Project Runway season 9


The ninth season of the television show Project Runway began airing on July 28, 2011, and featured 20 designers who hope to become "the next great American designer." Returning as judges were supermodel Heidi Klum; fashion designer Michael Kors; and Marie Claire fashion director, Nina Garcia. Tim Gunn returned as the workroom mentor.
In 2012, Laura Kathleen Planck, Joshua McKinley, and Anthony Ryan Auld competed in the second season of Project Runway All Stars. Laura Kathleen Planck placed 6th, Joshua McKinley placed 4th, and Anthony Ryan Auld won the competition.
In 2013, Viktor Luna competed in the third season of All-Stars. He placed 5th.
In 2018, Kimberly Goldson and Joshua McKinley competed in the sixth season of All Stars, placing 9th and 7th respectively.
Anthony Ryan Auld, alongside Anya Ayoung-Chee, competed in the seventh season against worldwide winners. Anya Ayoung-Chee placed 10th while Anthony Ryan Auld placed 5th.
In 2023, Viktor Luna competed in Project Runway (season 20). He placed 12th out of 14.

Contestants

In the first episode, 4 designers were eliminated and 16 continued to participate in the show.

Models

ModelPlace Finished
Kenzie Gallo16th place
Ashley Lacamp15th place
Tatjana Sinkevica14th place
Thais Magalhaes13th place
Michel Ann Lienhard-O'Malley12th place
Karin Agstam11th place
Alyssa Pasek10th place
Hannah Gottesman9th place
Carla Barrucci8th place
Chelsea Blackburn7th place
Kerstin Lechner6th place
Meghan Giffin5th place
Bojana Draskovic4th place
Erika Kimberly Jones3rd place
Sonia Nieklasz
Sveta Glebova

Elimination Table

Designer legend
  • Anthony Ryan Auld: AA
  • Anya Ayoung-Chee: AC
  • Bryce Black: BB
  • Bert Keeter: BK
  • Becky Ross: BR
  • Cecilia Motwani: CM
  • Danielle Everine: DE
  • Fallene Wells: FW
  • Joshua Christensen: JC
  • Joshua McKinley: JM
  • Julie Tierney: JT
  • Kimberly Goldson: KG
  • Laura Kathleen: LK
  • Olivier Green: OG
  • Rafael Cox: RC
  • Viktor Luna: VL

Episodes

Episode 1: Come As You Are

Original Airdate: July 28, 2011
As the season begins and the designers arrive in New York, they are informed that they are not yet part of season 9. For the final stage of their casting session, the 20 designers must go in front of Heidi, Michael, Nina and Tim to make a case as to why they deserve one of the 16 coveted spots this season.
The next day, the 16 remaining designers are awoken by Tim at 5 o'clock in the early morning and given their first challenge: transform the pajamas they are wearing and one bed sheet into an outfit of their choice. Dyes, trim, and closures are provided.

Episode 2: My Pet Project

Original Airdate: August 4, 2011
The designers must create an outfit using only materials found in a pet supply store.

Episode 3: Go Big or Go Home

Original Airdate: August 11, 2011
The designers work on a challenge revolving around a theme called "Larger than Life". In teams of two with a budget of $500 and one day to work, they create outfits for professional stilt walkers. The runway show is at Battery Park, making it the first runway show to be held outside.
Pairs: Anthony Ryan & Laura, Bryce & Fallene, Danielle & Cecilia, Joshua M. & Julie, Viktor & Bert, Anya & Olivier, and Kimberly & Becky
TeamResult
Anthony Ryan/LauraHigh/Win
Danielle/CeciliaHigh/High
Kimberly/BeckyHigh/High
Anya/OlivierIn/In
Joshua M/JulieLow/Low
Viktor/BertLow/Low
Bryce/FalleneLow/Out

Episode 4: All About Nina

Original Airdate: August 18, 2011
The designers create a look for judge Nina Garcia that should be wearable by Garcia during work and for an industry event at night. The winning design will be featured in a Marie Claire editorial and on a billboard atop a New York City taxicab.

Episode 5: Off the Track

Original Airdate: August 25, 2011
The designers meet at the New Balance Track and Field Center in New York City and are challenged to create apparel to wear with a new Heidi Klum for New Balance lifestyle sneaker from Klum's collection. The designers work in teams of three, with team leaders chosen by holding a foot race at the Track and Field Center. The winning looks will be sold as part of Klum's collection exclusively on Amazon.com.
Team LeaderTeam Members
Anthony RyanLaura, Bert
Joshua M.Anya, Becky
ViktorOlivier, Josh C.
BryceKimberly, Danielle

''Cecilia withdrew from the competition and was replaced by Josh C.''

Episode 6: The Art of the Matter

Original Airdate: September 1, 2011
The designers each work together with an art student to create a painting, and then must design an avant-garde look that reflects their art work. They have a budget of $300 and two days to complete their look.

Episode 7: Can't We Just All Get Along?

Original Airdate: September 8, 2011
The designers plug into computer technology to help create signature fabric designs in a challenge that forces them into working in two teams of five. Wielding video cameras, they also venture out into the city to capture the stories behind their inspirations.
Team CHAOSTeam Nuts And Bolts
Anthony Ryan, Anya, Viktor, Olivier, BryceJosh M., Laura, Kimberly, Becky, Bert

Episode 8: What Women Want

Original Airdate: September 15, 2011
The contestants are introduced to nine men on the runway and, in a seamless twist, discover they must design for the men's significant others. Actress Malin Akerman is the guest judge.

Episode 9: Image is Everything

Original Airdate: September 22, 2011
The outfitters are treated to a special performance from their new client, the up-and-coming band The Sheepdogs. Broken into two teams of four, the designers are charged with creating a look that will establish them as image-makers.

Episode 10: Sew 70s

Original Airdate: September 29, 2011
The remaining designers do the time warp when fashions from the 1970s inspire their creations.

Episode 11: This is for the Birds

Original Airdate: October 6, 2011
Birds serve as the inspiration for the looks in this challenge. Designers are paired up, with each pair assigned a bird. They then learn that they are not competing together, but rather head-to-head.
Kimberly and Viktor design head-to-head with a cockatoo as their inspiration, Anya and Laura with a raven, and Bert and Joshua with an Amazon parrot.

Episode 12: The Finale Challenge

Original Airdate: October 13, 2011
The remaining designers had to create 3 looks from inspirations on Governor's Island. They were assisted by the five most recently eliminated contestants.

Episode 13: The Finale, Part 1

Original Airdate: October 20, 2011
The final four designers are critiqued on their collections and compete, for the last time, to show at Fashion Week. In a shock elimination, it is revealed that all of the four designers will be advancing to Fashion Week instead of the usual three.

Episode 14: The Finale, Part 2

Original Airdate: October 27, 2011
The four finalists work the last part of preparation for Fashion Week, including model casting and hair and makeup counseling. Each shows their collection pieces before the winner of Project Runway Season 9 is announced.

Trivia