TVNZ announced in September last year that they would be bringing a New Zealand version of Project Runway to our screens. And now casting for the show has opened.
The show, created by supermodel and underwear mogul Heidi Klum, has run for 16 seasons in the States.
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn in a promotional image for the US version of Project Runway.
Two Kiwi designers have competed in the competition in the past. Sean Kelly from Taranaki won season 13 in 2014, with Klum describing him as having “some of the best designs” she’s seen in all her years of the show.
“His ‘Rain Walk’ dress was incredible,” she told Viva. When a designer comes up with something that is new, when a model walks down, it gives me goosebumps, my hair stands up and I’m like, wow!”
In an interview with Stuff in 2016, the show’s mentor Tim Gunn singled Kelly out as his “favourite designer” from all seasons to date.
Duncan Chambers-Watson from Christchurch competed in season 14 but was the first contestant to be voted off the show.
Heidi Klum and Eric Watson at the Auckland launch of her Heidi Klum Intimates collection for Bendon in 2015.
The New Zealand version of show will screen on TV2 later this year. No announcement has been made as to who the judges will be.
Heidi Klum hasn’t hosted any of the international versions of the franchise in the past, but fans of the show are hoping this could be the exception.
The 44-year-old former Victoria’s Secret model has a close association with New Zealand. She created her Heidi Klum Intimates lingerie range with Bendon, whose major shareholder is Eric Watson, and travelled to Auckland to launch the collection in 2015.
If you think you have what it takes to be on the show you can apply here.
