TL;DR
- Project Runway crowns first-ever transgender winner in 21 years.
- Filipino designer Veejay Floresca takes the season 21 crown.
- Floresca wowed judges with metallic chainmail and bold looks.
- Wins $200K, Elle magazine spread, and PR mentorship.
- Floresca says the victory fulfills a lifelong dream and inspires the trans community.
Trans Designer Slays the Runway
History strutted down the catwalk when Veejay Floresca became the first transgender and first Filipino winner of Project Runway. In the fiery season 21 finale, Floresca out-stitched, out-styled, and out-slayed her competition, pocketing a $200,000 prize and proving once again that fashion is at its fiercest when it’s unapologetically queer.
The final showdown had Floresca going head-to-head with Jesus Estrada and Ethan Mundt — the latter known to Drag Race fans as Utica. While her rivals pushed pink explosions and gothic drag vibes, Floresca brought pure armor-glam realness with metallic gowns and a chainmail stunner that left the judges gagged. Heidi Klum, Nina García, and Law Roach couldn’t resist crowning her the winner, making runway herstory in the process.
A Dream Stitched Into Reality
Floresca’s win wasn’t just about fashion — it was personal. “I’ve seen you, Heidi, since season one, just a little gay boy in the Philippines watching the show,” she confessed through tears. “I came here with the goal to be the first trans woman to win this competition.”
That dream wasn’t new. Back in 2015, Floresca even predicted her own destiny, declaring she wanted to be “the first transgender designer who will win Project Runway US.” Manifestation met talent, and the result was nothing short of iconic.
Impact Beyond the Catwalk
For the LGBTQ community, Floresca’s victory is bigger than just fashion. It’s proof that visibility matters — that queer and trans dreams belong on the world’s biggest stages. Her triumph sends a signal to young LGBTQ people, especially trans women, that they can live out their truth and still take home the crown.
Fans went wild, praising Floresca as “TV gold” and “a true designer.” Others hailed her as “totally unexpected” and “making history as a trans woman.” The win underscores how queer creativity continues to redefine culture, fashion, and representation.
Floresca now steps into a future lined with mentorship from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, a glossy spread in Elle, and half a year of high-powered PR backing. But more importantly, she’s stitched herself into LGBTQ history, one metallic gown at a time.
Because when a trans woman wins on a global stage, she doesn’t just take home a trophy — she takes her community with her.