Mychael Knight | |
|---|---|
 Knight at the Charleston Fashion Week | |
| Born | April 11, 1978 Nuremberg, Germany |
| Died | October 17, 2017 (aged 39) Atlanta, Georgia |
| Education | Apparel Design and Merchandising, B.S. |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Television | Project Runway Season 3 (4th) |
Michael Anthony Knight Jr. (April 11, 1978 – October 17, 2017) was an American fashion designer.
Michael Anthony Knight Jr.[1] was born on April 11, 1978, in Nuremberg, Germany to Pamela and Michael Anthony Knight Sr.
Although Knight spent his childhood in Montgomery, Alabama,[2] in 1996 he received his high school diploma from Washingtonville Senior High School in Washingtonville, New York.[3] Later that same year, Knight began his freshman year of college at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. In 2001, this university awarded Knight a Bachelor of Science degree in Apparel Design and Merchandising.[2]
After completing his undergraduate studies, Knight broke into the fashion industry in Atlanta, Georgia by working as an intern at Wilbourn Exclusives in 2001[4] and then by becoming a fashion stylist in the music industry in 2002.[5]
In 2005, Knight auditioned for the second season of the Bravo network reality television series, Project Runway, but he was not accepted as a season two contestant.[4] In 2006, Knight reauditioned for Project Runway, and this time he was accepted as a contestant for season three. Knight went on to win season three's Fan Favorite award and to place fourth in the overall competition.[6]
In 2007, Knight introduced his label, Mychael Knight, on BET's Rip the Runway [7] and he designed a line of custom tees for the Starbucks Corporation.[8]
In 2008, Knight launched Kitty & Dick, his female and male lingerie label,[9] and his unisex fragrance, MajK.
On August 20, 2009, the Project Runway: All Star Challenge aired on Lifetime Television. Knight joined Daniel Vosovic and Santino Rice of season two, Jeffrey Sebelia and Uli Herzner of season three, Chris March and Sweet P of season four, and Korto Momolu of season five in a special, "one-shot" competition where the winner, Vosovic, received $100,000.[10]
On March 17, 2010, Knight debuted his Fall/Winter 2010 line at Charleston Fashion Week in Charleston, South Carolina.[11]
In 2013, Knight became a contestant on Project Runway: All Stars (season 3).[12]
Knight died on October 17, 2017, at the age of 39.[13] His cause of death remains a mystery. He had been open about his battle with irritable bowel syndrome and extreme weight loss in recent months, leaving many to wonder if the disease may have played a role in his death. Doctors believe that unlikely, however.[14]