Christian Siriano

With his edgy, daring, and unexpected designs, Christian Siriano carved out his own place in the highly elite world of fashion design. His rise to prominence came via the popular reality competition series "Project Runway" (Bravo, 2004-08; Lifetime, 2008-18; Bravo, 2019-), where he developed a reputation as a diva - albeit a loveable one - in the show's fourth season. For displaying a deft hand in manipulating fabrics, colors and patterns, and consistently making show stopping creations - such as a voluminous avant-garde gown coupled with an edgy biker chic outfit deconstructed from several pairs of jeans - he emerged as the clear winner. Siriano went on to conquer the retail world, selling his collections at both high-end and more mainstream stores, dressing up everyone from celebrities to the everyday woman, and proved that he was undeniably one of the fiercest and most inventive designers of his generation. Christian Siriano was born in Columbia, MD. He began showing his creative streak in his early teens, when he would make dresses for his older sister, Shannon. He worked as a styling assistant at a salon in Annapolis, which gave him a chance to show off his clothes at the salon's annual hair shows. After high school, Siriano applied to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, but was rejected. Determined to gain as much exposure as he could in the fashion world, Siriano studied at American InterContinental University in London, England, soaking up everything pertaining to high fashion, including making couture dresses and bridal gowns. During his senior year, Siriano nabbed an internship at Vivienne Westwood and then Alexander McQueen, whom he considered his fashion mentor. After graduating from college, Siriano moved back to New York City, where he made a living as a make-up artist and a wedding gown designer for private clients. In the fall of 2007, the pint-sized Siriano became a contestant on the fourth season of Bravo's hit reality series "Project Runway," which featured aspiring designers competing for a $100,000 cash prize and a chance to break into the fashion industry. On the show, Siriano's unexpected and high fashion creations consistently earned rave reviews from host Heidi Klum and judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. The outspoken designer, who sported an asymmetrical upswept hairdo, also made popular his flamboyantly delivered catchphrases like "a hot tranny mess" (a phrase he later apologized for popularizing after complaints from the transgender community) and "fierce." After winning several challenges, Siriano advanced to the finals held at New York Fashion Week, where he showed off an impressive all-black collection that had plenty of drama as well as ruffles and feathers. His daring yet wearable designs were easily the most original and well executed, and even wowed celebrity guest judge Victoria Beckham. Siriano went on to win the fourth season, the youngest contestant in the show's history at the time. Boosted by his success on "Project Runway," Siriano added entrepreneur to his résumé. He went on to design a collection for the sports brand Puma, had his entire Fall line sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, and inked a deal to design a line of low-cost shoes and handbags for Payless Shoesource. He also dished out fashion advice on a number of talk shows, guest starred as himself on "Ugly Betty" (ABC, 2006-10), and starred in the documentary "Christian Siriano: Having a Moment" (Bravo, 2010). Siriano also released a scrapbook-style memoir titled Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self (2009). In 2010, he returned to "Project Runway" as a guest judge, a role he took on full time in the spinoff "Project Runway: Junior" (Lifetime 2015-). In July 2016, Siriano designed a dress for "Saturday Night Live" (NBC 1975-) star Leslie Jones after she announced that no designers were willing to work with her for her red carpet dress for "Ghostbusters" (2016).