Project Runway All Stars 2023 LIVE Laurence Basse makes it to final five as judges are slammed f
FIVE designers remain on this season of Project Runway - and fans are furious after this week's elimination.
Korto Momolu was sent home after confronting the judges for their inconsistent critiques after saying that she played it "too safe" last week and noting the opposite about the pants in her look this week.
Fans are taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to slam the decision as one wrote: "The wrong designer went home. The judges got it wrong. Yet again."
"Hilarious that the judges give critiques but can't take them," another slammed in support of Korto standing up for her design.
"Korto was right. The mixed messages, while being told to 'remain true to who you are as a designer,' make it difficult to know what direction to go in. The pants she made were bomb."
The final five in the competition are Laurence Basse, Ramy Kashou, Brittany Allen, Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste, and Bishme Cromartie.
Project Runway airs Thursdays at 9pm ET on Bravo.
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Eliminated: 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.
She left the show after the premiere episode of Project Runway All Stars 2023.
Eliminated: 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.
Eliminated: 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.
Eliminated: 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.
Eliminated: 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.
With his distinct style and passion for fashion, he is ready to showcase his evolved skills in Season 20.
Eliminated: 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 the most recent episode of All Stars season 20 last week.
Johnathan Kayne speaks out over show conditions, continued
Kayne told The U.S. Sun that he grew up just outside of Nashville in an extremely large, blended family with five sisters and two brothers, so he said he was used to “crazy, hectic environments and managing personalities.”
Although he grew up in a city, he felt he was the only designer not coming from a fashion capital, but was also one of the few with an actual business.
“I had no idea who I would be up against, and I had my own thoughts and insecurities,” he admitted.
On set, Kayne struggled with adapting to new judges over the seasons and dealing with the lack of air conditioning during long, hot competition days.
“That’s why models faint… because of all the lights and lack of food,” Kayne claimed.
Johnathan Kayne speaks out over show conditions
Celebrity designer Johnathan Kayne, who was eliminated from this season of Project Runway All Stars recently opened up to The US Sun about the difficult conditions on the show.
When speaking of his first time competing on the show, Kayne shared: “It felt like bootcamp and prep for the crazy situation of 15 designers in a penthouse, hotel, or house.”
“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 added.
His second stint on the show was in 2012 when he came back for All-Stars.
Kayne shared: “I preferred the production company on Bravo and missed the old judges.”
More on Geoffrey Mac
Mac established his success prior to competing on Project Runway by dressing celebrities including, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Bjork, and Kesha.
He originally applied to be on Project Runway in 2004, and when he was offered to compete in season 18, he accepted with a degree of uncertainty and anxiety.
“I had a lot of anxiety around the competition. I am not only an incredibly competitive person but also a very private person,” Mac said in an exclusive interview with Culturess Magazine.
“My nerves gave me panic for the first half of the competition. Eventually, I got into the flow and began to gain confidence and calm down.”
Season 18 Winner
Geoffrey Mac made his big debut on Project Runway 20 years after he graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
He was named the winner of season 18.
In the two decades since leaving school, he launched his own designs and promotes them on his website and via Instagram.
Meet the contestants: 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.
Meet the contestants: Bishme Cromartie
Bishme Cromartie is a designer originally from season 17 of Project Runway.
Bishme is excited to showcase his evolved design skills and embrace the camaraderie with fellow fan favorites.
Known for his avant-garde take on streetwear, Bishme’s intentional designs reflect his growth as a designer.
Get ready to be inspired by his creativity and unique perspective in this exciting season.
Meet the contestants: Laurence Basse
Laurence Basse, originally from season 15, is an iconic designer on Project Runway.
With a fearless and avant-garde approach, Laurence redefines fashion through body-inclusive designs while maintaining sustainability.
Their creativity and unique sensibilities make them a constant inspiration, and their biggest success is seeing their line on real women.
She won last week’s episode six, “Like Totally 90s,” and revealed that she faced struggles during that era that led her to a career in fashion.
Meet the contestants: 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.
Meet the contestants: 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.
Meet the contestants: 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.
With her return, Korto joins a prestigious group of designers, proving that her talent and passion have only grown stronger over the years.
Meet the contestants: Kara Saun
Kara Saun, a designer based in LA, California, first showcased her skills almost 20 years ago in season 1 of Project Runway.
Known for her elegant and sophisticated designs, Kara is set to impress the judges once again and honor her mother and best friend this year.
Since competing in season 1, Kara has designed for dozens of high-profile clientele including Queen Latifah, Heidi Klum, and Kevin Hart.
Meet the contestants: 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 is ready to impress the judges once again in season 20.
Meet the contestants: Brittany Allen
Brittany Allen, a designer from Fort Smith, Arkansas, was featured in Project Runway season 18.
She became well known for her unique style and creative vision for beautiful and functional activewear.
Brittany’s love for fashion started at a young age, and her passion led her to pursue a career in design.
BTS ‘bootcamp’-like labor, part three
Kayne already had his own custom design business and owned an established formal wear boutique, Southern Charm/Alter Ego.
“I had no idea who I would be up against, and I had my own thoughts and insecurities,” he admitted.
He turned out to be one of the fastest and best sewers on the season but says he at times psyched himself out.
His experience on Project Runway All-Stars in 2012 was different in a few ways.
This time, the producers called him and he was paid a set allowance for lodging, meal, and other costs incurred while filming the show, which had moved networks to Lifetime.
BTS ‘bootcamp’-like labor, part two
If candidates made it past the portfolio review, they had a few days to create a three-minute bio video about why they felt they should be on the show.
According to Kayne, the show was filmed for about six weeks and there were challenges every three days, which lead to 16 episodes.
He grew up just outside of Nashville in an extremely large, blended family with five sisters and two brothers, so he said he was used to “crazy, hectic environments and managing personalities.”
“It felt like bootcamp and prep for the crazy situation of 15 designers in a penthouse, hotel, or house,” he shared.
Behind the scenes ‘bootcamp’-like labor, part one
Nashville, Tennessee-based designer Johnathan Kayne competed on season three of the original Project Runway on Bravo in 2005; he finished in the top five of the show.
His anecdotes included the real reason competitors were often shown wearing sweats and casual clothing.
According to Kayne, the season three selection process was extensive but worthwhile, with three rounds of in-person interviews and supplemental materials.
For the initial open-call audition, prospective candidates were asked to bring their design portfolio, as well as three pieces they felt were their best work.
“The first set of judges would look at the portfolio and the next round looked at three pieces and then the last interview was recorded with Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia, and usually someone from Elle [magazine] and guest judge,” the Nashville-based designer added.
Where to watch Project Runway
Tune in to Project Runway on Bravo TV every Thursday at 9pm ET.
You can stream it the next day on Peacock.
Ask your local TV provider for channel details.
Bishme shares emotional moment
Designer Bishme Cromartie shared a behind-the-scenes moment on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Bishme says that after being eliminated, Korto whispered to him that the competition was "his to win."
Top five revealed
The remaining five contestants on Project Runway All Stars are:
- Brittany Allen
- Prajje Oscar Jean Baptiste
- Bishme Cromartie
- Rami Kashou
- Laurence Basse
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