SEASON 20 of Project Runway All-Stars is over - and the winner left fans crying with an emotional speech.
Bishme Cromartie is this season's winner of Project Runway All-Stars, beating out runners-up Laurence Basse and Brittany Allen for the title along with the $250,000 award.
The designer left viewers in tears with his victory speech when he said he designed his final collection thinking of his late sister, Chimere Faye Didley, who passed away just before the competition started filming.
“I miss my sister so much and before she passed away she told me I was gonna win," he recalled.
"All I had to do is just believe it and this right here just showcased to me everything I’ve been fighting for is worth it.”
Fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their emotional reactions as one wrote: "I'm crying.. His sister is there. She's so proud. Congrats!!!"
"I’m crying my eyeballs out right now!!!" another shared.
On top of the winning title and the cash prize, Bishme has won a mentorship with the Council of Fashion Designers of America as well as a feature in Elle Magazine.
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More on the origin of Project Runway All Stars
Project Runway All Stars is a spin-off from the original Project Runway where past designers return to compete for a chance of winning the show.
It is a Lifetime series that sees returning contestants competing for grand prizes.
In May 2016, Lifetime renewed Project Runway All Stars for two more seasons (six and seven) in a deal with The Weinstein Company.
Following the 2017 allegations against Harvey Weinstein, The Weinstein Company filed for bankruptcy and Project Runway was picked up by its original broadcaster Bravo – but no comment has been made about Project Runway All Stars.
The show follows the same format as Project Runway with judging, challenges, and eliminations.
Everything to know about Project Runway
Project Runway is a Bravo reality television series that debuted on December 1, 2004. The series is about fashion design.
The participants compete to make the greatest outfits while being limited by time, resources, and theme.
Each week, one or more designers are ousted from the program after their creations are assessed by a panel.
During each season, candidates are gradually removed until just a handful remain.
These finalists create full-fledged fashion shows for New York Fashion Week.
The winner is decided by the judges after the runway displays.
Winners of Project Runway, continued
- Season 11 – Michelle Lesniak Franklin (2013)
- Season 12 – Dom Streater (2013)
- Season 13 – Sean Kelly (2014)
- Season 14 – Ashley Nell Tipton (2015)
- Season 15 – Erin Robertson (2016)
- Season 16 – Kentaro Kameyama (2017)
- Season 17 – Jhoan Grey (2019)
- Season 18 – Geoffrey Mac (2020)
- Season 19 – Shantall Lacayo (2021)
Past Project Runway winners
- Season 1 – Jay McCarroll (2005)
- Season 2 – Chloe Dao (2006)
- Season 3 – Jeffery Sebelia (2006)
- Season 4 – Christian Siriano (2008)
- Season 5 – Leanne Marshall (2008)
- Season 6 – Irina Shabayeva (2009)
- Season 7 – Seth Aaron Henderson (2010)
- Season 8 – Gretchen Jones (2010)
- Season 9 – Anya Ayoung-Chee (2011)
- Season 10 – Dmitry Sholokhov (2012)
Meet the judges: Nina Garcia
Nina Garcia is the editor-and-chief of Elle magazine and a long-time judge on Project Runway.
She began her career in fashion journalism decades ago and then worked her way to the top of one of the most widespread women’s magazines in the world.
Nina, 58, has also authored four books on fashion and has hosted red-carpet events like the Oscars.
She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
She famously missed Fashion Week in 2019 to undergo a preventative double mastectomy and then wrote about it for Elle.
Meet the judges: Brandon Maxwell
Texan-made designer Brandon Maxwell began discovering his interest in fashion when he was a young child, he says.
Today, his name is synonymous with his ready-to-wear luxury clothing line for women, based in New York City.
Although Brandon is only 38-years-old, he has already designed for some of the biggest names in arts and politics, including Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman, and Kerry Washington.
He joined Project Runway as a judge in 2019.
Meet the judges: Brandon Maxwell
Texan-made designer Brandon Maxwell began discovering his interest in fashion when he was a young child, he says.
Today, his name is synonymous with his ready-to-wear luxury clothing line for women, based in New York City.
Although Brandon is only 38-years-old, he has already designed for some of the biggest names in arts and politics, including Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman, and Kerry Washington.
He joined Project Runway as a judge in 2019.
Meet the judges: Elaine Welteroth
Elaine Welteroth is the Former Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue and was the first Black person to serve in the role and the second youngest person ever hired as an editor by its parent company, Conde Nast.
Elaine, 36, is credited with pushing the magazine to take a more political stance on social justice issues and is credited with making it more civically engaged.
She led Teen Vogue for about two years before resigning and pursuing other creative pursuits in California, where she lives now.
Since then, she has helped host the daytime roundtable, The Talk, and first joined Project Runway in 2018.
Behind closed doors on Project Runway
In an exclusive with The US Sun, contestant Johnathan Kayne revealed the harsh conditions on Project Runway.
"First off, when I did season three of Project Runway, I assumed there would be someone there to make sure we looked great and do makeup and hair.
"I quickly learned that was not the case," he admitted.
They couldn't have air conditioners on due to the microphones and the potential audio-related issues it could cause, so "everyone was hot and sweaty and didn't want to wear fabulous clothes."
Project Runway history
Eli Holzman created Project Runway, which Heidi Klum hosted from 2004 until 2017.
It has had a mixed airing history, with Bravo originating the first five seasons and Lifetime showing the last eleven.
The program returned to Bravo in 2018, following the bankruptcy of The Weinstein Company.
Klum and the designers’ mentor Tim Gunn both departed the program in 2018 to host another fashion competition show on Amazon Video, Making the Cut.
American model Karlie Kloss took over as host after Klum, with season four champion Christian Siriano taking over as coach.
The competition isn't all glitz and glamor
Filming day on Project Runway can last up to 18 hours.
Contestants endure a grueling schedule, working tirelessly to create their designs.
Both models and designers must face long days with few breaks to eat or rest.
Project Runway had a video game
Atari inked an exclusive worldwide licensing arrangement with The Weinstein Company on October 9, 2009, to create video games based on Project Runway.
The video game was launched on March 2, 2010, for the Wii, and a week later on March 9, 2010, for Microsoft Windows.
Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia reprise their roles, and the game also includes eight contestants from the sixth season of the show, including then-winner Irina Shabayeva.
The game’s Wii version also supports the Wii Balance Board attachment.
Namco Bandai Partners later sold the game in Europe in June 2010 solely for the Wii.
Eliminated from season 20: Nora Pagel
Nora Caliguri Pagel is a talented designer and part of the original season 1 of Project Runway.
She brought her passion for draping and technical skills to the show once again, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
Her second chance was an opportunity to showcase her evolved design philosophy in almost two decades and connect with fans once again.
But she ended up being the first to be eliminated in season 20 and placed last.
She left the show after the premiere episode of Project Runway All Stars 2023.
Eliminated from season 20: Mila Hermanovski
Mila Hermanovski, a designer from Dallas, Texas, gained recognition on season 7 of Project Runway.
She showcased her talent by captivating audiences with her sleek and modern aesthetic.
Mila had a clothing line in 2015 that was bought by several national and international stores, but ever since then has been doing costume design.
Her styles may have worked for the stage, but the judges did not think they were meant for the catwalk.
She was eliminated from the competition in the third episode of All Stars season 20 and placed 13th overall.
Eliminated from season 20: Viktor Luna
Viktor Luna, a designer hailing from Los Angeles, California, captured the hearts of fashion enthusiasts in season 9 of Project Runway.
His passion for clothing design was nurtured by his seamstress mother, igniting a creative spark at a young age.
With an impeccable eye for detail and an innate sense of style, Luna’s designs reflect his unique perspective.
But the judges were not impressed enough by his designs to keep him in the game.
He was eliminated from the competition in the fourth episode of All Stars season 20 and placed 12th overall.
Eliminated from season 20: Johnathan “Kayne” Gillaspie
Introducing Johnathan “Kayne” Gillaspie, a designer from Nashville, Tennessee.
Known for his show-stopping creations, Kayne first captivated audiences in season 3 in 2006 and the All-Stars season in 2012 of Project Runway.
Kayne was eliminated in episode six and finished in 10th place this season.
Eliminated from season 20: Hester Sunshine
Hester Sunshine, known for her quirky and unconventional designs, is from season 17 of Project Runway.
Hester was excited to showcase her evolved style and unique perspective once again during the All-Star season.
Fans can expect her whimsical and fantastical creations to light up the runway as she vies for the top spot.
But her unique style was not enough this time.
She was eliminated from the competition in episode five and finished in 11th place.
Eliminated from season 20: Fabio Costa
Fabio Costa, a talented designer and two-time finalist, is returning for his record-breaking fourth season on Project Runway, with his first appearance in season 10.
Originally from Brazil, Fabio spent 12 years in New York City and then returned home where he currently resides and works.
Known for his whimsical and fantastical designs, Fabio’s unique aesthetic captivates audiences.
Fabio was eliminated in episode seven and finished in ninth place.
Eliminated from season 20: Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste
In the illustrious world of Project Runway, few contestants have captured hearts and showcased incredible talent quite like Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste.
Originally from season 18, Prajjé is known for a masterful blend of deconstruction and minimalism.
His unique patterns, influenced by the golden ratio, exemplify his dedication to shape and silhouette.
Eliminated from season 20: Anna Yinan Zhou
Anna Yinan Zhou, the founder of the darkly romantic brand Oraz, made her first appearance in season 19 of Project Runway.
In the previous season, Anna got into a car accident which stopped her from competing further.
Her design aesthetic combines soft and hard elements, creating timeless pieces with a modern edge.
Anna was eliminated during episode nine and finished the competition in eighth place.
Eliminated from season 20: Korto Momolu
Originally from Season 5 of Project Runway, Korto Momolu has returned for the All-Stars competition in Season 20, showcasing her evolution as a designer.
Her “Afro-bohemian chic” creations have captivated audiences, and her intentional approach to designs has garnered praise.
Korto was eliminated in episode 11 and finished the competition in sixth place this season.
Eliminated from season 20: Kara Saun
Kara Saun, a designer based in LA, California, first showcased her skills almost 20 years ago in season 1 of Project Runway.
Her elegant and sophisticated designs has gained the attention of high-profile clientele including Queen Latifah, Heidi Klum, and Kevin Hart.
Kara was eliminated in episode 10 and placed seventh this season.
Eliminated from season 20: Rami Kashou
Rami Kashou, a designer born in Jerusalem, is making a comeback on Project Runway’s All Stars competition.
Known for his timeless aesthetic blending soft and hard elements, Rami first showcased his skills on season 4.
With his avant-garde approach and attention to detail, he has made the top five this season after escaping elimination by compelling Christian Siriano to use his save.
Bishme breaks into tears
Bishme sobs as he thanks the judges for his win and says that he misses his sister so much.
His mom is shown sobbing in the audience.
"Everything I've been fighting for is worth it," Bishme says.
He says that he owes this win to his sister.
The winner is...
BISHME CROMARTIE wins season 20 of Project Runway.
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