‘Project Runway’ Season 21 Contestants: Meet the Designers

Season 21 of “Project Runway” premieres on July 31 on Freeform and will be available to stream on Hulu and Disney+. Heidi Klum returns to host the reality competition series, with “Project Runway” alum Christian Siriano joining and stylist and image architect Law Roach and Elle editor in chief Nina García serving as judges.

“Project Runway” will feature a new cast of burgeoning designers vying to win the competition. Who stars on the new season of the reality competition series? Here, meet the cast of “Project Runway” Season 21 below.

Antonio Estrada

Antonio Estrada, who will compete alongside his twin brother, Jesus Estrada, was born in Mexico and raised in California. Playful, vibrant tones inspire the self-taught designer with a rebellious air.

In 2022, Antonio attended Heidi Klum’s Halloween party alongside his brother. The two dressed up as Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket. The Estrada twins have a studio in Armonk, N.Y. Jesus and Antonio also share a limited collection at Bergdorf Goodman, located on the seventh floor.

Jesus Estrada

Jesus Estrada, Antonio’s twin, is an alum of “Project Runway” Season Seven. The designer returns for Season 21 alongside his twin brother. Jesus’ designs merge Old Hollywood sensibility with added flair, highlighting his pride and sense of self.

Belania Daley

Belania Daley grew up on Long Island and learned to sew at the age of 13, refining her technical skills over the years. She is the owner and creator of BCD Planet, as per her website, and holds over 10 years of corporate technical design experience in the fashion industry.

Daley was inspired to create a “Road to Sustainability” collection, filling a desire for more Black designers to create consciously and maintain classic, durable chic pieces. Daley used recycled and natural fabrics in her designs in the past, crafting wardrobe staples for all seasons.

Daley’s designs focus on elevated streetwear, incorporating her own personality into each garment. On Instagram, Daley shares some of the recipes she makes for herself.

Caycee Black

Caycee Black originally appeared on Season 19 of “Project Runway.” The designer, who hails from Houston, specializes in gender-fluid pieces with bold, hand-painted prints featured throughout her pieces. Florals, pops of color and polka dots are some of the motifs featured in her designs and spotlighted on her Instagram page.

Black holds a BFA in design from the Parsons School of Design, holding design roles at Anna Sui, Club Monaco, Tibi, Reed Krakoff and Coach. Black was previously profiled by WWD in 2009 as a designer to watch. “Club Monaco taught me more of the corporate side,” Black said. “At Tibi, I really started from the bottom up. There were nine of us when I began, and there were about 45 when I left.” 

Per her official website, Black describes her style as “‘dystopian farm girl’-whimsical, rooted in nature and unexpected.”

Angelo Rosa

Angelo Rosa fuses his Dominican heritage with a gritty New York City sensibility in his designs. The single father from Providence, R.I., embraces luxury spins on streetwear, adding edgy details throughout.

Rosa is the head designer for Hvman and debuted at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2014. Rosa is the head designer for Cult of Individuality. Rosa’s daughter was born on Valentine’s Day in 2020.

Joan Madison

A Queens, N.Y. native, Joan Madison specializes in exaggerated, theatrical designs. Madison previously worked for a string of design labels, including Ellen Tracy, Liz Claiborne, and Ann Taylor, according to her official website.

Madison eventually relocated to Columbus, Ohio, where she was a technical designer for The Limited and a technical design manager for Express. By 2000, Madison opened her own bridal boutique for custom, couture bridal gowns.

In 2006, Madison expanded her services and opened Joan’s Bridal Couture, a full-service bridal salon. In previous designs, Madison has utilized such materials as Raffia, using her Instagram to educate her followers on the origins of palm fibers. Madison crafts bridal looks and formal wear.

Alex Foxworth

Alex Foxworth, originally from Greensboro, N.C., infuses her designs with sentimentality and appreciation for her family lineage. Foxworth takes inspiration from her Japanese grandmother, who grew up in Nagasaki.

Throughout her designs, nods to her heritage are evident through traditional kimono techniques and timeless elements. She is also the designer for Salacious Fruit, providing luxury and statement pieces. Foxworth utilizes ecologically sustainable materials in her designs and provides transparency to her clients regarding product details.

Veejay Floresca

Deconstructed elements feature largely throughout designer Veejay Floresca’s oeuvre. The designer, who hails from the Philippines, curates bridal wear and ready-to-wear pieces evocative of contemporary trends from tailoring to construction and more. Floresca holds a master’s degree in fashion from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, per her website. The designer studied bridal wear at Central Saint Martins in London.

Before joining the Season 21 cast of “Project Runway,” Floresca was the first runner-up on “Dress My Tour.” She was the second runner-up on “Project Runway Philippines.” Floresca has presented at New York Fashion Week and won the Grand Prize at the Los Angeles Fashion Design Competition.

Joseph McRae

Joseph McRae is a native of Charlotte, N.C. and began his career as an electrical engineer before pursuing his ambition as a fashion designer. McRae’s designs, featured on his Instagram page, showcase bold color usage and playful proportions. McRae made his New York Men’s Day debut in January.

In February, the designer debuted his fall 2025 ready-to-wear collection. Gender-fluid designs feature throughout in a color palette consisting of muted greens, browns and more. McRae’s signature proportional play was a distinctive element of the collection as well.

Madeline Malenfant

Madeline Malenfant takes inspiration from vintage pieces and the Renaissance period for her history-infused curations. The designer, who hails from Nantucket and is based in Brooklyn, takes old-school pieces and gives them a modern spin.

Malenfant’s designs are described as garments that “masquerade as historical garments, yet are ready to traipse through today’s streets. All work is one of a kind, handmade, and created with love and toil,” per Café Forgot. Her dresses and sets retail for $500.

Yuchen Han

Yuchen Han, originally from Xining, China, embodies futurism through his distinctive designs. Han earned his master’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

Inspired by sci-fi films and obsessed with Aliens, the designer founded clothing brand Alienant in 2019, featuring ready-to-wear pieces with Han’s flair for the extraterrestrial. Han is also the winner of the Yu Prize, which supports the burgeoning careers of young fashion designers. CanvasRebel represents Han.

Ethan Mundt aka ‘Utica Queen’

Ethan Mundt, who previously competed on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” as Utica Queen, embraces the avant-garde approach to his designs.

During Mudnt’s time on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 13, Utica Queen designed dresses for other contestants. Mundt’s proclivity for style is characterized by theatricality and storytelling. Drama and surrealism serve as touchstones of Mundt’s designs.