Ashley Nell Tipton Makes History as First Plus-Size Designer to Win Project Runway

In a couple hours is the part 1 of @projectrunway season Finale. Don’t miss out home visit with @timgunn. Styled: @styledbyreah Top: @eloquii Skirt: @dominodollhouse Glasses: @hotel_de_ville Hair colored: @catthompson #lifetimetv #designerashley #projectrunway

A photo posted by Ashley Nell Tipton (@ashley_nell_tipton) on Oct 29, 2015 at 5:45pm PDT

It’s an awesome day for fashion! Project Runway has just chosen its latest winner, and it also happens to be the first plus-size designer in the show’s history! After becoming Project Runway‘s first plus-size designer to even compete on the show, Ashley Nell Tipton has astounded everyone with her fun, 1950s Mexico-inspired fashions and become the winner of this year’s Project Runway prize! This is a big deal, especially when you consider that previous designers on Project Runway have too often seen designing for plus-size people as a problem they don’t want to be bothered with, rather than as an opportunity. As Cosmopolitan wrote:

Project Runway has long had a problem with contestants who bitch and moan about the so-called ‘real person’ challenges in which they’re asked to design for women larger than a sample size—generally, they act like they’ve been asked to stab themselves in the heart with their own pinking shears.

Check out this photo of Tipton posted by a fan, along with some of her winning collection! 

CONGRATULATIONS to @ashley_nell_tipton for Winning #ProjectRunway and presenting the FIRST EVER (Plus Sized Collection)! #RESPECT Ashely you’re fucking #DOPE! #Fashion #Style ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #PlusSized #PlusSize #Model A photo posted by King of Style (@kingofstyle1990) on Nov 5, 2015 at 11:06pm PST

It’s amazing to see ladies like Tipton breaking down barriers and refusing to allow “how it is” to define them. Tipton, like most of us, has probably been told over and over again that “this is just how the fashion industry is!” Well, that’s not good enough for Tipton. Now, she’ll be able to have a bigger say in changing that. This is a confidence she’s always had – even in high school:

And this is what I loooove about @ashley_nell_tipton!! Her confidence, her talent, her vision and her tenacity is what attracted her to me from the beginning of of #projectrunway! I’m so proud of her win last night and for the barriers she has broken in the fashion world! Congrats @ashley_nell_tipton! 🌺🌹🌷🌸💐🌻#projectrunwaywinner #season14 #chingona #latina #gamechanger #fashionista #purplehair #plussizedesigner

A photo posted by Elena Flores (@elenarflores) on Nov 6, 2015 at 5:26am PST

Oh, and here’s an adorable photo of Tipton’s mom with Tim Gunn – just because:

@timgunn and my mom. Look how cute they are!!! #designerashley #projectrunway #lifetimetv A photo posted by Ashley Nell Tipton (@ashley_nell_tipton) on Oct 31, 2015 at 12:42pm PDT

I’m just thrilled that there’s a Project Runway winner whose line might actually fit me! Have you been watching Project Runway? What did you think of Tipton’s collection?

(via The Daily Dot)

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Teresa Jusino

Teresa Jusino (she/her) is a native New Yorker and a proud Puerto Rican, Jewish, bisexual woman with ADHD. She's been writing professionally since 2010 and was a former TMS assistant editor from 2015-18. Now, she's back as a contributing writer. When not writing about pop culture, she's writing screenplays and is the creator of your future favorite genre show. Teresa lives in L.A. with her brilliant wife. Her other great loves include: Star Trek, The Last of Us, anything by Brian K. Vaughan, and her Level 5 android Paladin named Lal.

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