DAVENPORT, Fla. — An Orlando-area self-taught fashion designer is representing Central Florida on one of television’s most-recognized fashion competitions.
“Project Runway” is touted as high-stakes, high-drama and “utterly fabulous.” Think of it as the ultimate fashion boot camp. Every week, a group of hungry designers is thrown into a creative pressure cooker. They’re handed a challenge and sometimes are forced to muster up materials from a grocery store or a hardware aisle.
Jeffrey Kelly Abess, who lives in Davenport (the Four Corners area), is one of 22 contestants facing judges like Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum.
“I really never thought that I would get to this level because as you’re learning as a designer, you’re messing up more than you’re succeeding,” Abess says.
He has racked up a clientele list of celebrities, including wrestling superstar Mercedes Monet. “I know where to put buckles and where not to because if she gets hit in a certain area, I don’t want it to hurt her. These are things I’ve learned over time. She is flipping, twirling, and doing everything she does in the ring.”
The 10-episode “Project Runway” Season 22 follows a weekly rollout plan, on Fridays. The finale airs Sept. 10, 2026.