Growing up, it was impossible not to get hooked on the local and international reality TV shows that ruled our airwaves. We’d add their schedules to our daily routines and block them off as non-negotiables. Any chance we had to get our responsibilities out of the way at lightning speed was worth it for an hour of dynamic personalities, sky-high stakes, and uninterrupted drama every week. And when those 60 minutes of star power are over, we anticipate reliving the TV gold on our screens all over again on the next episode.
In 2004, the world rolled out their red carpets for “Project Runway,” an instant addition to viewers’ reality TV rosters where the worlds of high fashion, art, and entertainment collided. The show provided a ground-breaking avenue for emerging designers to create show-stopping ensembles every week for fabulous prizes and globally renowned magazine features. The designers’ garments graced the catwalk for a panel of style pioneers, supermodels, entrepreneurs, and entertainers, including the host, Heidi Klum. 21 years later, the show remains a resounding pop culture staple, introducing viewers to diverse visionaries across the globe who’ve fearlessly showcased their roots and affinity for fashion through clothes and accessories.
When you tune in to competitions like “Project Runway” and other equally entertaining channels this seriously, you can’t help but gain favorites to root for. You’d even include them in your prayers, asking God to guide them throughout their stay on the show—hopefully gunning for the grand prize.
This rings true to “Project Runway’s” Filipino designers. You don’t have to tell us twice to support kababayans in global competitions like our lives depend on it. In fact, the country’s emerging fashionistas had brought so much heart and passion to the local scene that the Philippines launched its own version of the hit reality TV competition in 2008. It aired for four seasons on the local lifestyle channel ETC and ended in 2015.
Photo: Ysabel Hilado, Kenneth Barlis, Darren Apolonio, Veejay Floresca
As Filipino designer Veejay Floresca gears up to compete on “Project Runway’s” latest installment, we’re reminiscing on the unique style journeys that previous seasons’ Pinoy competitors embarked on through the years.
Ysabel Hilado (Junior, Season 1, 2015)
Photo: Ysabel Hilado/Instagram
This viral Filipina designer and content creator didn’t have much inspiration to draw from entering “Project Runway Junior,” which featured young designers aged 13 to 17. Noticing the lack of Filipino-American style icons in the franchise, she took matters into her own hands towards her first shot in the highly creative industry. She told One Down in 2021, “Even though I didn’t last long [in the competition], that was the turning point when I realized that fashion can be a career, especially when I was finally in that space with so many designers and professionals.”
Hilado has built her social media presence on her contemporary and feminine style. She currently has over 95,000 followers on Instagram and 170,000 followers on TikTok. Her trendy, eye-catching videos on sustainable fashion and upcycling have accumulated more than 4.1 million likes. Her most notable social media milestones so far are her sewing projects, do-it-yourself (DIY) clothing tutorials, and outfits of the day (OOTDs). She graduated from California State University, Long Beach in May 2022 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design and a Minor in Fashion Merchandising.
Kenneth Barlis (Season 19, 2021)
Photo: Kenneth Barlis/Instagram
Kenneth Barlis’ journey on “Project Runway” was nothing short of eventful, transformative, and paramount to his self-discovery. Despite the show’s high-pressure, matira matibay nature, the Zamboanga-born designer took every challenge as a space for growth, extending patience, and trusting his instincts amid contrasting backgrounds and perspectives. He turned his TV debut into an established profession in fashion, entertainment, and creatives. His designs have made it to photoshoots with Liza Soberano, Bella Poarch, Piolo Pascual, and James Reid, as well as world-class features at New York and Paris Fashion Week.
Darren Apolonio (Season 19, 2021)
Photo: Darren Apolonio/Instagram
Equipped with artistic influence at the heart of New York City, Darren Apolonio attributes his run on “Project Runway” to taking criticism in stride and staying true to himself under pressure. As the youngest contestant of Season 19, Apolonio joined the show to make his mark in the international fashion scene and get in touch with proper resources to fuel his budding career in design. “Project Runway” got his foot in the door, and the uphill road that followed kept him sturdy and grounded when confronted with change, opportunities, and adjustments to new environments. When asked about honing his craft and extravagant style on the show, Apolonio shared with PIX11 News, “Being a fresh designer gave me an advantage because we could see fashion differently. But for my own personal aesthetic, it’s always been very eclectic and out there.” He hopes to dress Lady Gaga in a custom Darren Apolonio garment soon. Needless to say, we’re speaking it into existence, too.
Veejay Floresca (Season 21, 2025)
Photo: Veejay Floresca
After finishing third on Season 1 of “Project Runway Philippines” in 2008, trans designer and former beauty queen Veejay Floresca has her heart set on conquering the fashion world next month on the international franchise’s latest season. This may be Floresca’s first globally televised competition, but she’s no stranger to sharing the stage with outstanding talents in her field from all walks of life. In 2022, she represented the Philippines at the Miss Trans Star International pageant in Spain and clinched a Top 16 spot. A full-circle achievement that stemmed from her viral pageant super-fan reaction to Venus Raj’s Miss Universe 2010 run.
Now, Floresca has taken the reins of her artistic vision with upcycled collections that combine masculine and feminine tailored details. From beauty and pageantry to high fashion, there’s always room for glamour in her life—more than enough to dominate our screens on “Project Runway” Season 21. She’ll compete against two of the show’s alumni and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 13’s eccentric design queen, Utica. Veejay and her fellow designers will bring the future of fashion to fruition under the mentorship of Nina Garcia, Law Roach, and “Project Runway” Season 4 winner Christian Siriano. The show will premiere on July 31, available on streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
ALSO READ: Project Runway Philippines Executes Its Most Dramatic Final Runway With Season Three Finale
Are you excited to follow Veejay Floresca’s journey on “Project Runway?” Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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