Who will walk the runway during New York Fashion Week and win $20,000? You decide.
Harry Donenfeld
Must finish first in their group to advance to the Semifinals.
Voting for this round ends on August 28, 2026 at 10:00 PM EDT
About Harry Donenfeld
A storyteller shaped by comics, oceans, and Maui. Underwater photographer, producer, entrepreneur, and eternal adventurer. At 60, I’m still stepping into the arena—and inviting others to believe their next chapter is ahead.
Learn More About Harry Donenfeld
What makes you the Next Runway Star?
I don’t think the next runway star is defined by age—I think it’s defined by the story they bring. My parents were introduced by Bob Kane, creator of Batman. When I was born, my family announced it with a custom comic book cover featuring Superman. After my parents divorced, my mother worked at Marvel with Stan Lee, and I grew up around legends like Jim Shooter and John Romita. I joke that I was “conceived by Batman, delivered by Superman, and raised by Spider-Man,” but the truth is I grew up surrounded by storytellers. My own journey has taken me from underwater photography to television production, Netflix’s Million Dollar Secret, HBO’s The White Lotus, and building a media company on Maui. At 60, I represent resilience, authenticity, and the confidence that comes from a life fully lived. I won’t just model the clothes—I’ll bring a story people will remember. After all… not everyone gets to say they where born a Superbaby!
What would this once in a lifetime experience mean to you and why?
Walking the runway at New York Fashion Week would be more than a personal milestone—it would prove that new chapters don’t have an expiration date. At 60, I’m rebuilding my life, my business, and my future on Maui. I’ve spent my career telling other people’s stories as a producer and underwater photographer. This would give me the chance to tell my own. I hope people see someone willing to keep taking chances, embrace change, and step into the unknown with confidence. If one person watching decides they’re not too old to chase a dream because they saw me on that runway, then this experience will have meant far more than fashion. It will have reminded people that the best stories are often the ones we never expected to write.
What are you most proud of about yourself or what have you overcome and why?
I’m most proud of the fact that I never stop getting back up. Life has given me incredible highs and difficult setbacks. I’ve worked with remarkable people, built successful businesses, and also faced moments where I had to start over. Instead of giving up, I chose to rebuild. That resilience defines me more than any job title or accomplishment. I’ve learned that success isn’t measured by how many times life goes your way, but by your willingness to keep moving forward when it doesn’t. Today I’m rebuilding my media company, caring for my rescue animals, and creating the next chapter of my life. If I represent anything on that runway, I hope it’s proof that courage, character, and determination never go out of style.
What would you do with the $20,000 cash prize?
My first priority would be caring for the rescue animals who depend on me. They aren’t just pets—they’re family. The prize would provide food, veterinary care, and the security of knowing they have everything they need. That peace of mind would be an incredible gift. With that burden lifted, I could once again devote my time and energy to telling stories that inspire people, celebrate community, and remind us that every life has value. Winning wouldn’t just change my life; it would allow me to care for those who have given me unconditional love while freeing me to continue telling stories that I hope make a difference.
Content from Harry Donenfeld
K10 Day one - James Bond’s personal sub
The K-10 Hydro-speeder is James Bond’s and Lara Crofts personal Submarine! Watch as I get one of the last K-10’s to work off the coat of Maui.
No CGI. Just Lava. The Story of the First Fire & Ice Diver.
Before television, before Netflix, before fashion… there was the ocean. Recognized by the 2016 Diving Almanac & Book of Records as the first diver known to dive an active lava flow in Hawaiʻi and under Antarctic icebergs, this is how I became the world’s first Fire & Ice Diver.
Vote for Harry Donenfeld
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