“Make it work!” Does that ring any bell? Well, it will for Project Runway fanatics because, guess what? The long-standing and popular fashion reality TV show is finally getting its debut in the Middle East; thanks to prominent designer, Elie Saab, who partnered with MBC group to make it happen.

To welcome the show to the Middle East, Dubai Design District (D3) hosted an epic dinner and invited the oh-la-la of the design and fashion world, as D3 will be the location for the show’s season finale. The first few episodes have already been filmed in Beirut, and the winner will receive a cash prize of $50,000 from Maybelline New York, a one-year contract for his/her own fashion house within the D3, a one-year membership to Dubai Design & Fashion Council and a cover feature on Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.

A total of 15 contestants have been chosen from across the Middle East for the first season of Project Runway ME, and we can’t be more excited and proud of all of them, especially the three talented Egyptian designers. Yes, I’m being biased because I’m Egyptian. But let’s give it up for Mohannad Kojak, Amna El Shandaweely and Alia El Nahass.

The legendary Lebanese fashion designer, Elie Saab, will be the head judge. His co-judge will be the illustrious Tunisian fashion icon, Afef Jnifen. As for the Middle Eastern Tim Gunn, Saudi fashion and design consultant Faris Al Shehri will fill his shoes, and taking Heidi Klum’s role is the beautiful Lebanese-Australian model, Jessica Kahawaty.

Let’s meet the contestants

1. Mohanad Kojak – Egypt

2. Maroun Issa – Lebanon

3. Ilham Aitsil – Morocco

4. Heba Mojaddidi – Saudi Arabia (KSA)

 

 

5. Lucy Fadel – Jordan

 

6. Luma Saleh – Lebanon

 

7. Issa Hesso – Syria

 

8. Alia El Nahass – Egypt

 

9. Fatima Al Najdi – Kuwait

 

 

10. Selim Chebil – Tunisia

 

11. Taghreed Al-Arrayed – Bahrain

 

12. Amna El-Shandaweely – Egypt

 

 

13. Saba Tark – Iraq

 

14. Alaa Najd – Lebanon

 

15. Rayan Atlas – Algeria