Project Runway Season 22 is shaping up to be one of the gayest seasons in the show’s history and honestly?
People seem thrilled about it.
The upcoming season already had RuPaul’s Drag Race fans buzzing after it was revealed that Season 16 queens Q and Plane Jane would both appear in the competition universe. But now another name is suddenly grabbing serious attention online:
Jeffrey Kelly Abess.
And if you’ve watched Drag Race lately, chances are you’ve already seen his work without realizing it.
Q and Plane Jane Are Bringing Drag Energy to Runway
Fans were already excited when Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Q would officially compete as a designer while Plane Jane would appear in an undisclosed role connected to the season.
For longtime Drag Race viewers, Q’s inclusion made perfect sense immediately.
Throughout Season 16, Q became known for elaborate construction challenges, dramatic silhouettes, and highly theatrical fashion concepts that often looked runway-ready straight out of the Werk Room. Many fans still consider her one of the strongest design queens the franchise has seen in years.
Plane Jane, meanwhile, brings something equally valuable to reality television:
absolute chaos.
And producers obviously know it.
But Jeffrey Kelly Abess May Be the Real Threat
According to Queerty’s reporting, designer Jeffrey Kelly Abess is also competing this season and drag fans immediately recognized the name.
That’s because Abess has quietly become one of the most important behind-the-scenes fashion creators in the Drag Race universe over the last few years.
His work has appeared on queens including:
- Shea Couleé
- Alyssa Edwards
- Angeria Paris VanMicheals
- Morgan McMichaels
- Rosé
- Tia Kofi
- Heidi N. Closet
- Lady Camden
- The Vivienne
- Lemon
Honestly, his résumé is kind of ridiculous.
Drag Race Fashion Has Become a Serious Industry
One fascinating thing about this crossover is how much drag fashion itself has evolved.
Years ago, reality TV often treated drag aesthetics as niche entertainment or camp spectacle. Now drag designers regularly influence:
- high fashion
- celebrity styling
- couture presentations
- red carpet fashion
- pop-star visuals
Shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race essentially created an entirely new ecosystem of designers, wig artists, stylists, and costume creators with massive cultural influence.
And Project Runway clearly understands that audience now.
Fans Think Jeffrey Kelly Abess Could Win Everything
What makes Abess especially interesting is that unlike many contestants, he already has experience designing under extreme pressure for highly visible performers.
Drag costumes demand:
- construction precision
- theatricality
- movement
- durability
- visual storytelling
- instant impact under stage lighting
That combination translates surprisingly well to competition fashion television.
A lot of fans online already suspect he could quietly dominate the season.
Project Runway Keeps Getting More Queer
This latest casting move also reflects a larger trend:
mainstream fashion television has become dramatically more LGBTQ-focused over the last decade.
Fashion itself has always relied heavily on queer creativity behind the scenes, but modern reality TV now openly centers queer designers, drag performers, ballroom culture, and gender experimentation in ways that once felt unlikely on mainstream television.
And honestly, audiences seem far more interested because of it.
The Legacy of Utica Queen Clearly Opened Doors
Many fans also pointed out that Drag Race alum Utica Queen helped pave the way for this moment after placing runner-up on the previous season of Project Runway.
Utica’s surreal, avant-garde fashion instincts translated shockingly well to the competition and proved drag artists could compete seriously within mainstream fashion spaces rather than just serve as comic relief.
Now the franchise appears fully embracing that crossover.
Social Media Is Already Picking Favorites
Naturally, the internet immediately split into camps.
Some fans think:
- Q has the strongest technical design instincts
- Plane Jane will dominate confessionals and TV moments
- Abess has the strongest professional fashion background
Which honestly sounds like a very entertaining season already.
Reddit discussions also suggest viewers are curious whether Project Runway judges will fully embrace drag-influenced aesthetics or criticize contestants for being “too costume.”
That tension could easily become one of the season’s biggest storylines.
Fashion TV Needs Personality Again
Part of why people seem genuinely excited for this season is because drag performers naturally bring larger personalities and stronger visual identities into competition formats.
Reality television works best when contestants feel:
- emotionally expressive
- visually distinctive
- slightly unpredictable
- culturally specific
And drag artists tend to understand performance instinctively.
That energy could seriously revive Project Runway for newer audiences.
Jeffrey Kelly Abess Is Already Winning Online
Even outside the competition itself, Abess is quickly becoming a fan favorite online thanks to:
- his glamorous couture work
- his deep Drag Race connections
- his emotional Instagram announcement
- and honestly, the fact people keep thirst-posting about him constantly
Queerty even jokingly pointed out that the designer is “just as stunning as the dresses he makes.”
The internet noticed immediately.
This Season Could Become a Huge LGBTQ Pop Culture Moment
Between:
- Heidi Klum’s return
- drag crossover appeal
- social media hype
- established fashion talent
- queer fan enthusiasm
Project Runway Season 22 suddenly feels much bigger culturally than people initially expected.
And honestly?
Watching drag artists bring couture chaos into mainstream fashion television sounds extremely entertaining already.