NEW YORK — “Deciding to compete in the 22nd season of ‘Project Runway’ was a big question mark for me,” shares Bi Pham, a contestant grappling with self-doubt.
“During my school years, I spent a lot of time in speech therapy because I struggled with stuttering. Speaking in public or even answering phone calls was terrifying for me.”
Interestingly, high school wasn’t just where Pham confronted public speaking fears; it was also where he found his fashion passion. Opting to join a fashion design course during his free period turned out to be life-changing.
“I fell in love instantly, and it broadened my perspective,” Pham recalls. It was in this environment that a fellow student introduced him to “Project Runway,” a show that would captivate him deeply.
“I quickly became a dedicated fan, watching with friends and sketching along with the challenges,” he shared. “The show taught me the intricacies of critiquing fashion.”
When the time came to pick a career path at the end of high school, Pham, the first-born son of Vietnamese immigrants, went with his parents’ advice and decided to pursue a career in dentistry.
But when the time came to apply to dental schools, Pham realized, “You only have one life to live”.
Pham moved from Oregon to New York where he studied at FIT before landing a job at Dior. Later, he opened and sold his own business before finally deciding to apply to the 22nd season of “Project Runway.”
“Growing up it was hard, being gay, Vietnamese, first born, catholic and everything. I found humor is a way to make life easier. I find that if I have fun on the show then at the end of the day, no matter what happened to me on the show, I had a good time. That was my goal. And I feel like if I have fun, I’m infecting other designers to have fun.”
While Pham provides comic relief during many moments throughout the show, he hopes someone watching him will draw inspiration from his story and not let their fears hold them back from going after their passion.
“To be on camera is quite daunting. It’s a fear that I am trying to overcome and maybe help someone out there who has the same speech impediment as me. You can do this.”
Project Runway airs Thursdays on Freeform and streams shortly after on Hulu and Disney+, followed by weekly airings.
Disney is the parent company of ABC Localish and this station.