Veejay Floresca on 'Project Runway' season 21 Disney/Spencer Pazer Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Logo text [The following story contains spoilers from the Project Runway season 21 finale.] Veejay Floresca made Project Runway history Thursday night, becoming the first transgender person to win the long-running reality show. Her victory marked an undoubtedly historic moment for the franchise, though Floresca's journey on the series will be remembered for numerous reasons. Aside from a history-making win, she was at the center of a season-long feud with twin contestants Jesus and Antonio Estrada; created a slew of compelling, winning designs; and approached each episode with an impeccable understanding of fashion with an undeniable entertainment factor that enticed the cameras. Related Stories Lifestyle Amazon Drops Nostalgic 'Laguna Beach' Merch on Heels of Upcoming MTV Reality Show Reunion Lifestyle What to Wear to a Fundraiser: Hollywood Stylists Reveal How to Dress to Give Back In Style Floresca is a self-proclaimed Project Runway super fan, and after years of applying to compete on the show, she tells The Hollywood Reporter season 21 was the "perfect timing" for her appearance due to a number of factors. Instead of feeling defeated when she didn't make past editions of the show, the Filipino designer used those experiences as fuel that would eventually feed into her season 21 win. "I always believe in destiny," she says. "And because of those years [of not getting cast], I became more and more skilled, and you need skills to win Project Runway." Below, Floresca reflects on becoming the first trans woman to win the show, her feud with the Estrada twins, which of her Project Runway looks she hopes to be remembered for and why she wants to be "the next Christian Siriano." *** Before this season, you were on Project Runway Philippines and Hulu's Dress My Tour. What made you want to appear on the mainstay Project Runway? Why not, right? Project Runway is the most iconic fashion design reality show in the world. It started it all. It's the original fashion design reality competition, and I'm a super fan. That's the reason why I competed on Project Runway Philippines season one, because I'm a super fan of Project Runway U.S. Every season since I moved to the U.S., which is 2012, I've been auditioning [for] Project Runway. They would always say that it's not my time yet, "You should apply again next season." And that's what I've been doing: apply, apply, apply, apply, until they got tired of me (laughs) and they were like, "Oh my God, it's Veejay again, let's give her a chance." Fast forward, I'm part of Project Runway 21. What about season 21 made it the perfect moment for you to be on the show? I always believe in destiny. I always believe in hard work, determination, and never, ever lose hope in something that you're very passionate about. Every time I would receive an email saying that I am not part of that season, instead of being sorry about myself, I felt that it's not the right time yet. And season 21 is actually the perfect timing because Heidi came back. Like, if I have the opportunity to actually choose which season to compete, it will definitely be the season where Heidi is the host, because Project Runway is never the same without Heidi, right? So when I found out that Heidi is back, I was so excited and happy, and it's the perfect timing, because I know who I am as a designer. And because of those years [of not getting cast], I became more and more skilled, and you need skills to win Project Runway. The cast of Project Runway season 21. Disney/Spencer Pazer You and the twins butted heads the entire competition, but your feud really reached a new level in the last two episodes. Did the tension amongst you three feel as heightened for you experiencing it as it appeared in those episodes? Yeah, definitely. What they [show] on TV is actually real. And I keep telling people that Project Runway is a competition. Whether we like it or not, there's always going to be one winner. Maybe in the near future, there [will be] a tie, we don't know yet. Project Runway is a very crazy show, but you know there's always going to be one winner. And I came into the competition telling myself and telling the people in the casting committee that if I'm going to be part of season 21, I promised myself that I'm going to be authentic. I'm going to be real and honest. And part of that authenticity, [is that] I am a very competitive person. And being in a competition, it's like, as much as I want to hug everybody, I'm hugging you, but I'm stabbing you [in the back] at the same time, because it's like, I gotta win. I'm doing this for myself. I'm doing this for my family, but I want to make sure that even though there's tension between Jesus and Ant