PROJECT RUNWAY....."Olympics" Challenge: Design Fabulous Looks for Olympic and Paralympic Athletes: BLOG!

Olympic Style--Olympic and Paralympic Muses (L to R) Scout Bassett, Helen Maroulis, Tatyana McFadden, Kim Rhode, Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson, and Naya Tapper--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY


In Episode 11 "Olympic Game Plan" , the remaining designers on Bravo's Season 18 "Project Runway" had to create "celebratory" designs for SIX Olympic and Paralympic athletes: Scout Bassett, Track-and-field; Helen Maroulis, Freestyle Wrestling; Tatyana McFadden, Track-and-field; Kim Rhode, Shotgun Shooting; Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson, Volleyball; and Naya Tapper, Rugby. The designers had the so-called challenge to create custom designs on real athletic bodies, i.e. not your typical Size 0-2 Model types (Thank goodness!)...






Nick Verreos with Olympic and Paralympic Goddesses--(L to R) Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson, Kim Rhode, Scout Bassett, Tatyana McFadden, Helen Maroulis, and Naya Tapper--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY



It was a BIG HONOR having these Olympic and Paralympic athletes on our set and I, for one, was more than in awe. Naturally, I told them a bunch of stories about my LOVE OF FIGURE SKATING! (too bad there wasn't a figure skater in the bunch!).






Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY





Selfie Time--Karlie Kloss taking a selfie with the Olympic Muses--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY


RUNWAY TIME: I photographed the "Last looks" from our Season 18 "Project Runway" designers before they hit the RUNWAY:




Olympic Gorgeous--Olympic and Paralympic Fashion Muses (L to R) Helen Maroulis, Kim Rhode, Scout Bassett, Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson, Naya Tapper, and Tatyana McFadden--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY





Backstage Pics--(Clockwise, from top left) Naya Tapper, Helen Maroulis; Naya Tapper with Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson; Designer Nancy Volpe-Beringer with Tatyana McFadden--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY









WINNER--Winning Design from Season 18 "Project Runway" designer Nancy Volpe-Beringer, worn by 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY







Red Carpet Olympics--Six-time Olympic medal winner Kim Rhode wearing a gown by Season 128 "Project Runway" designer Brittany Allen--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY





Backstage Dresser--Nick Verreos helping Olympian Kim Rhode get dressed backstage before the RUNWAY--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY









2016 Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis in a red dress by Season 18 "Project Runway" designer Victoria Cocieru--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY





Track and Field Paralympian Scout Bassett in red dress from Season 18 "Project Runway" designer Marquise Foster--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY







Rugby Athlete Naya Tapper in red dress from Season 18 "Project Runway" designer Geoffrey Mac--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY







Olympic medalist in Vollyball Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson in yellow dress from Season 18 "Project Runway" designer Sergio Guadarrama--Olympics Episode, Season 18 "Project Runway", Brooklyn NY