Liris Crosse can move nearly any look down the runway. She’s one of the industry’s most recognizable faces; you might have seen her on popular TV comedies, and the Washington, D.C. native is also an entrepreneur, author, and influencer.
But even a fashion powerhouse couldn’t salvage the tangle of spray-painted cords that Season 22 designer Bryan Barrientos sent her down the runway in. If you missed what happened, here’s the latest chatter from the show.
(Attention: Spoilers ahead.)
What Went Down Between Liris Crosse, Bryan Barrientos, and Those Spray-Painted Cords?
In the latest August 20 episode of Project Runway—titled “Battle of the Seasons”—the remaining designers faced the show’s hallmark Unconventional Materials challenge, tasked with turning discarded scraps like wires, metals, iPods, and plastics into garments while competing against designers from Season 21.
These offbeat materials are part of what makes Project Runway what it is. They’re what keep fashion thrilling. You have to make it work.
Barrientos created a look for Liris, entering the challenge with immunity. Early on, he admitted that working with unexpected materials wasn’t within his comfort zone. That hesitation became obvious by the episode’s end.
He shifted from bubble wrap to rubber cords and packing tape without producing a cohesive design. Nothing truly clicked.
His fellow designers questioned his choices before Liris even hit the runway. (Some wondered if immunity had made him too comfy.)
Show mentor Christian Siriano offered feedback to guide the design—though he wasn’t convinced—throughout the challenge. Heidi Klum, Law Roach, Nina Garcia and guest judge Iman also had plenty of criticism once the gowns began to walk the stage.
And Liris spoke up for herself, urging him to pivot. It’s not surprising that Bryan landed in the bottom by the show’s end.
Fans reacted quickly—and with plenty of humor. Viewers remained baffled by the design, questioning Barrientos’s talent while showering Liris with support. They flooded her comments, and she responded in turn when time allowed.
Liris Crosse Speaks Out: A Tell-All Video About the Latest Project Runway Episode
On August 24, Liris posted a YouTube video detailing what viewers didn’t get to see. She described wet spray paint, a garment weighing in at roughly fifty pounds, and tears backstage before the runway walk.
She also noted that she wore four- to five-inch heels for the segment.
“The spray paint hadn’t finished drying,” Liris said in her video.
Backstage, production assistants rested the hanging cords on chairs and stands to ease the pressure. Yet the cords still hung low enough to trip her, causing two slips during her walk.
She explained the expression viewers saw on her face.
“I was crying, and for a while I could not stop because I felt utterly defeated,” she said. Liris understood how the dress could influence women with curves watching from home. She has spent years proving that designers can craft beautiful fashion for fuller bodies.
“I represent for them,” Liris explained. “I also represent for change in the fashion industry.”
Liris Crosse Deserved Better, End of Story
Liris is among today’s most recognizable plus-size models. She also became the first plus-size contestant to win Project Runway’s model competition during Season 16.
We know Liris can deliver a striking look. She wasn’t the problem.
Bryan failed to fashion a dress that celebrated Liris’ figure or showcased what she could do. Yet he still called the result “spectacular.”
Liris’s reply was simple: “How?” It’s the same question countless fans had, too.
