Lifetime has revealed the identities of the 16 designers who will be competing on Project Runway's eleventh season and first-ever teams edition, which will premiere on Thursday, January 24 at 9PM ET/PT.
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As previously announced last month, Project Runway's eleventh edition will feature the 16 designers working in team challenges to create and execute ensembles fit for the fashion runway and win the approval of a panel of fashion experts. In addition, fashion icon Michael Kors will not be reprising his role as a judge this season. Designer Zac Posen will be taking his place.
Posen will join veteran judges Heidi Klum -- who is also Project Runway's host -- and Marie Claire's fashion director Nina Garcia, while Tim Gunn will return to mentor the teams of contestants throughout the season.
The eleventh-season premiere episode will feature the designers using New York as their inspiration to create their garments. Project Runway's fourth-season winner Christian Siriano will serve as a guest judge in the broadcast.
Additional celebrity guest judges for the next season of Project Runway will include Bette Midler, actress Susan Sarandon, country music star Miranda Lambert, singer and songwriter John Legend, fashion experts Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Emmy Rossum, Kristin Davis, Jordana Brewster, and designers Rachel Roy, Tracy Reese, and Chris Benz.
Although no longer a regular judge, Kors will make an appearance as a guest judge for the finale which is filmed at New York Fashion Week.
The winning eleventh-season designer will receive the same prize package offered in Season 10 -- $100,000 from L'Oreal Paris to start his or her own line, a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine, a brand new Lexus vehicle, a $50,000 technology suite from HP and Intel to create his or her own vision and run a business, and the opportunity to design and sell an exclusive collection at Lord & Taylor.
Project Runway is produced by The Weinstein Company, Miramax Films, Bunim-Murray Productions, and Full Picture Entertainment. Klum, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Barbara Schneeweiss, Meryl Poster, Jonathan Murray, Sara Rea, Colleen Sands, Jane Cha Cutler, Rob Sharenow, Gena McCarthy, David Hillman, and Desiree Gruber serve as executive producers.
The eleventh-season Project Runway designers and their bios supplied by Lifetime are:
Amanda Valentine, a 31-year-old from Lincoln, NE, who currently resides in Nashville, TN
Benjamin Mach, a 35-year-old from Sydney, Australia, who currently resides in London, England
Cindy Marlatt, a 59-year-old from Kent, WA
Daniel Esquivel, a 48-year-old from Austin, TX
Emily Pollard, a 24-year-old from Richfield, OH, who currently resides in Falls Church, VA
James Martinez, a 29-year-old from Dallas, TX
Joseph Aaron Segal, a 30-year-old from Framingham, MA, who currently resides in Providence, RI
Katelyn Pankoke, a 23-year-old from Parkland, FL, who currently resides in Chicago, IL
Layana Aguilar, a 28-year-old from Valadares, Brazil, who currently resides in New York, NY
Mat Arthur, a 30-year-old from Hammond, LA, who currently resides in New Orleans, LA
Michelle Lesniak Franklin, a 34-year-old from Portland, OR
Patricia Michaels, a 46-year-old from Taos, NM
Richard Hallmarq, a 40-year-old from Sacramento, CA
Samantha Black, a 28-year-old from Bronx, NY/Fairfield, CT, who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY
Stanley Hudson, a 45-year-old from Pomona, CA, who currently resides in West Hollywood, CA
Tu Nakchat, a 26-year-old from Chacheangsao, Thailand, who currently resides in Springfield, VA
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
