EMMY AWARD-WINNING“PROJECT RUNWAY” RETURNS HOME TO BRAVO BEGINNING THURSDAY, MARCH 14 AT 8PM ET/PT

EMMY AWARD-WINNING“PROJECT RUNWAY” RETURNS HOME TO BRAVO BEGINNING THURSDAY, MARCH 14 AT 8PM ET/PT

Hosted by Karlie Kloss with Mentor Christian Siriano and Judges Nina Garcia, Brandon Maxwell and Elaine Welteroth

NEW YORK — January 29, 2019 — The wait is over as the iconic fashion competition series “Project Runway” returns to its original home on Bravo with supersized 90-minute episodes beginning Thursday, March 14 at 8:00pm ET/PT. This season, as the fashion industry evolves, so does our runway with a new design aesthetic and additions to the judging panel: supermodel and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss joins as host with former “Project Runway” champion and celebrated CFDA fashion designer Christian Siriano as the mentor. ELLE Editor-in-Chief Nina Garcia returns as a judge, along with famed fashion designer Brandon Maxwell and journalist and former Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief Elaine Welteroth. The new look and feel continues with 16 new designers from across the United States and abroad who will compete for the coveted spot of a lifetime, a chance to show their collection during an exclusive runway show for industry insiders and influencers as well as win the largest cash prize in the show’s history. With an all-new runway and workroom furnished with sewing and embroidery machines by Brother, a glam room for the models outfitted by TRESemmé and Maybelline, along with challenges that embrace the nuances of the fashion industry—including flash sales, fast fashion, the inclusion of plus-size models, Instagram, a special Elton John challenge inspired by Paramount Pictures’ Rocketman, and so much more. The runway game changes forever beginning now. For a sneak peek, please visit: http://www.bravotv.com/project-runway/season-17/videos/your-first-look-at-bravos-project-runway

The stakes are high as the aspiring designers stand to gain unparalleled experience and valuable skills in pursuit of their dreams. They're guided by judges and special guests who are knowledgeable about design, style, and pop culture including: Marni Senofonte, who is Kendall Jenner’s personal stylist as well as the stylist behind Beyoncé’s Lemonade and Super Bowl 50 looks; actress and Siriano muse Danielle Brooks, who judges a fierce challenge to design a dream dress for the women who keep New York City running; famed designer Dapper Dan drops by to inspire the contestants to think outside the box as he did with luxury fashions in the ‘80s; and to take things up another notch, rapper/songwriter Cardi B makes a surprise visit and gives commentary as only she can. Proving they can survive in the competitive and cutthroat world of fashion, the hopefuls compete in an array of challenges, including a series first - the flash sale challenge. In several episodes this season, fans will have a higher stake in the show by getting a chance to own a piece of the Runway by voting on the outfits they like best, with both the judges’ winning look and a fan-favorite look being manufactured in the USA by Nineteenth Amendment, a production platform producing sustainable clothing on-demand, and sold on Bravotv.com/ProjectRunway. 

The wining designer will receive the largest prize in the show’s history— $250,000 furnished by the Pilot's FriXion Erasable Gel Ink Pen —a feature in ELLE, and his or her own featured role in a Bluprint digital series as well as $50,000 to put toward their own design studio also courtesy of Bluprint. Plus, for the first time ever, “Project Runway” is partnering with one of the most prestigious organizations in fashion, CFDA (The Council of Fashion Designers of America) for a one-on-one mentorship including all the tools and connections to create, grow, and sustain a business in fashion.

Meet the “Project Runway” Season 17 Designers:

• Afa Ah Loo - Lotopa, Samoa
• Rakan Shams Aldeen - Homs, Syria
• Cavanagh Baker – Nashville, TN
• Tessa Clark - Greenville, OH
• Bishme Cromartie - Baltimore, MD
• Venny Etienne - Brooklyn, NY
• Jhoan “Sebastian” Grey - Cali, Colombia
• Renee Hill - Philadelphia, PA
• Sonia Kasparian - Portland, OR
• Kovid Kapoor - Brooklyn, NY
• Frankie Lewis - Louisville, KY
• Lela Orr - Monroe, LA
• Jamall Osterholm - Cranston, RI
• Nadine Ralliford - Stone Mountain, GA
• Gary “Garo Sparo” Spampinato - Bayshore, NY
• Hester Sunshine - Santa Fe, NM

“Project Runway” is produced by Magical Elves with Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz, as well as Gaylen Gawlowski, Casey Kriley and Nan Strait as Executive Producers along with Lantern Entertainment with Andy Mitchell and Milos Brajovic as Executive Producers. Karlie Kloss also serves as an Executive Producer.

About Bravo Media:

Bravo Media is the premier lifestyle and entertainment brand that drives cultural conversation around its high-quality, interactive original content across all platforms. The network has a diverse slate of original programming that includes the scripted anthology series “Dirty John,” along with unscripted favorites such as Emmy Award-winning “Top Chef” & “Project Runway,” “Vanderpump Rules,” “Below Deck,” “Southern Charm,” and the popular “Million Dollar Listing” and “The Real Housewives” franchises. Bravo also boasts the only live late-night talk show on television with the critically acclaimed “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” which has become a nightly destination for A-list celebrities. Available in 87 million homes, Bravo is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Watch Bravo anywhere: on demand, online, or across mobile and connected TVs. Bravo has been an NBCUniversal cable network since December 2002 and first launched in December 1980.