Return of a Little Rock designer for Project Runway All Stars

Little Rock, Arkansas – Project Runway viewers might recall a local designer who established a name for herself on the show almost two decades ago.

For the all-star version of the competition, fashion designer Korto Momolu is back and hoping to win.

“You know I always make clothes for women with curves,” Momolu said. “You don’t have to have curves. It accentuates you if you don’t, but if you do, I love to accommodate that because that’s how I look and that’s how I became the designer that I am.”

Momolu, a native of Little Rock, was the runner-up on the popular Bravo fashion competition show Project Runway over 20 years ago, putting the city on the map. Her tale has more to it.

“In 1990, there was a war in my country, so we were actually exiled from Liberia and ended up in Canada as immigrants there,” Momolu said.

Momolu claimed that the inspiration for her works comes from her African roots.

“When people see my work, I want them to see me. And the only way they can see me is if they see all of me, which is African,” Momolu said. “Those are my roots. I love my culture.”

Momolu’s designs entered mainstream fashion after season five, but she claimed that her work in the Natural State is what she is most proud of.

“To come home and just be driving and people are like, ‘I love you I voted for you.’ Like that love, I felt that energy,” Momolu said. “It was just like, I’m gonna dedicate my collection to my homeland Liberia, but also to Arkansas.”

Momolu is back at it and will make a second attempt at winning Project Runway All-Stars.

“I think overall what you’re going to see is designers coming together as one competing, but also enjoying each other, uplifting each other, learning from each other and just leaving with what the bigger prize is,” Momolu said. “Which is just being able to do what you do on a national level. And being able to show fans that we’re still here and still standing.”