Project Runway crowned Sean Kelly its thirteenth-season winner during Thursday night's finale broadcast of the Lifetime fashion design competition.

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Sean, a 25-year-old designer from Brooklyn, NY, was chosen as the winner of the competition by judges Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen, and guest judge Emmy Rossum in addition to the input provided by the contestants' mentor Tim Gunn.

"I am over the moon. I am so excited. I can't even begin to explain this feeling. My life has changed forever now. I hit the jackpot, yeah, it's going to be a good night tonight," Sean said after winning the competition.

Sean won with his 10-piece collection entitled "Betrayal of Caesar," which he created with a $9,000 budget and unveiled during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at New York City's Lincoln Center this fall.

Sean portrayed the rise and fall of Caesar using shades of white followed by bright orange. His clothes were sleek and elegant, featuring heavy draping and fringe. The judges believed Sean had the "freshest perspective" of the bunch and had the most "wow moments" during his runway show. They appreciated how he was willing to take a risk.

Sean beat out runner-up Amanda Valentine, a 33-year-old designer from Nashville, TN. She had been the season's "Runway Redemption" winner.

"I don't think we've ever had a race this close," Heidi told Amanda when she learned the Final 2 results.

"It's just tough. I wanted it really, really bad. I was just so close, so close," Amanda said in tears following her ouster.

Third place went to Kini Zamora, a 30-year-old designer from Kapolei, HI. Charketa Glover, a 37-year-old designer from Detroit, MI, finished the season in fourth place.

As the winner of Season 13, Sean will receive $100,000 to launch his business and the opportunity to design a fashion accessory for Red Robin's servers; a complete sewing and crafting studio from Brother International Corporation; a premiere entertainment center, courtesy of Samsung; and a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine.

He'll also walk away with a car from Lexus, an entire year's worth of beauty products for his fashion shows, professional makeup artists services for his debut show, a shoe and accessory collection from ALDO for his shows, and travel and hotel accommodations to fashion capitals and inspiring locations around the world.

Sean's winning model, Alisar Ailabouni, will appear in the winner's fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.