Top 10 Most Explosive Project Runway Meltdowns

#10: Becky Ross Sobs at Her Sewing Machine

“Off the Track”

Joshua Christensen, Anya Ayoung-Chee, and Becky Ross teamed up for this Season 9 challenge to pair a look with Heidi Klum’s New Balance sneaker. Clearly, there was a clash of styles, both fashion and communication. Christensen swears he doesn’t mean “dowdy” as an insult when describing Ross’ style. She doesn’t agree. Things get nasty fairly quickly. The two get into an argument that finds Ross storming off multiple times and shooing away the camera when it tries to follow her into the bathroom. Ross ends up sobbing at her sewing machine. We’ve all been there.

Maybe it’d cheer her up to hear that MsMojo has a 24/7 livestream! Scan the QR code on screen to join us live for nonstop pop culture fun!

#9: Korina Emmerich Refuses to Participate

“The Highest Bidder”

Char Glover and Korina Emmerich land in the bottom and are challenged to create one impromptu piece in an hour. Emmerich lost the duel, and through tears, implies that she doesn’t deserve to leave over Glover. She goes so far as to tell Glover that “it’s not about her,” even though it was Emmerich who brought up her deservingness to be there. Her meltdown continues into the next episode, when eliminated contestants are brought back for a challenge. When she realizes she’ll be working with the designer whom she lost against, Emmerich refuses to participate. She storms out without even speaking to Glover. Even Tim Gunn is startled by her behavior.

#8: Timothy Westbrook’s Betrayal

“An Unconventional Coney Island”

Most remembered for his love of unicorns, this Season 12 designer was definitely misunderstood by his fellow designers. He left early after a particularly tense partner challenge. When Timothy Westbrook and Miranda Kay Levy are paired up for the unconventional materials runway, it leads to some hurt feelings and a tearful confessional. Westbrook’s pained, “How dare you?” is a peak workroom drama moment. As dramatic and over-the-top as it sounds, it’s also easy to forget that “Project Runway” is a pressure cooker. Luckily, his disappointing run on the season didn’t dent his belief in unicorns.

#7: Bert & Josh’s Foul Feud

“Can’t We Just All Get Along?”

In a high-pressure competition environment such as “Project Runway”, tensions are bound to run high– and teaming up the designers certainly doesn’t help! On season 9, contestants Bert and Josh went at it after a technical printing difficulty. Josh believed he overheard Bert swearing, and took major offense to his alleged foul language. While Bert attempted to de-escalate, Josh continued to raise the issue, and even threatened to leave the competition altogether. Thankfully, the two hugged it out after some time to reflect– though Bert still doubted Joshua’s true intentions for apologizing.

#6: Meg Ferguson & the Great Model Swap

“#STREETWEAR”

Designers Prajje Oscar Jean-Baptiste and Kenneth Barlis asked their fellow contestants to swap models to better represent looks inspired by their ethnic background. Meg Ferguson initially sympathized. However, when Barlis asked her to switch, she was irritated. In her defense, it was late in the challenge to design for a new model. However, her relentless comments about how she felt cornered by the expectation that she make the switch earned the ire of Jean-Baptiste and Barlis. An argument broke out at their sewing stations, leaving Barlis in tears and Ferguson feeling ganged up on. She withdrew from the competition for mental health reasons.

#5: Tim Gunn’s Turn to Meltdown

“Crew’s All In”

More often than not, it’s a flailing designer melting down in the workroom. In this case, it was mentor Tim Gunn who was losing his cool. The usually gentle and constructive Gunn was not having Saisha Shinde’s lackadaisical approach to the design for the guest model, production coordinator Jennifer Cohen. Seeing that the models this week were crewmembers on the show, Gunn was feeling especially protective. Shinde’s attitude has Gunn angrier than we’ve ever seen him. Has he ever been bleeped as much as he is here? We didn’t even think he knew those words.

#4: Michael Brambila Demands Fairness

“Client on the Go” & “A ‘Little’ Avant Garde”

Although Claire Buitendorp had cheated her way to the win this week, it's not even Claire who has the meltdown. Once the judges announce that Buitendorp has won the challenge, instead of explaining why this is unfair, contestant Michael Brambila simply storms off the runway. Not even Heidi Klum can entice him back. It’s one of the quieter but understandable crashouts we’ve seen on this show, but the impact is massive. Brambila’s dramatic insistence that there’s no fairness in the game blows up the competition entirely. By exposing the cheating, he ends up getting the week’s winner stripped of her prize and disqualified from the competition entirely.

#3: Michael Costello’s Elimination

“Finale, Part 1”

Season 8 is notorious for several reasons. The drama between the contestants was unreal, and the constant back and forth between Michael Costello and his fellow designers fueled much of it. He made it all the way to the final four. However, his dreams of showing his final collection at New York Fashion Week were dashed just before the finale. He entered the green room with his fellow contestants and immediately was inconsolable, punching the wall and collapsing in a sobbing heap. His breakdown in Tim Gunn’s arms is painful to watch. He isn’t just disappointed. He’s ashamed.

#2: Ken Laurence’s Late Night Rant

“Project Runway Superfan!”

Season 12’s Ken Laurence was not afraid to make waves. His talent was apparent, but it was his temperament that made him especially good for reality TV. When the cast begins to dwindle and more designers have to share lodgings, Laurence doesn’t appreciate having new roommates. He especially doesn’t appreciate them expecting him to move the ironing board he’s using so they can, you know, enter the room. But it’s Alexander Pope who pushes the ironing board aside and kicks off a meltdown that gets ugly fast. Laurence begins screaming at the crew, demanding to be heard. He doesn’t even let the fact that he’s in the middle of his skincare routine stop him.

#1: Sandro Masmanidi Storms Out

“Tie the Knot”

It’s a tale as old as time. Tired of being safe, Sandro Masmanidi blew up his chances on Season 12 by demanding that the judges give him feedback instead of just sending him backstage. Masmanidi continues his tirade backstage with fellow contestant Helen Castillo. Once she is reduced to tears, Ken Laurence gets involved, and Masmanidi finally erupts. He storms off the set and onto the streets of New York City, but not before making good on his promise to smash the camera that’s following him. If it weren’t obvious, Masmanidi does not return to the competition, but he does leave behind a legacy of a great reality TV moment.

Do you prefer your “Project Runway” designers to be nice and sweet or dramatic and fiery? Sound off in the comments.