MAIN Pop Culture Reality TV Project Runway Season 9

Every season we got to see a whole new group of high-fashion wannabe's competing for top prizes featuring $100,000 in seed money to launch the winner's own design line.

Project Runway kicked off its ninth season on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 9pm ET/PT on Lifetime Television with 20 talented designers – the most in series history.

Those 20 designers, in turn, were immediately whittled down to 16 in the first episode, after four unfortunate contestants failed to answer the pointed question: "Why do you think you deserve one of the coveted spots on Project Runway this year?"

Yeah, that's the way Project Runway rolls.

Project Runway Season 9

For Project Runway Season 9, the show returns to Lifetime with host and supermodel Heidi Klum joining Tim Gunn to pick their way through a brand new crop of fashion hopefuls on their way to industry, with help from Project Runway mainstays Michael Kors and Nina Garcia on the judging panel.

Also watch for top-name guest designers and judges from the worlds of fashion, film and television this season, including appearances by Kim Kardashian, Christina Ricci, and Zoe Saldana

Meanwhile, stay glued for more on the 16 new designer contestants vying for top prizes and a chance to premier their collection at New York Fashion Week in September.

This Week on Project Runway

In the 14th and final episode, the Final Four designers - Anya, Josh, Viktor, and Kimberly - are finally headed to New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center!

Check out final designs by the Final Four with photo spreads from New York Magazine which was on the scene at New York Fashion Week in September:

Anya, who came THIS CLOSE to elimination last week, wowed the crowd with some of the most elegant designs of the bunch. Another Season 9 standout, Viktor, ushered in a mix of classic and funky.

Meanwhile, Josh showed his "schizophrenic" style combining fine tailoring with psychodelic prints that wowed the judges. Kimberly showed her consistency with a colorful collection that was (despite the outrageous "bubble" skirt) wild and flowing.

So who was Project Runway Season 9's big winner? With Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and guest judge fashion designer L ‘Wren Scott on hand to judge the final designs, each of the Final Four were praised for their designs — but only one could be named the winner. And...it was ...Anya!

Congratulations!

Project Runway around the Web:

Elsewhere on the Web, keeping following all the gossip plus related pictures & video clips, rumors & recaps from major blogs and fan sites ...

Project Runway - The official site on Lifetime with the complete schedule, bios on judges, designers & models, picture galleries, video clips, weekly blog, fashion history timeline, recaps from past seasons, and a very busy message board.

Blogging Project Runway - Expert dish on behind-the-scenes happenings, related news & updates, pictures, recaps and possible spoilers.

TV.com - Project Runway - Episode video highlights, episode downloads, screen caps, visitor reviews & comments, designer contestant profiles, picture galleries, recaps of past seasons, online forum.

Project Runway - Wikipedia - The complete rundown from the online encyclopedia, including an historic overview, season recaps, pictures, contestant profiles, sponsorship & production details.

also see -> Five Tips for Breaking into a Career in Fashion

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