“Fashion is the reason why I wake up every morning.”

For designer Veejay Floresca, this line isn’t a soundbite. It’s a lifeline. And after 21 years of auditioning, fighting self-doubt, and holding on to a dream, Floresca is finally stepping into the spotlight as a contestant on Season 21 of Project Runway — this time, on the global stage.

It’s a long-overdue breakthrough for the Filipino fashion designer, now based in the United States, who has never let rejection define her. “I patiently waited for 21 years to finally be part of this iconic show,” she shared in a social media post that quickly went viral in both the fashion and LGBTQIA+ communities. “I auditioned every season and was rejected many times, but I told myself to never give up and to keep applying.”

FROM CSB TO NYC

Floresca’s story began in 2006 when she earned a full scholarship at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to study fashion design. It was an opportunity that changed the trajectory of her life. Even as a student, her work attracted clients and admiration, building a clientele purely by word of mouth. She would go on to become a household name in Philippine fashion, competing in the inaugural season of “Project Runway Philippines” in 2008, and dressing celebrities and beauty queens alike.

But behind the spotlight was a personal journey marked by deep reflection and courage. Coming out as a transgender woman, Floresca faced a fashion world that wasn’t always ready for authenticity. “One of my mentors told me that if I will be the person I am today, not everybody would understand it yet,” she once shared. “So I had to choose — if I’m going to be a successful designer, or just let it go. Do the transition.”

Floresca chose both.

BEAUTY QUEEN AT HEART

In 2022, she made headlines once again — this time not for a gown, but for wearing one. Representing the Philippines at the Miss Trans Star International pageant in Barcelona, Spain, Floresca embraced her identity with pride. The pageant fan-turned-contestant became a viral sensation, reminding many that beauty and bravery can go hand in hand.

PROJECT RUNWAY: HER MOMENT HAS COME

In the trailer for Project Runway’s newest season, Floresca says what she’s waited a lifetime to declare on this stage: “Fashion is the reason why I wake up every morning.” It’s not just a career for her — it’s a calling.

This milestone marks not only her entrance into the fashion industry’s most visible battleground, but also the culmination of a decades-long journey that defied norms, critics, and odds. Floresca steps onto the runway not just as a designer, but as a beacon for resilience, identity, and unapologetic passion.

A MESSAGE FOR DREAMERS

To every aspiring artist facing closed doors and quieted dreams, Floresca offers this lived truth: “Keep showing up. Even when they say no. Especially when they say no.”

Because sometimes, it doesn’t take one try. Or ten. Sometimes, it takes twenty-one years. But when it finally happens — it’s glorious.

Veejay Floresca is ready. And the runway is watching.