Designer Amanda Perna is from New York City. It was during her sophomore year in college that she realized that she wanted to be a professional fashion designer. However, back in high school she created her own Halloween costumes. This graduate of the University of Alabama Apparel Design Program has received the Henrietta Thompson Fashion Achievement Award at UA in 2008. She soon found herself auditioning for Project Runway and became a contestant in season 9 as one of 20 designers hoping to make it big in the industry.