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RuPaul’s Drag Race star stitches up Project Runway premiere: ‘This is so MAJOR’

Utica from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13 is on season 21 of Project Runway (@queenutica, @thenevstevensgroup/ Instagram)

Utica from RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 is on season 21 of Project Runway (@queenutica, @thenevstevensgroup/ Instagram)

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Utica Queen has swapped the Main Stage for the runway in season 21 of Project Runway – and she has swept the double-bill premiere.

Warning: Project Runway spoilers ahead.

RuPaul’s Drag Race season thirteen queen Utica Queen has returned to reality television in Project Runway season 21 – and though she’s best known for being the kooky seamstress of the Werk Room and beyond, she has charmed viewers and the show’s judges in the double bill premiere of the latter.

Utica, known out of drag as Ethan Mundt, is part of an 12-strong cast of designers, who are all competing for the attention of a gagworthy panel of judges, which includes the return of Hallowe’en queen Heidi Klum as head judge, after she departed the show in 2017.

And after Project Runway’s double-bill premiere, it seems that Utica/ Ethan is one to watch out for, after she snatched the first challenge win of the season.

For episode one, the twelve designers were split into two fashion houses – Princesses or Villains. With Ethan assigned Villains, and having turned out a gagworthy evil queen-inspired cloak and jumpsuit, she snatched the win in front of Guest Judge Cristian Siriano and series newcomer Law Roach.

“Utica this is so MAJOR,” one X user wrote. “You’re making us proud!”

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“If Utica designs anything like this on this show, he’s going to win the whole thing,” another posted to the site, referencing the queen’s season thirteen ball look from Drag Race.

“Starting Project Runway just to see Utica n she wins the first ep I love to see it,” a third wrote.

And though Utica/Ethan didn’t win the second challenge of the season due to a format twist that saw the designers judged in teams, many fans thought he should have snatched that victory, too.

The House of Lotus were announced as the winning team after creating an activewear collection, with the House of Burn left in the danger zone – though many viewers continued to praise Utica/ Ethan’s designs.

Project Runway also boasts some glittery guest judges for season 21; Christian Cowan, Harris Reed, Jenna Lyons, Joan Smalls, Michael Kors, Mickey Guyton, Nikki Glaser, Sara Foster, Sofia Vergara, Tyra Banks, and Zac Posen, to name a few.

Utica joins fellow contestants Alex Foxworth, Angelo Rosa, Antonio Estrada, Belania Daley, Caycee Black, Joan Madison, Joseph McRae, Madeline Malenfant, Veejay Floresca, Yuchen Han, and twins Antonio and Jesus Estrada. Both Black and the latter Estrada have competed on Project Runway before, in seasons 19 and 7, respectively.

Project Runway season 21 premieres 31 July on Freeform with a two-episode launch, and will be followed by a streaming debut on Hulu and Disney+.

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