Veejay Floresca made Project Runway history as the show’s first trans winner, beating Drag Race alum Utica Queen in the Season 21 finale…
We watched Season 21 of Project Runway wrap on September 25, 2025, and the win went to Veejay Floresca. The announcement felt right the moment it landed. Her work was clean, confident, and consistent all season. She was my personal favourite, and was a contestant you kind of knew from the very beginning was going to reel the win right in. So with that final decision, Project Runway named its first trans champion in the U.S. series — a landmark for the show and a clear signal to viewers about who gets to lead fashion conversations now.
Veejay Floresca’s Finale Collection: Terminator Inspiration, Judges, and Prize
The brief was simple: deliver a collection that holds together under bright lights. Veejay answered with a tight line inspired by The Terminator — metallic notes, engineered shapes, and disciplined tailoring. On paper that theme can go theatrical; on the runway it stayed modern and wearable. Every look connected to the next, which is where many finalists stumble and she didn’t. It was unreal, and extremely edgy.
The judging panel brought a wide lens: Heidi Klum driving stakes and showmanship, Nina Garcia zeroing in on construction and editorial value, Law Roach pushing image and polish, and Michael Kors returning for the finale with that commercial eye he’s famous for. Across the board, the feedback was aligned: Veejay’s vision was clear and the execution met it. Along with the title, she leaves with $200,000, mentorship, and a feature in Elle — the kind of backing that lets a small label move from moment to momentum.
Who Is Veejay Floresca? Filipino Roots, A Decade of “No,” and a Season of “Yes”
Veejay grew up in Pasay, Philippines, learned the craft in a competitive local scene, and got early attention as runner-up on Project Runway Philippines. After relocating to the United States, she did what working designers actually do: kept building the label, kept refining the hand, and kept applying to the U.S. series — every year since 2012.
That string of rejections didn’t stop her, and she knew she was capable. By the time Season 21 of Project Runway finally opened the door, her identity as a designer was very well established already. Having had past experience doing a different version of the show, the contrast between her first time participating in the Philippines to now, was massive. You can see the growth between the person she was, and is. Though both equally impressive for their times. Totally suggest finding a way to watch her first season if you have the ability to do so!
LGBTQ+ Representation This Season, What Comes Next, and Why Visibility on TV Still Counts
Season 21 had more than one queer voice in the room. Utica (Ethan Mundt), known from RuPaul’s Drag Race, brought off-beat references, volume, and play to the workroom and reached the finale. Pair that with Veejay’s win and you get an endgame that felt true to the culture fashion draws from: queer, inventive, varied.
What happens next is where many winners get lost. The smart path for Veejay is focus — translate the finale’s engineered silhouettes into a tight ready-to-wear capsule, keep the metalwork restrained, and let fit do the talking. Use the Elle feature to start wholesale conversations. Lean on mentorship to scale without losing the precision that set her apart. With capital, press, and a defined point of view, she has room to build instead of scramble.
We’ll say this plainly from our 2SLGBTQ+ lens: visibility on mainstream TV still changes what people think they know. In 2025, when trans people are debated more than celebrated, a win judged on fit, finish, and idea lands differently. A trans woman of colour stood in the brightest light, presented excellent work, and was recognised for it. That’s not a slogan — it’s proof. Young trans and queer creatives at home need to see outcomes like this. Industry gatekeepers need to see audiences are already there. This finale showed both.
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