Returning to the runway, host supermodel Heidi Klum heads a panel of industry luminaries, including judges Michael Kors, top women’s and men’s wear designer and Nina Garcia, Elle magazine fashion director, as they decide who is “in” and who is “out.” Tim Gunn, Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc. will once again act as a mentor to the contestants as they navigate weekly fashion challenges.
The following are the 15 new “Project Runway” models (bios below):
Amanda, 23, 5’10
Originally from Arkansas, Amanda currently lives in New York City. She attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and holds a B.A. in Journalism with an emphasis in public relations. She enjoys dancing, working-out, playing Texas hold’em, and when she’s back home, deer hunting with her family. In her career, she strives to represent a world-class designer in a major advertising campaign, like Christian Dior, Chanel or Gucci.
Anna Lita, 25, 5’10
Anna Lita was born in Kiev, Ukraine. She obtained her degree in dance and acting at Kirov Ballet Academy in Russia and toured in Europe and Japan. Her modeling experience includes working for Roberto Cavalli, Emanuel Ungaro, Reem Acra, David Meister, Moschino and many others. She currently lives and works in New York and studies art history.
Ashley, 22, 5’8
Ashley is a blue-eyed blond athlete-turned-model from Smithville, Missouri. She got her modeling start at the age of 18 in Los Angeles, where she still resides. Her modeling experience led to jobs in magazines, runway shows, music videos and commercials and she now travels coast-to-coast and abroad for her modeling career.
Aviva, 22, 5’11
Aviva loved playing dress up as a little girl and always wanted to become a fashion model. Determined to make modeling a career, she pursued it vigorously. After signing with JG Model Management, she booked various jobs in showrooms, look books, editorials and runway. In addition to modeling, Aviva loves dogs, has a passion for the arts and is also pursuing a career in painting.
Cheron, 22, 5’10
Cheron was born and raised in Torrance, California and made the move to New York to pursue her modeling career. She says that the best part of being a model is traveling around the globe and meeting different people. Her amazing experiences through modeling include appearing in runway shows for Armani, Chanel, Alvin Valley and Celine. Her goals include obtaining a business degree, becoming the face of a major fashion client and getting married back in beautiful Southern California.
Christina, 23, 5’8
Christina was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania. She first started modeling in Miami and soon after moved to New York. A graduate of Tufts University with a dual major in Psychology and Art History, Christina sees the foundations of art throughout each area of fashion. Possessing a powerful combination of Jamaican heritage and American upbringing, she stays close to her family by taking much-needed breaks to their home country. Christina enjoys being outdoors, music, movies, traveling and soccer.
Jaqueline, 21, 5’9
Jacqueline grew up in New York City, where she currently resides. She’s been modeling for several years, already landing four covers. She volunteers with the National Center for Learning Disabilities in her free time, loves the New York Mets fan and is addicted to chick flicks. Her biggest pet peeve is tardiness.
Katie, 18, 5’11
Katie grew up in New York City, where she currently resides. She says her best feature is her ability to laugh at herself and her least desirable feature is that she’s a pack rat. She is also a self-proclaimed “excessive text messager.”
Lauren, 18, 5’10
Lauren was born in Grafton, MA. She was a successful athlete in high school and decided to try modeling. After getting her start in Boston, she made the move to New York where she was signed by New York Models Management. Lauren has worked for designers such as Proenza Schouler and Cynthia Steffe.
Lea, 19, 5’11
Lea was born and raised in New Jersey and went to school for Holistic Medicine & Massage Therapy. She hopes that modeling will be a platform for her to be a role model for teen girls and dreams of becoming the face of a great company or designer. In her spare time, she practices herbal medicine homeopathy and reiki medicine and is an advocate for animal rights. She also loves camping, hiking and singing loudly in the shower.
Lisa, 25, 5’9
Lisa grew up in upstate New York as a first generation kid – her parents are from Italy – and started modeling while studying at New York University. Lisa’s inspirational mother pushed her to finish her degree and she now holds a master’s in Psychology, which she says comes in handy in the fashion industry. In her words, she has had the opportunity to work with some of fashion’s most talented people and her goal is to continue to work with the best and the brightest moving forward.
Marcia, 23, 5’10
Hailing from the Berkshires in Massachusetts, Marcia was first spotted by an agent after sneaking into a Boston nightclub on a dare. Her first turn on the runway was for Saks Fifth Avenue and doing local showcases for Chanel, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. She honed her catwalk skills while juggling classes at Tufts University where she majored in Economics. She also credits her boarding school experience at Deerfield Academy for giving her the steely reserve required to make it in the fashion industry. Marcia sees modeling as a great opportunity to make connections with some of the most creative minds in fashion and hopes to have a long career in the industry. Her favorite designer is Karl Lagerfeld.
Marie, 25, 5’9
Marie was born Ashley Marie in Katy, Texas. Growing up, she knew she was destined for bigger things and after high school moved to New York to study at the Joffrey Ballet School. While pursuing her ballet career, she found herself drawn to the modeling industry and what started as a side job, eventually led her to model full-time. She loves traveling the world, surfing, scuba diving and spending time with family and friends. Marie currently lives in Miami where studies Marine Science at the University of Miami.
Sam, 19, 5’9
Sam was born in Connecticut where she currently resides. She describes herself as a fun loving girl who can’t get enough of family, friends and the world of fashion. She hopes to be a successful model and a recognizable household name and with that goal in mind, plans to make the move to New York next year to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Wendi, 28, 5’11
Wendy is originally from Canton, Massachusetts and started her modeling career as a child. She took time off during high school and college to fully enjoy each experience and started modeling again last year. She graduated with a degree in History, moved to New York in 1997 and now also works full-time as a manager at an Upper West Side restaurant.
