The pressure is rising on Season 22 of “Project Runway,” where each challenge is pushing the remaining designers deeper into high-stakes territory.
Still, contestant Naheim Muhammad says he is embracing the intensity rather than letting it shake him.
“It’s like tense but also like very nice in a weird way because I feel like a lot of my friends are not like, designers,” Muhammad told On The Red Carpet. “Being in a space where there’s like a bunch of people who are like as obsessed about this craft as you are is like super sick and then like simultaneously everyone’s trying to win.”
For Muhammad, this week’s Viva paper towel challenge captured exactly what makes the “Project Runway” experience so demanding and memorable.
“That one was very much like, oh, shoot! Okay, first of all, we’re already making, like, clothes that aren’t out of fabric. And, so I’m like, okay, this is ‘Project Runway,'” he said. “I went through the woes and the trials and tribulations of like, damn, can I really do this? Do I have enough time to get this thing done?”
Without giving away the results of the challenge, Muhammad made clear that his time on the series has already been a major learning experience, particularly when it comes to receiving feedback from judges Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Law Roach and Tyra Banks.
“They definitely have like an aura to them like there’s definitely like a pressure in the room,” he said. “How many times does someone get the chance to… get critique and mentorship by like the titans of their industry?”
Muhammad, who was 22 when the season filmed, is the youngest designer in the competition. He is competing for the “Project Runway” grand prize package, which includes $200,000, a CFDA mentorship, an editorial spread in Elle Magazine and brand representation.
His dreams of being a designer started with a promise he made to his father, whose clothing brand, YahSoul, went out of business during the 2008 financial crisis.
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“This brand is like essentially my family, right? I’ve seen it my entire life,” he said. “I was like, I’m gonna bring this brand back.”
Muhammad admits he didn’t have the easiest upbringing and got into a lot of trouble as a kid but the resolve to revive YahSoul helped him get onto the right track.
He taught himself how to sew and make patterns through YouTube videos before going to design school and ultimately landing on “Project Runway.” He describes his streetwear style as “this duality between spirituality and militant.”
His designs in episode two’s challenge caught the attention of guest judge Ice Spice, who said his look was her favorite.
“I had a feeling she would like it. Did I think she would think it’s her favorite? Not really, but it was the fact that she did. I was, like, hell yeah! I loved it,” he said.
Muhammad says he’s enjoying the compliments, learning design tips and tricks from his fellow contestants and enjoying the “Project Runway” ride.
“I’m just soaking all this stuff up,” he said.
“Project Runway” airs Thursdays on Freeform and streams the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Freeform, Hulu and this ABC station.
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