After last week’s nerve-wracking episode of Project Runway Anya Ayoung-Chee supporters have come out in full force to ensure she receives the $10,000 people’s choice prize. Anya had revealed she would use the money to start a micro-credit fund for young entrepreneurs. Last week saw a disappointing first look at Anya’s collection for fashion week and fans thought Anya would have been eliminated but was saved when judges revealed that all four finalists would move forward to the final round. At the end of last week’s episode it was revealed that already eliminated Anthony Ryan Auld was in the lead for the people’s choice prize.
However, since then Anya supporters both local and foreign, sent a tsunami of votes her way via social network Twitter. Anya still trailed as of yesterday morning until the encouragement and endorsement of several local media houses. Within hours the gap of thousands of twitter votes was closed and Anya took the lead at noon yesterday over the other fan-favourite Anthony Ryan. The power of technology became evident as supporters from all over the globe used the power at their fingertips to catapult the designer into first place of the people’s choice.
Local publications, television and radio stations joined soca artistes and other local celebrities as they dedicated their twitter to hashtag PR9anya. Machel Montano, Meiling, Kes the Band, Gabrielle Walcott and Knycky Cordner are a few who tweeted every five minutes for Anya. Tonight’s episode will feature the four designers—Viktor Luna, Joshua McKinley, Anya and Kimberly Goldson—showing their collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. To fans of the show, Anya represents the ability to overcome all obstacles when one puts one’s mind to it. Anya learned to sew in just four months in anticipation of being cast on the Lifetime show.
Of the four designers Anya is the only competitor to win three challenges. A few spoilers have led to rumours that Anya may have placed second in the project runway season finale. Yesterday, Anya tweeted: “Keep up the amazing work ppl. This whole thing is blowing my mind!! Please be sure to keep the whole thing clean and positive.” Shortly after 3 pm, Anya led Anthony Ryan by over 20,000 votes. The four finalists will face off in the second part of the two-episode Project Runway season 9 finale tonight at 8 o’clock on Lifetime.
Viktor Luna, Anya Ayoung-Chee, Joshua McKinley and Kimberly Goldson are the season nine finalists.
