Known for being the winner of Project Runway's first season, Jay McCarroll was born on October 11, 1974. He was educated at the London College of Fashion and while there, he sold clothes in Camden Market after graduation. He continued to do so in Amsterdam and later returned to the U.S. to join Project Runway. He soon launched his own fashion boutique called The Colony, and began teaching at Philadelphia University. He also appeared on PBS' Quilting Arts and was a participant of Celebrity Fit Club, which he won. He has also been featured in a documentary film called Eleven Minutes, which showcased his attempts at selling his Transport clothing line.