Key Points
RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Utica slayed the first Project Runway challenge with a big victory.
Competing under real name Ethan Mundt, Utica created a Disney villains-inspired dress.
The judges commended Mundt for doing “such a beautiful job” on the design.
Utica Queen — also known as fashion designer Ethan Mundt — has officially slayed the two most esteemed runways on mainstream television.
After wowing RuPaul and the panel of RuPaul’s Drag Race judges with her impeccable design challenge looks on season 13 of the Emmy-winning reality competition series, Mundt steamrolled the competition on the Project Runway season 21 premiere.
Amid a tense judging that saw contestant Antonio Estrada clash with Heidi Klum, Law Roach, Nina Garcia, and Christian Siriano on Thursday’s two-part premiere, Mundt was named the season’s first challenge winner thanks to a jaw-dropping design inspired by Disney villains.
Disney+
Ethan Mundt’s winning Disney villains design on ‘Project Runway’
“Your model is actually quite petite, however, she felt grandiose,” Garcia observed of Mundt’s creation, which included black velvety material draped in a shroud over the model. “It was like this dark shadow had just slithered through the stage. It wasn’t just the clothes, it was a feeling.”
Klum observed, that “it’s giving me villain, but it’s not giving me costume,” and that she could see someone wearing just the jumpsuit underneath the flowing trimmings.
“I feel like if you don’t have this cape on, you wear this jumpsuit underneath. It’s modern. It’s cool. I’d want to wear it,” the supermodel told Mundt.
Roach, who’s now a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race as well, had some critiques, though, including “little things I noticed on the cape” and “a little bit of the hem” that was “puckering,” though he commended Mundt for “such a beautiful job” in the end.
After deliberation, Mundt was named the winner, leading to an enthusiastic reaction.
“Crown me, baby, as the queen that’s on top this week!” Mundt said.
One contestant, however, wasn’t as pleased. Returning competitor Jesus Estrada — Antonio’s twin — said he was “so shocked right now” in the aftermath of their team’s victory after Roach said he “hated” Estrada’s look.
“It feels like I’m not in the top. Even though I should be celebrating being in the top, I feel a little attacked. I’m gagged,” Jesus admitted. “But, I think it’s very critical for me moving forward to really listen to what the judges have to say.”
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly‘s free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Prior to competing on Project Runway, Mundt sashayed into the Drag Race Werk Room as Utica, and ultimately finished season 13 in sixth place. Utica excelled particularly in design challenges, constructing a stunning puffer jacket gown for the Bag Ball runway, and later won praise for dressing eventual season winner Symone across the series’ fan-favorite makeover episode.
Project Runway continues Thursdays on Freeform, with episodes later streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
