Project Runway All Stars, the series that fills the gaps when Heidi and company have off between seasons as former contestants vie for more glory, returns with a third season Oct. 24 with a new host, new mentor … and cast of familiar faces.
A remarkable three former winners — Jeffrey Sebelia (Season 3), Irina Shabayeva (Season 6) and Seth Aaron Henderson (Season 7) — plus a first runner-up — Korto Momolu (Season 5) — are back trying to win nearly $1 million in prizes. Other returning contestants include last season’s Austin-based Daniel Esquivel, as well as popular designers Michael Knight (Season 3), Viktor Luna (Season 9) and Christopher Palu (Season 10). The remainder of the cast includes Ari South (Season 8), Melissa Fleis (Season 10) and Elena Silvnyak (Season 10). And, of course, there’s some gay there (though not as gay as it could be — Sebelia is that rarest of breeds: a straight male fashion designer).
Other changes include Alyssa Milano and the new host and Marie Claire senior fashion editor Zanna Roberts Rassi as the new mentor. Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman are back as judges. Guest judges throughout the season will include Kristin Chenoweth, Michael Urie, Nate Berkus and former contestants Mondo Guerra (who won the first All Stars) and Christian Siriano.
The current season of Project Runway is currently on Lifetime Thursday nights; All Stars will replace it after its finale.