Heidi Klum Is Returning toProject RunwayAfter 8 Years (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Heidi Klum on Project Runway.Photo:Fernanda Calfat/Getty; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic

Heidi Klum Is Returning to Project Runway

Fernanda Calfat/Getty; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic

She’s back!

PEOPLE has learned thatHeidi Klumis returning toProject Runwayafterstepping away from the hit franchise in 2018.

Klum, 51, originally hosted the show from 2004 to 2017 (the season 16 finale airing November 2017 was her last) and won the 2013 Emmy Award for her role, which she shared with her co-host and close friend Tim Gunn. She was nominated an impressive nine times during her tenure with theProject Runway, with the reality competition program earning dozens of nominations overall.

Heidi Klum on Project Runway in 2012.Andrew H. Walker/Getty

Heidi Klum attends the Project Runway 10th Anniversary NY Times Square

Andrew H. Walker/Getty

Project Runway, which originally launched on Bravo, before moving to Lifetime and then back to Bravo, will now see its home on Freeform, Disney+ and Hulu. From its conception in 2004 with season 1, it has welcomed a number of talented designers onto the show — and Klum was there for many of them (and to say her signature farewell of “auf wiedersehen” to all of those who were cut each week).

The show has includedAll Starsseasons — bringing designers back from previous seasons to give them a second shot at winning — as well asProject Runway: Junior, crowning champions of all ages and backgrounds.Well-known past contestantsincludeGunnar Deatherage— who has designed for Chappell Roan — Irina Shabayeva, and most notably,Christian Siriano, who has found much success as a top fashion designer since winning season 4 of the show.

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Heidi Klum on Project Runway in 2010.Frazer Harrison/Getty

Heidi Klum speaks on the runway at the Project Runway Spring 2011

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Heidi Klum on Project Runway in 2017.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Supermodel Heidi Klum poses backstage at the Project Runway fashion show during New York Fashion Week

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

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Klum and her co-host Gunn both bid farewelltoProject Runwayafter the 2017 season. Klum said in a statement at the time, “After 16 incredible seasons, I am saying ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ toProject Runway, a show that I was honored to host and help create. I am incredibly proud of the show, and it will always have a special place in my heart. I am so appreciative of the dedicated fans, and most of all, I am grateful that we could shine a light on creativity and help launch so many talented designers’ careers."

Debuting this year, Season 21 ofProject Runwaywill feature 10 episodes aired weekly, but the judges and premiere date have not yet been announced.

When Klum and Gunn left Project Runway to lead their own fashion competition,Making the Cuton Amazon Prime Video, Karlie Kloss took over hosting duties for the next two seasons, with Siriano serving as mentor. For Seasons 19 and 20, Siriano took over for Kloss, pulling double duty as host and mentor.

source: people.com