Rowland's Runway challenge

MELBOURNE: Contestants on television reality show Project Runway Australia got a touch of stage fright after being asked to design a gown for American singer Kelly Rowland. The episode, which aired on Arena Television last night (August 18), saw Melbourne self-confessed "frocker' Helen Manuell asked to leave the show after her design failed to impress the former Destiny's Child singer.

Manuell's departure means there are now just five designers left vying for the show's prize pool which includes a car, a six-page spread in Madison magazine and the chance to show their collection at next year's L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.

Designers in last night's episode were given a budget of $350 and two days to design a stage outfit for Rowlands and were briefed that the resulting garment had to be "glamorous, classy and sexy". 

Queensland designer Juli Grbac was named winner of the challenge which judges - including designer Jayson Brunsdon, buyer Sarah Gale, host Kristy Hinze and Rowland - described as an "innovative extraordinary dress".

Manuell, however, was told her creation was "dated and cheap". "I'd rather be naked [than wear that dress] and I would never be naked on stage," Rowlands said.

The contestants remaining in the show are Grbac, Leigh Buchanan, Brent Zaicek, Lui Hon and Petrova Hammond  who was readmitted to the competition following a strong performance in an earlier challenge.