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Florida Designer Defies Odds on Project Runway
23 Jul
Summary
- Orlando-based designer Jeffrey Kelly Abess is the sole Floridian contestant.
- He moved from bottom eight status to a top look in the second episode.
- The season features a record 22 designers competing for a grand prize.
Season 22 of "Project Runway" premiered on July 9 with an unprecedented 22 designers vying for fashion supremacy. Among the remaining 16 contestants is Jeffrey Kelly Abess, a designer now based in Orlando, Florida, who has quickly become a standout.
Abess, known for his iconic corseted gowns and avant-garde designs, faced an early challenge, landing in the bottom eight during the premiere. However, he demonstrated remarkable resilience and creativity in the subsequent episode, earning a spot among the week's top looks, a significant turnaround.
The competition offers a substantial prize package, including $200,000, a feature in Elle Magazine, representation from Agentry PR, and a mentorship with the CFDA. New episodes air Thursdays on Freeform, with streaming available on Hulu and Disney+ the following day.
Original host Heidi Klum returns as head judge, joined by Nina Garcia and Law Roach. Christian Siriano mentors the designers, who will also be evaluated by a rotating cast of guest judges throughout the season.
