Designers Who Quit Project Runway In The Middle Of Filming

For so many fashion designers, joining the cast of "Project Runway" is a dream. Yet, for some lucky contestants, the reality of the reality show has been more of a nightmare. Plenty of "Project Runway" stars have gone on to be successful today. Some, however, decided to quit the competition before they got the boot.

We've witnessed some very awkward things happen on "Project Runway" over the years, and some of these moments ended in designers calling it quits. From uncomfortable interactions and fights to personal issues and even health struggles, there are factors that have sent designers home that had nothing to do with Heidi Klum saying, "You're out." Some of these factors even prompted scandals that have gone down in "Project Runway" history. 

For many designers who decided to cut their losses and make an early exit from the show, leaving was the right decision. Regardless, when a designer quits, it almost always leaves viewers in shock.

"Project Runway" fans know how physically and mentally grueling competing on the show can be for the talented designers who make up every season's cast. Sometimes the demanding schedules and challenges take a toll on contestants. During the second episode of Season 18, Dayoung Kim caused quite the scare when she was picked up by an ambulance from the penthouse where the contestants stay. Exhaustion had gotten the better of Kim and kept her away from working on the challenge for a day. While the other contestants banded together to help Kim complete her garments in time for judging, she wasn't out of the woods yet.

During the episodes that followed, Kim continued to struggle and needed assistance from the other designers to ensure she was taking care of herself. By the eighth episode, Kim felt too weak to even make it to the workroom. That's when she made the decision to make her health a priority and take her leave. Since then, she makes sure to prioritize hydration and never forgetting to eat when things get busy.

On "Project Runway" Season 19, designer Meg Ferguson didn't make it far before a fight had her packing her bags. Ferguson made her fellow designers "uncomfortable" with a conversation she initiated about Black representation in the fashion world, according to TheWrap. 

In a confessional, Haitian designer Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste opened up about how Ferguson's stance made him feel. "Oftentimes when you find people in support of our issues, as Black folks, it kind of comes off as if they know what our troubles are and they're our saving grace," he said, adding, "And that's usually a big misunderstanding in the community and how support comes." When race came up again soon after, more problems ensued.

For her Week 2 design, Ferguson was working with the only Asian model in the competition. Fillipino-American designer Kenneth Barlis hoped to have an Asian model sporting his Asian-inspired design so he asked Ferguson to switch models. She agreed, telling cameras, "It's so important to me to respect and acknowledge the fact that he wanted to design for his own culture. I wouldn't look like a woman of my word, and I would kind of look like an a****** [...] if I said, 'No, I don't want to switch.'" Yet, Ferguson made her discontent known, prompting Barlis to get angry and Jean-Baptiste to call her "fake as f***." Ferguson blew up and proceeded to exit the show due to "intensity of the competition."

It was a family affair on "Project Runway" Season 16 when twins Shawn and Claire Buitendorp joined the cast together. The sisters teamed up for Episode 7, which ultimately left them as the bottom two. This landed the twins in an hour-long head-to-head contest to determine which sister would go home. Before the challenge was over, though, Shawn took the decision into her own hands. "This is something that tears at me," she told Tim Gunn, noting, "I think it's Claire that needs to stay. I already know that it's her. I want to give her the credit that she is due. I want her to continue in my stead," per TV Line. 

"It's very, very, very hard for me to accept that she no longer [wants] to compete in this challenge... because I know that's not true," Claire said. Yet, her sister's mind was made up, and she left the show. Ultimately, though, Claire didn't go much further in the competition.She was kicked off for having a tape measure in her room, which was considered cheating.

Maya Luz, at age 21  surprised "Project Runway" viewers with her abrupt exit on Episode 11 of the seventh season. Despite the fact that she had only just graduated college before joining the show, many believed Luz had what it took to make it to the finale. Yet, when it came time to design a red carpet look for host Heidi Klum, Luz spoke to Tim Gunn instead. She told him she felt that she was too young for the competition and that she was ready to leave. She told her fellow cast members, and the designer who had just been eliminated was brought back for another shot. 

So, what led her to this decision? After leaving, Luz told Entertainment Weekly, "... As time went on, I decided it just wasn't my time yet to go all the way. I'd just graduated from school this past May... I haven't had a full-time design job yet. Those kinds of thoughts were wearing down on me... so I decided one morning, out of the blue. That's what felt right to me." She noted, "... I have a pretty good feeling that I might have made it to the final three. But that's why I decided not to go through with it. There's so much at stake. When I come out with a line, I want it to be something dignified, something that I've had time to work on in a way that I didn't through these circumstances."

Jake Wall's departure from "Project Runway"'s Season 14 had one of the saddest backstories. During the season's seventh episode, the San Francisco-based designer pulled Tim Gunn aside to share something that was going on in his personal life. Wall had learned that his dog was sick. He knew that leaving the show could be something he'd regret down the line, but not being there for his best friend when the end was near would have caused even more lasting pain. "This dog has been my rock when I needed one," Wall told Gunn, per Gold Derby.

Wall acknowledged many would surely disagree with his decision to leave the show to be by his dog's side. Surprisingly, though, Gunn wasn't one of them. He expressed understanding for the difficult position Wall was in, and encouraged his choice. Fans of the show were also encouraging, cheering Wall on online and sharing their sympathies. 

Every season of "Project Runway" has a dash of drama between the designers — and sometimes even with the judges. During Season 12, that drama got the best of Sandro Masmanidi. During the fourth episode, Masmanidi was told he was safe: the words contestants on this show are always hoping to hear after showing their designs. Contestants whose design is neither the best nor the worst in any given challenge don't get a specific critique from the judges. Yet, not hearing anything about his design set Masmanidi off. He said, "What do you guys think?" to the judges and received some not-so-kind feedback in return from Zac Posen, per Entertainment Weekly.

After the rather bumpy conversation with the judges, Masmanidi blew up at two of the other designers before making his exit from the show. Before leaving, though, he acknowledged that he was quick to anger and that this had its drawbacks. "If I've been difficult for somebody here, or make [anyone] feel uncomfortable around me, please forgive me. I've been very emotional, this is my minus. I should be stronger enough to handle my emotions," he told his fellow designers, per Gold Derby.