Project Runway Finale Recap: Did The Right Designer Win Season 22?

The dramatic finale of Project Runway Season 22 concluded with a tense elimination round, sending Bryan Barrientos and Naheim Muhammed out of the competition. This left the four finalists - Joseph McRae, Anna Molinari, Bi Pham, and Jude Mikulencak - to showcase their skills in a final fashion face-off. Each designer was tasked with creating a five-look collection over the course of five days, with guidance from a former contestant to complete their final challenge.

Joseph teamed up with Aaron for sporty looks with dramatic silhouettes, Anna received assistance from Jeffrey to design pieces inspired by her journey on the show, Bi collaborated with Bao to create a collection inspired by a Vietnamese card game, and Jude worked with Naheim to produce more of his signature structured suits. However, the judges' opinions on each designer's collection were varied.

Joseph's collection left Law feeling it was a joke, while Nina and Heidi wondered if he truly connected with viewers on a fresh level. Anna's collection received mixed reviews, with Law loving it for its emotional impact, but Heidi struggling to follow the story and ultimately feeling the collection lacked cohesiveness. Bi Pham and Jude Mikulencak's collections, however, garnered the most praise from the judges.

Bi's all-black look, which revealed a pair of slim-fitting black trousers beneath a voluminous backless top, received mixed reactions, with some finding it dated and others captivated by the clever design. Jude's meticulously tailored pieces, produced at the young age of 23, impressed everyone, though Heidi questioned whether he had a "wow factor" that would make the collection memorable.

Nina disagreed, stating that Jude's design aesthetic was crisp and clean, with small details that wowed the audience. As the final vote was announced, Jude emerged victorious, securing the $200,000 cash prize, six months of representation by Agentry PR, mentorship with the CFDA, and a spread in Elle magazine. The emotional winner shared his gratitude and expressed his honor at being chosen.

The recap concludes with a call for readers to grade the finale and the entire Season 22 of Project Runway in a poll, and to share their thoughts on Jude's triumph.