter when he
accepted the position, and an outside-the-box company like Fin Fun felt like the perfect chance.
He opened up to the publication, sharing:
"I live in a whimsical world.
I have my own world in my head, and coming into a company that's founded on mermaids
is right up my alley."
Henderson blends his new project and his own style when designing for his runway show for
Fashion Week El Paseo, adding:
"I was able to draw inspiration from sirens in Greek mythology and put out a collection
that represents me as people know me but ultimately relates to the company I'm now working with."
"Project Runway" fans may remember Michelle Lesniak from her time on Season 11, or her
time on "Project Runway: All Stars."
Lesniak struggled throughout Season 11, which focused on putting the designers in team settings.
It wasn't until she got to show her more individual style that Lesniak started winning and eventually
won the whole competition.
Lesniak explained to The Hollywood Reporter that she thought she'd have done better from
the beginning if they hadn't been working in teams, adding:
"I was always on the losing team, it felt like the judges pegged me as a loser, and
they never truly got to see my looks and work until halfway through the season."
Even though she worked better on her own on the show, the designer was ready to stop being
a one-woman show.
One of her main goals after winning was building her team.
She planned to start her world domination from Portland.
Though many "Project Runway" winners relocate to New York, Lesniak said she didn't plan
to move, saying:
"I love this town, and I don't think there's any reason or need to leave."
Instead of leaving, she opened her own boutique in Portland, although it is currently closed.
New Zealander Sean Kelly wowed everyone in Season 13 with his dress that changed colors
under the runway's rain.
After such an impressive display, it should be no surprise that he won the whole competition.
However, although he bested in the end, some of the big wow moments he designed didn't
play as well with the judges.
Speaking about his decision to make more risky designs, Kelly told Reality TV World:
"I didn't think when I was making it that it was too risky.
I was more interested in the ability to create something beautiful, or create something interesting
that has a life to it."
After his win, Sean Kelly launched Sean Kelly Studios and came out with runway collections
for 2015 and 2016.
Although his winning collection on "Project Runway" and his displays in the following
years were for women's wear, Kelly has since moved back into designing men's clothing.
According to Insider, Kelly is still living in New York and working as a designer for
Hercules, a luxury men's swimwear brand.
During her "Project Runway" audition tape, Ashley Nell Tipton said she was first inspired
to make clothes because she couldn't find clothing in her size.
So creating fun, fashionable plus-size clothing was an important part of her mission going
into the show.
"I remember looking through magazines just fantasizing about how it would feel to wear
fun clothing."
After winning the show, she continued designing plus-size fashion, creating her own line as
well as partnering with JC Penney on their collection.
In 2017, Tipton opened up to People magazine about getting gastric bypass surgery.
While still a body-positive advocate, she had a health scare that made her want to lose
weight, explaining:
"It had nothing to do with how big I am.
I still wanted to be plus-size, but I wanted to be plus-size in a way I can work with,
and at that point, I didn't feel like that."
Since her surgery, Tipton said she'd seen amazing results, but she still wants to focus
on plus-size fashion regardless of losing weight, adding:
"If I decide to start designing in smaller sizes, then so be it, but right now, plus-size
women and men are my focus.
I'm so passionate about it that I don't have any other plans to go anywhere else."
Jay McCarroll was the first "Project Runway" winner.
People loved seeing his designs and his personality on the show.
But, the publicity that came with his big win didn't land him the easy success you might imagine.
Speaking to New York Magazine in 2007, McCarroll explained that while he had the skills as
a designer, he was unprepared from a business perspective.
McCarroll was struggling so much that he was homeless, sharing:
"I haven't been living anywhere for two years.
I sleep at other people's houses.
I sleep [in my studio] if I'm drunk."
After winning the show, he was entitled to a $100,000 prize to get his label running,
but McCarroll turned the money down when he learned accepting would mean giving a 10%
stake in his company to the Weinstein Company.
He’s since created lines for New York fashion week, including one in 2006, which was turned
into a documentary called "Eleven Minutes."
The film followed McCarroll's year-long journey to prepare for the runway show.