HOME / ENTERTAINMENT / TV

Who is Anna Yinan Zhou? 'Project Runway' designer creates line amid global pandemic

Anna Yinan Zhou is gearing up to take on new challenges as she competes on 'Project Runway' on Bravo

Bravo's most fashionable show is returning and we feel the need to update our wardrobes ASAP! ' Project Runway' is returning for Season 19 amidst much fanfare and we can't wait to see the styles this season.

'Project Runway' is a reality series that sees fashion designers presented with unique challenges and assignments as they compete for the title and prize. Obstacles are nothing short of creative growth for the creative minds of the designers. The contestants face elimination each week with the finalists going on to prepare a line for New York Fashion Week. After the runway shows, the judges choose the winner with that contestant being helmed as ' the next great American designer'.

RELATED ARTICLES

'Project Runway': 'Self-taught' designer Marquise Foster eliminated, fans wish he joins design school

'Project Runway' Season 19: Release date, spoilers and all about Bravo reality show

Who is Anna Yinan Zhou?

Anna Yinan Zhou is a 32-year-old designer from San Francisco. Originally hailing from Shanghai, Anna Zhou was introduced to art early on as her family was from an artistic background. Her father, who is a sculptor, stands as one of her greatest influences and which led her to study fine art since the age of 13.  Only after moving to the United States did Zhou find her fashion voice and sense of creative freedom, with the big move boosting her growth.

She went on to study fashion in-depth and received her degree in fashion design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She has mentioned designer Mimi Tao as one of her inspirations and is close to her. She is set to appear as one of the 16 designers on 'Project Runway' Season 19.

Anna Yinan Zhou's new pandemic line ORAZ

After working with brands like Marchesa, Zhou letting her creative juices flow, founded her own line called ORAZ, during the global pandemic. Anna has even launched two seasonal collections that were featured in a popular fashion trade journal - Women's Wear Daily (WWD). Drawing inspiration from her personal life and experiences, Zhou's designs focus on evocative, dark, and abstract aesthetic centers. Anna is very outspoken and advocates against crimes toward the AAPI community. She aims to empower her people with her collection and believes in using her creations as a weapon to fight for social issues, which include gender inequality and racial discrimination. 

Season 19 of 'Project Runway' is all set to premiere on Thursday, October 14, at 9pm ET/PT. Following the show's premiere you can catch new episodes every Thursday at 9pm  ET/PT on Bravo.