Lifetime has named the 20 contestants on the upcoming season of Project Runway.

For the first time in the history of the fashion competition, 20 designers must meet with Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and Tim Gunn in order to convince them why they should receive a spot on the ninth season of Project Runway. Ultimately, the contestant pool will be reduced to 16 designers.

The 20 hopeful contestants are Amanda Perna, Anthony Ryan Auld, Anya Ayoung-Chee, Becky Ross, Bert Keeter, Bryce Black, Cecilia Motwani, Danielle Everine, David Chum, Fallene Wells, Gunnar Deatherage, Joshua McKinley, Joshua Christensen, Julie Tierney, Kimberly Goldson, Laura Kathleen, Olivier Green, Rafael Cox, Serena da Conceicao and Viktor Luna.

Once the designers are selected, the 16 candidates will be woken up at dawn to face "one of the toughest first challenges in the series's history".

The winner of Project Runway will receive $100,000 from L'Oreal Paris to start their own fashion line, as well as a fashion spread in Marie Claire, a $50,000 technology suite by HP and Intel to run their business and the opportunity to sell their collection on Piperlime.com.

A number of celebrity guest judges will appear over the course of the season, including Kim Kardashian, Christina Ricci, Zoe Saldana and Malin Akerman.

Project Runway wrapped its eighth season last October, with Gretchen Jones beating Mondo Guerra and Andy South in the season finale.

Project Runway premieres Thursday, July 28, at 9pm ET/PT on Lifetime.

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