Fashion moves fast. Honestly, if you blinked during the mid-2000s, you might have missed the moment reality TV shifted from being a weird experiment to a legitimate career launcher. We’re talking about the era of low-rise jeans, Motorola Razrs, and a little show on Bravo that everyone thought was a fluke. It wasn't.
So, who won season 2 of project runway?
Chloe Dao did.
She didn't just win; she kind of upended the entire narrative of what a "reality star" was supposed to be. While everyone else was busy playing for the cameras or leaning into the "villain" edit, Chloe was just... sewing. Constantly. She brought this incredibly sharp, commercial-yet-sophisticated eye to the workroom that made the judges realize you don't need a massive ego to have a massive talent.
The Finale Nobody Expected
If you go back and watch the tapes, the tension during the final runway at Olympus Fashion Week was thick. It wasn't just about the clothes. It was about the personalities. You had Daniel Vosovic, who was basically the golden boy of the season, and Santino Rice, who was—to put it mildly—the most polarizing figure to ever step foot in a sewing room.
Most people thought Daniel had it in the bag. He was young, he was polished, and Michael Kors basically adored him. But Chloe stayed in her lane.
Her collection was inspired by her native Houston and her Vietnamese heritage, but it wasn't literal or costumey. It was sleek. It was wearable. It looked like something you could actually find in a high-end boutique the next day. That’s what the judges—Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, and Michael Kors—finally realized. Fashion isn't just a spectacle; it's a business. Chloe understood the business.
Why Santino Rice Lost
Santino was brilliant. Let’s get that out of the way. His "decadent" collection was a feat of engineering, but it was also a mess of ideas. It lacked the cohesion Chloe brought to the table. While Santino was busy making fun of Tim Gunn’s catchphrases, Chloe was perfecting the fit of a sleeve.
It’s easy to forget that back then, the prize was $100,000 to launch a line, a mentorship with Banana Republic, and a Saturn Sky roadster. These days, that sounds like a standard Tuesday, but in 2006, it was life-changing.
The Technical Mastery of Chloe Dao
What set Chloe apart wasn't just her vision. It was her hands.
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If you’ve ever tried to drape a bias-cut dress, you know it’s a nightmare. Chloe did it with her eyes closed. She had years of experience running her own boutique, Lot 8, before she even got on the show. She wasn't a student; she was a pro who happened to be on TV.
The judges often criticized her for being "too commercial," which is a classic Project Runway insult. But Chloe flipped it. She proved that "commercial" doesn't mean "boring." It means "somebody actually wants to buy this." In the final judging, Nina Garcia noted that Chloe’s pieces had a sophistication that felt more "now" than Daniel’s more traditional approach.
The Underdog Narrative
Let’s be real: the edit of the show didn't necessarily favor Chloe until the very end. She was the "steady" one. The producers loved Santino because he was loud. They loved Daniel because he was charming. Chloe was just the girl from Texas who worked 18 hours a day.
But when that final walk happened? The room shifted.
The color palette she chose—lots of teals and rich, earthy tones—stood out against the stark white runway. It felt expensive. And in fashion, "expensive" is the highest compliment you can get when you're competing for a hundred grand.
Where is Chloe Dao Now?
Most reality winners disappear into the "where are they now" void of Wikipedia. Chloe didn't.
She went back to Houston. People thought she was crazy. Why not move to New York? Why not open a massive atelier on 7th Avenue? She told people that she wanted to keep her roots. She kept Lot 8 running (later renamed Chloe Dao Boutique) and became a staple of the Texas fashion scene.
She also did something very few winners do: she stayed in the industry on her own terms. She partnered with QVC—a move that was ahead of its time—bringing her designs to a mass audience long before every influencer had a "drop."
- Longevity: She’s been in business for over two decades.
- Impact: She’s mentored countless young designers in the Gulf Coast area.
- Media: She appeared as a judge on Project Runway Vietnam.
It's actually kind of refreshing. In a world of fast fashion and 15-minute fame, Chloe built a brand that outlasted the network the show aired on.
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The Legacy of Season 2
When people ask who won season 2 of project runway, they aren't just asking for a name. They're asking about the peak of the show’s cultural relevance. Season 2 was the one that proved the show had legs. It gave us the "Where's Andrae?" joke. It gave us the legendary Tim Gunn "Make it work" moment.
But most importantly, it gave us a winner who wasn't a fluke.
If Daniel had won, the show might have leaned more into the "pretty boy" trope. If Santino had won, it might have become a circus. By picking Chloe, the judges signaled that Project Runway was a serious competition for serious designers.
Misconceptions About the Win
There’s this weird Mandela Effect where people think Daniel Vosovic won. He didn't. He won almost every challenge leading up to the finale, but he choked at the finish line. His collection was a bit too "old lady" for the judges’ taste.
Chloe, on the other hand, stayed consistent. She never hit the bottom two often, and she never had a total meltdown. She was the silent assassin of the workroom.
Lessons From the Workroom
If you're a designer—or just someone who likes to watch people get stressed out over sewing machines—there’s a lot to learn from Chloe’s trajectory.
First, technical skill is your safety net. When the pressure got high and the clock was ticking down, Chloe’s hands knew what to do even when her brain was fried.
Second, know your customer. Chloe never forgot who she was designing for. She wasn't designing for a fantasy version of a woman; she was designing for the woman who walks into a boutique and wants to feel powerful but comfortable.
Third, stay out of the weeds. While other contestants were fighting in the apartments or crying in the bathroom, Chloe was usually at her table.
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The Timeline of the Final Three
It’s worth looking at how that final episode played out because it was a masterclass in pacing.
- The Homecoming: Tim Gunn visited Chloe in Houston, and we saw her family. It was the first time we really saw the "why" behind her drive.
- The Panic: Back in New York, everyone had to add a piece or edit their collection. Chloe’s ability to edit was her superpower.
- The Runway: Santino went first (the drama), then Daniel (the polish), then Chloe (the soul).
- The Verdict: When Heidi said "Chloe, you are the winner of Project Runway," it felt like a shift in the universe.
Moving Forward in the Fashion World
If you're looking to follow in the footsteps of someone like Chloe Dao, the "actionable" advice is actually pretty simple but incredibly hard to do.
Don't wait for a reality show to start your career. Chloe had her shop before she had the show. The show was just a megaphone for what she was already doing.
If you want to support her work or see what a winning collection looks like years later, you can still visit her boutique or follow her social media where she frequently posts about the realities of being a small business owner in the fashion space. She’s remarkably transparent about the struggles of the industry, which is probably why she’s still relevant.
Final Thoughts on the Win
Chloe Dao’s victory was a win for the grinders. It was a win for the people who care more about the seam allowance than the camera angle.
While Season 2 had bigger personalities, it didn't have a better designer. If you’re ever in Houston, swing by her shop. You’ll probably see her there. She’s not hiding in some VIP lounge; she’s usually working. And that’s exactly why she won.
To truly understand the impact of this win, look at the winners who followed. They almost all share that "Dao DNA"—a mix of technical perfectionism and a very clear sense of self. She set the blueprint.
Next Steps for Fashion Enthusiasts:
- Study the Silhouette: Go back and look at the "Kimono" inspired pieces Chloe did in Season 2. Notice how she modernized traditional shapes without being reductive.
- Audit Your Own Style: Chloe’s win was based on "wearability." Look at your wardrobe and identify pieces that have that high-fashion edge but function in real life.
- Support Independent Designers: The biggest takeaway from Chloe’s career is that the heart of fashion isn't in a corporate office in Manhattan—it's in independent boutiques. Seek out local designers in your city who are doing the work every day.