Heidi Klum Says Returning to Project Runway Was Like ‘Coming Home’ (Exclusive)

There’s no place like home. In 2018, Heidi Klum stepped away from Project Runway after 16 seasons, but she’s returning to her old chair to run it back.

“It’s felt like coming home, really like coming home,” she told PEOPLE on May 26 at the 2025 American Music Awards.

The supermodel, who originally hosted the show from 2004 to 2017, didn’t feel like she skipped a beat, either.

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“I can do it with my eyes closed, even though I’m judging clothes, so I have to have my eyes open, but I can do it with my eyes closed,” she said. “I just love fashion so much, and I love how interested they are and how they’re champing at the bit to get a spot in the fashion industry. So, it’s so fun to give them a platform to show what they can do.”

During her 16-season run, Klum was nominated for nine Emmys for hosting and even won the award in 2013 alongside co-host Tim Gunn.

While Klum remains tight-lipped on what viewers will see this season, she seems to be hoping for dresses with long trains, a trend she wants to kickstart.

“We need longer trains and dresses for sure,” she said on the red carpet while wearing a black gown with a voluminous train. “I feel like everyone should wear what the heck they want to wear. I feel like that’s what makes us all individually special, so I feel like rules are just not the way to go. But other than that, I feel like in fashion, anything is possible right now. [There are] just no long trains anymore, unfortunately. I’m still wearing one. I don’t care now. I’m going everywhere with a train.”

At the AMAs, Klum walked the red carpet with her 19-year-old son Henry Samuel. The two coordinated their all-black outfits with the teen wearing a crisp black suit to match his mom’s look. They posed for photos on the carpet while holding hands and smiling.

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Season 21 of Project Runway will feature 10 episodes aired weekly and premieres July 31. It will air on Freeform, Disney+ and Hulu.

When Klum and Gunn left Project Runway to lead their own fashion competition, Making the Cut on Prime Video, Karlie Kloss took over hosting duties for the next two seasons, with Christian Siriano serving as mentor. For Seasons 19 and 20, Siriano took over for Kloss, pulling double duty as host and mentor.

In the upcoming season of the show, Klum will be joined by Nina Garcia, Michael Kors, Law Roach and Siriano.