Anya Ayoung-Chee was declared the winner of Season 9 on Project Runway Thursday. After a heated competition, the former Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe beat out rivals Joshua McKinley, Viktor Luna, and Kimberly Goldson.
In observance of Ayoung-Chee's victory, we look back on the past nine seasons of Project Runway and bring you a slideshow of the winners: Jay McCarroll, Chloe Dao, Jeffrey Sebelia, Christian Siriano, Leanne Marshall, Irina Shabayeva, Seth Aaron Henderson, and Gretchen Jones. What have they been doing since winning Project Runway? Where are they now?
Pennsylvania-based designer Jay McCarroll was the first winner of "Project Runway." He lists Alexander McQueen as his favorite designer. Since winning "Project Runway," McCarroll has filmed a one-hour documentary, "Project Jay," and had a collection make its debut during Fashion Week 2005. It was rumored in 2007 that McCarroll was homeless, but the rumor turned out to be a product of sarcasm. MyLifetime.comHouston-based designer Chloe Dao was the winner of Season 2. She received $100,000 in seed money to help launch her own line, a one-year contract with Designers Management Agency, a 2007 Saturn Sky roadster, a spread in Elle magazine, and a mentorship with Banana Republic. Since "Project Runway," she has continued to develop her boutique in Houston. Her designs were featured at the Smithsonian Instituion in 2007. Her wholesale line "DAO Chloe DAO" made its debut in 2008. MyLifetime.comJeffrey Sebelia was the winner of Season 3 of "Project Runway." In the finale, Sebelia presented a full collection at Olympus Fashion Week, including clothing featuring bright colors, flowing dresses, and smart separates -- all strikingly different from the grunge, punk, and rock n' roll style he had used during the season. Since winning "Project Runway," Sebelia has appeared in the November 2009 issue of Cliche Magazine. He also launched a brand of edgy kids clothes, La Miniatura, in 2011. MyLifetime.comIrina Shabayeva was the winner of the sixth Project Runway. Her favorite designer is Jean Paul Gaultier. Since Project Runway, she has created several collections available on her website and she designed Selena Gomez's butterfly dress, which Gomez wore for the 2011 People's Choice Awards. MyLifetime.comSeth Aaron Henderson was the seventh winner of Project Runway, beating out rivals Emilio Sosa and Mila Hermanovski. Since winning Project Runway, Henderson has shown a collection at Portland Fashion Week featuring stunning, sustainable fabrics, which reinforce his philosophy on "clothing with a conscience." He currently lives in Vancouver, WA with his wife and two children. MyLifetime.comGretchen Jones was declared the eighth winner of Project Runway. Jones owns her own clothing line, mothlove. Since winning Project Runway, Jones launched an exclusive jewelry line with Piperlime in July. The collection, inspired by Egyptian pyramids, is handmade in Colombia and the pieces are etched with magical symbols. MyLifetime.comAnya Ayoung-Chee was declared the ninth winner of Project Runway on Oct. 27, 2011, beating out rivals Joshua McKinley, Viktor Luna and Kimberly Goldson. You can beat out the costume competition this year by dressing as the inspire Project Runway designer.To dress as Anya Ayoung-Chee this Halloween, you'll need a stylish hair-style and an inspired Caribbean-style dress with a bold, plunging neckline and wood jewelry. MyLifetime.com
