When Veejay Floresca returned to the Philippines during the holiday season, she came back with renewed confidence. Not that she wasn’t confident before—but returning home after becoming the first Filipino and trans woman to win the 21st season of the design competition series “Project Runway” definitely added a bounce to her step.

“There’s an unfinished story that I need to put an ending to—that’s why I joined,” Veejay said in between a mini Miss Universe 2026 preliminaries viewing. The moment was a tad amusing, as she previously went viral for her reaction video to the pageant’s 2010 edition.

Veejay studied fashion design and merchandising at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde in the Philippines and later earned a master’s degree in fashion from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She also studied bridal wear at Central Saint Martins in London.

Her participation in the US edition of “Project Runway” was a full-circle moment for Veejay. Before that, she first joined its local version, “Project Runway Philippines,” back in 2008, where she became a finalist. Then, in 2024, she competed on Hulu’s “Dress My Tour,” a competition series where designers are tasked with creating performance-ready, show-stopping fashion pieces for major musical artists.

“The encouragement really came from the idea that I really wanted to join ‘Project Runway’ US. But I joined ‘Project Runway Philippines’ because I couldn’t join the US edition. Technically, ‘Project Runway Philippines’ was more like an alternative,” Veejay recalled.

Veejay observed many differences between the two franchises, but the biggest change she noticed was internal—her purpose for competing again. “I think I am more prepared. When I competed before, I lacked the hunger,” she said. “This time, I have to win this because it is a lifeline. Being a designer in the US is hard—financially and in many other ways. That’s my motivation to win. I need it.”

Pursuing fashion design as a career is already a challenge on its own; doing so in a foreign land makes it even more daunting. Veejay faced these challenges while living in California for 12 years before moving to New York to take her design career to the next level.

“It’s more business. Moving to New York is another fresh start. I have to start again from zero, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take. I think it paid off,” Veejay said. “New York is more inspiring. Fashion is at the core of the city. When you go out on the streets, you’ll see inspiring people dressed up. There are so many things to draw inspiration from.”

Her transition also allowed her to deepen her understanding of fashion, design, and her clients. Veejay sees being trans as a superpower, giving her the ability to seamlessly merge feminine and masculine elements.

“I was born male, and before, I didn’t always fully understand how women dress,” Veejay mused. “Now that I’ve transitioned, I know what women want and what makes them feel good wearing something. I include all of those things when I design my pieces.”

Part of her prizes for winning “Project Runway” includes mentorship from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). This February, she will stage her first solo show in the US and is part of the CFDA lineup for the upcoming New York Fashion Week. The show is the cherry on top of a major milestone—opening her shop in Manhattan. As she has done in the past, the show is expected to feature trans, non-binary, androgynous, and curvy models on the runway, echoing her mission that fashion should make one “feel seen and celebrated with confidence.”

“Growing up as a fashion designer from the Philippines, I used to watch New York Fashion Week and imagine myself on the official calendar. It felt wild. Crazy. Almost impossible—but that once-impossible dream is now real,” Veejay said. “To every artist who is still fighting for their dream: keep going. Your moment will come—right on time. And to my fellow immigrants, to my trans community: we belong. We have a place in this world, and we deserve to take up space boldly and unapologetically.”