Heidi Klum is not returning as a judge for the 20th season of “America’s Got Talent.” Instead, former judge Mel B is taking her place alongside Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara. Klum’s absence is due to her return to hosting the fashion competition series “Project Runway” on Freeform. She was the original host of the show from 2004 to 2017 and even won an Emmy Award in 2013 for her work on the series.
After leaving “Project Runway,” Klum hosted “Making the Cut” on Amazon Prime Video with Tim Gunn for three seasons. However, the show was canceled in 2022. On January 3, Klum announced her return to “Project Runway” for its 21st season.
Following this announcement, an “America’s Got Talent” representative confirmed that Klum would not be a part of Season 20. The representative stated, “Heidi has been an incredible part of our show, bringing her signature charm, expertise, and warmth.
Klum’s return to ‘Project Runway’
We are enormously grateful for her many contributions and the impact she has had while celebrating the world’s greatest talent with us. We’d love for our paths to cross again.”
Reports suggest that Klum’s departure from “America’s Got Talent” may have been a business decision, as she commands one of the top salaries in reality TV. However, neither the network nor Klum have confirmed this.
Fans can catch Klum on “Project Runway” when it premieres on July 31 with a two-episode special on Freeform. The show will air weekly episodes starting at 10/9c and will be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Season 21 will consist of 10 episodes and feature familiar faces like Nina Garcia and fashion stylist Law Roach on the judging panel.
Christian Siriano, the winner of Season 4 and host of “Project Runway All-Stars,” will take on the mentor role previously held by Tim Gunn. As Klum’s signature phrase goes, “One day you’re in, the next day you’re out.” While she may be out of “America’s Got Talent,” she is definitely in for the new season of “Project Runway.”
