{"id":185985,"date":"2025-09-27T19:40:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T19:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/185985\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T19:40:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T19:40:10","slug":"ethan-utica-on-being-first-drag-race-queen-on-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/185985\/","title":{"rendered":"Ethan\/Utica on Being First Drag Race Queen on Show"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tFor RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race alum Utica Queen<\/a>, Project Runway<\/a> was always in the cards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tFans of the RuPaul-hosted reality series know the talent Utica, aka Ethan Mundt, possesses with a sewing machine. His sleeping bag gown created during season 13\u2019s Bag Ball<\/a> shook the show\u2019s audience in 2021, and is remembered as one of the best design looks created on the set of RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tIt was only a matter of time before Mundt would hop over the pond, so to speak, and appear on the design competition show. \u201cProject Runway<\/a> has been on my radar for a while,\u201d Mundt tells The Hollywood Reporter, acknowledging the landmark decision to cast a well-known personality from outside of the franchise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThis is the first opportunity that a queen from RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race gets to go and showcase the work, to actually showcase what a queen can do,\u201d he adds. \u201cOf course, I was nervous to be judged as just a queen from Drag Race. But I think that I came in and really gagged them a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tBelow, Mundt reflects on the first-of-its-kind reality TV<\/a> crossover, which of his Project Runway looks he hopes to be remembered for, if he thought about showing up to the season 21 finale in drag and if RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race All Stars lies in Utica\u2019s future.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t***<\/p>\n

\n\tLet\u2019s back up to the very beginning. Did you apply to appear on Project Runway, or were you approached to potentially join the cast?<\/p>\n

\n\tProject Runway has been on my radar for a while, but I got into this cycle of making things for Drag Race and doing commission work. I always thought that Project Runway would be so fun and an amazing journey. But I was approached by the show, and when that happened, I was like, \u201cOh yes, it is time.\u201d But of course, I went through all the hurdles that a contestant will go through \u2014 the psych evals, the interviews, showing off the work and just being really present amongst the casting process. I went through the waiting game, and then they gave me the final call. So it was a little bit of both \u2014 a little bit of reaching out and a little bit of just going through all the hoops to make it happen.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen the opportunity arose to appear on Project Runway, did you worry or hesitate that you could potentially be treated differently by contestants or judges because of your history on RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race?<\/p>\n

\n\tWe go into this process with preconceived notions of our work and our personality, but I think walking into the room and having other contestants who have been in the same boat, like Jesus and Caycee [who previously appeared on earlier seasons of Project Runway], and when we found out later in the season that Veejay was also on [Project Runway Philippines], it felt like, \u201cOh, this is our second shot to really make it happen.\u201d And in a way, it kind of felt like an all-star season. This is the first opportunity that a queen from RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race gets to go and showcase the work, and not just be a talking head anymore, but to actually showcase what a queen can do. So, of course, I was nervous to be judged as just a queen from Drag Race. But I came in, and I think I really surprised not only the audience but the contestants and the judges to really showcase something so special on that runway. I think that I came in and really gagged them a bit.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tEthan Mundt on Project Runway season 21.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDisney\/Spencer Pazer<\/p>\n

\n\tThis is the first time that someone from RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race has gone on Project Runway. Now that you are embedded in the history of these two beloved reality shows, what does that feel like?<\/p>\n

\n\tOf course, it\u2019s a big honor, and I\u2019m really gagged that this opportunity has not happened yet. There is such a rich world of drag designers and drag artists that are just creating beautiful pieces and inspiring fashion<\/a>. So, it\u2019s amazing. I really hope this opportunity opens the doors for other drag designers and drag artists to continue to make and be a part of the story. I\u2019m hoping to see some of my [drag] sisters or other designers on the show, and just really put their stamp on the world and change the fashion community [with] something a little bit more boisterous, a little bit more loud, a little bit more experimental. As our country moves into states of chaos right now, we need art to really pave the way, to bring hope. It\u2019s a big honor to be a part of this narrative, especially right now and what\u2019s happening in the world.<\/p>\n

\n\tSeason 21 had a fully queer top three. What does that mean for you, not only to make it to the finale of Project Runway to show your first collection, but to be surrounded by this particular group of queer designers, given the current political climate?<\/p>\n

\n\tIt\u2019s fabulous. Showing off all this queerness is definitely what we need right now to show that we can rise through adversity and make it out on top. It\u2019s the moment. It\u2019s what the world needs to see that is just a big, special moment to say, \u201cFuck you to the powers that be,\u201d that queer people can come out on top and create beautiful work along the way. And you know, being a queen and being queer is a political statement in itself. So I\u2019m glad that through art, we\u2019re already making waves.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tJesus Estrada, Ethan Mundt and Veejay Floresca on Project Runway season 21.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDisney\/Spencer Pazer<\/p>\n

\n\tYou won the first and last challenges of the season. What does that signify to you about your growth on Project Runway?<\/p>\n

\n\tI think I made the show into my sandwich (laughs). Start the competition out with a bang, and just have a fabulous time through it. And then to end it with such a bang, I think is every designer\u2019s dream who wants to go on the show. It makes it reality. It\u2019s really amazing to be able to say that I came in and gave it my all and gave them a great go, and I gave them equally as great clothes.<\/p>\n

\n\tOn Drag Race, your sleeping bag look<\/a> is a standout piece you\u2019re known for. Which look from your time on Project Runway do you hope to be remembered for?<\/p>\n

\n\tI think I have the privilege to say that there have been a few. Of course, the cape [from the premiere], the athleisure with the red stripe, the avant-garde [Wicked challenge], my butterfly [unconventional challenge] look, right? Starting the competition off with a bang with the cape and then moving right into killing the athleisure [challenge] was just insane. To be able to say I have a few notable looks is really special.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tEthan Mundt\u2019s Project Runway premiere and athleisure challenge looks.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDisney\/Spencer Pazer<\/p>\n

\n\tWith your finale collection, you utilized a male model. Did you ever think about potentially casting drag queens as your models?<\/p>\n

\n\tOf course. I did ask for trans women, drag queens, men that I could put into drag. But we got a few male models, some of them could walk, some of them could not. From what I got to pick, I feel like I got a really good squad of people that have supported me throughout the competition. And unfortunately, the finale was only five days prep, so as much as I would have loved to put some of my characters in drag, [timing] did not allow to make that happen.<\/p>\n

\n\tYou showed up to one of the runways in full drag as Utica instead of Ethan. You have since revealed<\/a> that production asked you to show up in drag. Did you think about coming to the finale in drag as Utica, or were you set on presenting yourself as Ethan for your final moment on Project Runway?<\/p>\n

\n\tI did consider going to the finale drag. I had the look already, but girl, [it was] so hectic. And then also, I\u2019ll be honest, with the crazy critiques and everything that happened for the denim [challenge when I showed up in drag], I approached them afterwards, and I was like, \u201cI did not come on this show to have my character critiqued in this way. Critique the clothes, critique the moments of the show, but I will not gift my art of being presented in drag, which takes a lot of time \u2014 I have to get up early, it\u2019s inherently uncomfortable.\u201d And I never got the air that they were going to shift their point of view in that regard, so I did not gift them with being in drag again. But it was so crazy. In a way, I\u2019m kind of glad that I did [not come in drag], because hand sewing my model into her dress at the end, I don\u2019t know if I could have done it in drag.<\/p>\n

\n\tGiven this newfound explosion in your career as a designer, does this mean that Utica and performing in drag is potentially going to be sidelined, or are you still equally as focused on drag while also expanding your work as a designer?<\/p>\n

\n\tI definitely want to continue both avenues. I have the bandwidth for both. Utica informs the clothes, so I think that I would love to continue both energies as I move forward. And I mean, both of them sign checks, so I would love to keep the energy going (Laughs).<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tEthan Mundt\u2019s finale look on Project Runway season 21.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDisney\/Spencer Pazer<\/p>\n

\n\tDo you think that having competed on Project Runway and moving into a different reality show with a different network could prohibit you from returning to Drag Race for an All Stars season? Are you even open to going back to All Stars in the future?<\/p>\n

\n\tI would love to go back to All Stars. I definitely want to let Project Runway cook and take advantage of the opportunity and not under-saturate it, because it\u2019s such an incredible moment for the drag community to be on this show. But, I would not say no to an All Stars opportunity. I think there is room for someone like me to come back with getting the blaze in and just create a fabulous moment on All Stars after all of this. There are so many queens that branch out to do different things from Drag Race, and Drag Race is one of the reasons why my career has become what it has. I would love to go back and really just create a beautiful moment when the time is right.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhat reality show will you go on next? You have RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race and Project Runway under your belt. What\u2019s next?<\/p>\n

\n\tI would love another making show, whatever that may be, like Next in Fashion, if they ever bring that back, or Making the Cut. Or I would love to be a model on Project Runway. To come in and have [designers] fight over my Polaroid would be so sickening, or even a judge on the show. I think that would just be fabulous to be a part of the franchise in a different way, rather than being a contestant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tLooking back at Project Runway season 21, what do you think is the number one thing you\u2019ve learned that you will take away from this experience as a designer?<\/p>\n

\n\tMy special brand is things that are off the beaten path and a little loud. Getting the critique that my things are too draggy is fine. I\u2019m pushing the envelope, doing things that are new, and I\u2019m really going to take with me that I can create a special moment on the runway and include everybody\u2019s bodies into the narrative. I think I\u2019m trusting myself throughout this whole competition, and I\u2019m going to continue to do that into the fashion world. I am leaving the competition without any restraints from the show. I\u2019m gonna do nothing but grow from the experience. And for my first whack at Project Runway, I think I killed it.<\/p>\n

\n\tDescribe your Project Runway experience in one word.<\/p>\n

\n\tShowstopper.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t***<\/p>\n

\n\tSeason 21 of Project Runway is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+. Read THR\u2019s interview with season 21\u2019s winner, Veejay Floresca, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n