Design competition 'Project Runway' pins a winner

[October 16, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A soft-spoken designer from Portland, Ore., has the competition sewn up on Bravo's hit reality show "Project Runway."

A quartet of judges picked Leanne Marshall in the season finale that aired Wednesday night. Show mentor Tim Gunn served as a guest judge after Jennifer Lopez dropped out because of a foot injury.

Marshall showed a wave-inspired collection draped in large panels of white, cream and shades of turquoise.

She beat out Korto Momolu and Kenley Collins and won $100,000 to start her own line, among other prizes.

"Project Runway" pits fashion designers against each other in weekly challenges hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum.

The three-way design-off marked the first all-female lineup at the series finale.

[Associated Press]

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