by Deborah Rieselman

Asha Daniels, DAAP ’13, nabbed $5,000 Feb. 13, 2014, by winning the weekly design challenge on the new TV show “Under the Gunn” — Tim Gunn’s “Project Runway” spinoff. The previous week, she came in second place. Each Thursday, she will keep pushing for the grand prize at 9 p.m. on the Lifetime channel.

On Feb.13, she designed an outfit that celebrity judge Zendaya could wear at a concert performance. And Zendaya loved the ensemble so much that the 17-year-old pop singer for the Disney Channel did wear it at a recent concert. Film footage of her performing in it was aired during the TV show, which had been taped.

Zendaya had indicated that she wanted tomboy clothes with an edge. When Daniels’ design was modeled, judges called her garment “grungy and glamorous.” Mondo Guerra, one of the fashion design mentors on the show, said that Daniels “has the potential to grow the most.”

The ultimate “Under the Gunn” winner will receive $100,000, a 2014 Lexus, an all-expense paid trip to Paris, a Marie Claire magazine fashion spread and the opportunity to design uniforms for Benefit Cosmetics.

LINKS

• Watch episodes here.
• Read UC Magazine original story.
• Read UC Magazing update story.