Make It Work! 'Project Runway' Names Season 22 Winner

The needle dropped and the tape measure was put away as *Project Runway* officially wrapped its 22nd season. Timed perfectly alongside the launch of New York Fashion Week, Freeform's signature reality design clash crowned Brooklyn fashion prodigy Jude Mikulenak as the ultimate runway champion on Thursday, September 10. The high-stakes finale saw a tough panel of industry heavyweights deliberating over the final runway collections. Series anchor Heidi Klum reunited with fellow judges Nina Garcia and celebrity stylist Law Roach, with fashion director Fausto Puglisi joining the table as guest judge. After examining every single garment and structural choice, the judges awarded the championship to Mikulenak, who successfully out-designed fellow finalists Joseph McRae, Anna Molinari, and Bi Pham. ## Who won Project Runway season 22? Entering the competition at just 23 years old, Mikulenak was the youngest designer in the workroom this season. While being the baby of the cast initially brought intense pressure, the Brooklyn resident quickly became the artist to beat. Throughout the season, the young talent racked up the highest number of challenge wins among the final four contenders before bringing their definitive vision to the finale stage. Addressing the victory on air, Klum offered glowing praise for the young creative. The 53-year-old supermodel noted that the judging panel witnessed remarkable personal and artistic development throughout the season. She emphasized that the winning collection delivered a cohesive and beautiful narrative, convincing the panel that investing in Mikulenak's future was the easiest call of the night. ## What is the Project Runway grand prize? The major victory comes with life-changing perks designed to launch an independent label into the stratosphere. Mikulenak scored a massive $200,000 cash grand prize to fund future clothing lines. On top of the financial windfall, the young designer earned six months of professional representation with Agentry PR, securing crucial access to top-tier media outlets and fashion insiders. Immediately following the announcement, Mikulenak opened up about overcoming early imposter syndrome in the workroom. The newly crowned star admitted feeling like there was everything to prove against more experienced rivals. However, leaning into self-belief and letting the work speak for itself ultimately transformed the young Brooklynite into the season's indisputable winner.