Project Runway Season 21 Winner: Who Is Veejay Floresca?
The Winner: A Sparkle in Fashion History
Veejay Floresca is the newly crowned champion of Project Runway Season 21 and wow, what a moment for fashion, for representation, and maybe just for sheer joy. Floresca made history as the first openly transgender woman to win the show, strutting into the finale with a collection so bold and polished it felt like she was dressing superheroes or futuristic royalty. Honestly, when that chainmail gown floated down the runway, anyone with a pulse felt chills (or maybe that’s just me being a sucker for drama).
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From Manila to New York: Veejay’s Journey
Veejay’s story goes way beyond just winning a TV show. She grew up in Manila, dreamed big, and first shot into the public eye through Project Runway Philippines, where she placed third back in 2008 so yeah, she’s no stranger to chopping, sewing, and surviving critique over the years. When she moved to the US, she built a bridalwear brand from scratch and eventually stumbled her way (emotionally and literally, by her own admission) onto the Project Runway stage in New York. That’s a leap plenty of us dream about while binge-watching, but she did it for real. Her journey? A mix of hard work, teary phone calls home, and a drive that can only be described as “borderline caffeine-fueled”.
Floresca’s win wasn’t just about sewing perfect seams. It was a loud, proud celebration for the LGBTQ+ community, especially for trans visibility. In her own words, she entered hoping to be the first trans woman to win Project Runway and inspire her community. During the finale, she choked up telling Heidi Klum how she once watched Project Runway as a “little gay boy in the Philippines,” and now, years later, she was living her dream center-stage. I can’t lie, there might’ve been something in my eye at that moment.
Why Veejay’s Win Is More Than a Trophy
Let’s talk prizes. She took home $200,000, a CFDA mentorship, a representation deal, and that legendary Elle magazine feature. But it’s the breakthrough for inclusivity in fashion that everybody’s buzzing about. Her finale showed that slow-fashion can be cool, knits can be fierce, and visibility really matters. As someone who once tried to hot-glue a sequin onto a shirt (never again), I can only admire that mix of craft and courage.
Floresca’s Legacy: Make It Your Own
If you’re an aspiring designer, Floresca’s journey is proof you can “make it work,” but you better make it your own, too. Her story is stitched together with hard-won experience, some humor, and a load of heart. Who knows? Maybe in a few years, someone will be watching Project Runway from Manila, London, or Mumbai and dreaming just a little bigger because Veejay Floresca did it first. And honestly, isn’t that the best kind of runway ripple effect?
