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The Project Runway Connection Between Gizelle Bryant and Leah McSweeney, Explained
RHOP's Gizelle Bryant is seeing RHONY's Leah McSweeney in a different light now that they're in Thailand on Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
Girls’ trips give us the best opportunities to sightsee, dine on delicious local cuisine, and sometimes, reunite with old acquaintances, which was the case for The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip cast during their stay in Thailand.
Leah McSweeney of The Real Housewives of New York City and Gizelle Bryant of The Real Housewives of Potomac are together again for RHUGT Season 3 for the first time since both appeared in Season 19 of Bravo’s Project Runway.
Gizelle said as much during a dinnertime game at Three Monkeys Phuket, where each Housewife listed their best and worst impressions of one another in the RHUGT season premiere.
“Leah and I did Project Runway together, and Leah was very quiet, very low-key,” said Gizelle. “It was very much, ‘Leah is chillin’,’ OK? But she came in today! She got a little ruffled! Said to somebody, ‘What the f--k is you talkin’ about?”
Gizelle was referring to a moment earlier in the RHUGT season premiere when Leah took issue with The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Heather Gay (who was named as Gizelle’s worst impression) commenting about wanting to get Leah drunk, despite her being aware of Leah’s sobriety and recovery.
“You were so confident that you could just immediately stick up for yourself and be so direct with it,” Gizelle told Leah.
Gizelle and Leah on Project Runway
It contrasted with what Gizelle saw of Leah on Season 19, Episode 10 of Project Runway, which aired Jan. 6, 2022.
The ladies were joined by RHONY’s Luann De Lesseps, Potomac 'Wives Karen Huger and Dr. Wendy Osefo, and The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Shannon Storms Beador and Gina Kirschenheiter. Each of the seven remaining Project Runway competitors was tasked with creating a look for each 'Wife, with one winning ensemble to be worn in their series’ reunion show.
“Each one of these ladies have very particular needs and wants,” said Project Runway host Christian Siriano. “This is the most anticipated look they’ll wear all year.”
Leah – a fashion designer herself — teamed up with Coral Castillo and hoped to look like a “sexy Disney princess.” However, the NYC 'Wife might have wanted something a little too-over-the-top with her initial desire to have ruffles and butterflies. Christian was also concerned when Coral decided to use a nude macramé-like fabric instead of something neon or emerald green, as requested by Leah.
“I’m thinking of making her look more like a goddess — that is my style — than a princess,” said Coral.
When pairing up with Project Runway contestant Aaron Michael, Gizelle said she wanted a suntan Barbie-inspired jumpsuit.
“One thing that differentiates me from the rest of the pack is I actually do work with clients,” said Aaron. “I think I started finding that happy medium where fashion meets costume, and I’m excited because Gizelle thinks of herself as a Barbie. So today, that’s where I’ll live.”
Gizelle’s hot pink glam dress (which you can see here on her Instagram page) and Leah’s “epic” nude and lace gown were favorites for Judges Nina Garcia, Brandon Maxwell, and Elaine Welteroth.
Bravo's own Andy Cohen also appeared as a guest Judge.
“I tend to dress and like to shock people, but I said, ‘This time, I want to shock people by wearing something that they wouldn’t expect me to wear,'" Leah told the Judges.
Andy called Leah’s look “very feminine,” saying he “connected” with the choice of fabric, which he described as hippie-like and right up Leah’s alley. As for Gizelle, the Judges loved Aaron’s choice of color and the decision to give her a single elongated sleeve instead of two, per Gizelle’s initial requests.
By wearing the gown, Gizelle said, “I feel I can sit down at the reunion and cuss a bitch out.”
Leah and Gizelle’s dresses helped Coral and Aaron progress to the next round, though neither was the winner. You can see more of the Project Runway episode on Peacock.
Back in Thailand, where the ladies continue with their ultimate girls’ trip, it seems there are no real winners with Gizelle’s dinnertime game. However, the vacation will undoubtedly bring with it layers of sisterhood for some and layers of drama for others … chiffon not included.
Watch episodes of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip only on Peacock.
