As one of the most recognizable supermodels of her generation, Gigi Hadid has been captured at every angle — but somehow Next in Fashion manages to find a new one. 

When the high-stakes competition series returns, Hadid and style expert Tan France are at the helm as co-hosts and judges. Their mission? To discover the next great designer among a group of 12 contestants competing for a prize of $200,000 and the opportunity to launch their own collection with Rent the Runway. But the designers aren’t the only ones showing the world what they can do. For once, on their own terms, Hadid and France get the chance to do the same. 

“Over the years in my career, sometimes I learned the hard way to be just a little bit more private and guarded,” Hadid tells Tudum, crediting Next in Fashion for giving her the “space, time and context to really show myself.”

France, whose friendship with Hadid was forged over an impromptu FaceTime more than five years ago, certainly took notice, describing her on the show as “way more liberated than I’ve ever seen.”

“People forget that being a model is being part of someone else’s creative direction,” Hadid says. “It’s like acting. It’s not me. It’s an alter ego that is out on the runway and steps onto the set in front of the cameras. I have that confidence and that showmanship in myself, but it’s not necessarily part of my personality.”

In the workroom, both Hadid and France are completely in their element. The duo counsel the cast of designers through the highs and lows of the competition — from crafting a garment out of living plants to constructing a showstopping Met Gala moment in a matter of hours. As they settle into their roles, offering constructive but always kind feedback, fans get to see Hadid and France’s talents beyond the confines of a magazine shoot or a Queer Eye makeover. 

In an early episode, France flexes his sewing skills after Hadid’s outfit comes apart, reminding everyone in the workroom (and the rest of us watching at home) that, yes, he’s more than just Netflix’s style guru.

Spencer Pazer/Netflix

“We took the cast out to dinner, and I was giving some information to one of the designers, and they said, ‘Wait, you’re a designer?’ ” France recalls. “I was like, 'Wait, you still think I’m just the French tuck guy?’ That’s insane.”

For the uninitiated, France’s fashion journey traces all the way back to his teens, when he worked in his grandfather’s denim factory. After attending fashion school and rounding out his résumé with positions at Zara and Selfridges, he founded the first of a slew of brands at just 26 years old. Kingdom & State, a womenswear line catering to the Mormon community, became his most successful venture. He ultimately sold the company in his early 30s and retired — or so he thought before Queer Eye came calling. 

“I make it very clear: I’m here for a reason,” says France. “I’m a technical designer. That’s how I made my career, my life, and so that’s a side of me that I really like to show.”

Hadid’s expertise beyond the runway also gets a spotlight. The 27-year-old provides key insights to the competitors that she gleaned from not only modeling clothes but also designing them; she’s launched her own luxury knitwear label Guest in Residence, in addition to past collaborations with Tommy Hilfiger and Vogue Eyewear. 

Next in Fashion takes the work of finding the future of the industry seriously, and its experienced hosts and lineup of revered guest judges match that energy. And when it comes to the competition, the show ultimately isn’t interested in serving up something fans of the genre have seen time and time again. Highlighting heart and hustle over reality TV drama, it seeks to level the playing field in an industry where connections are king and inclusivity often falls by the wayside. Over the season’s 10 episodes, the wildly talented aspiring designers each get their moment to shine, turbo-boosting both their confidence and careers.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve had a week’s worth of experience or 10 years worth of experience,” says France. “It doesn’t matter if you’re self-taught or you’ve gone to Parsons. As long as you have vision, you get to be a part of this process, and we’ll help champion that success.”

Citing the late Virgil Abloh, with whom Hadid worked closely for many years, the model says she hopes to inspire those “kinds of minds” with the show. 

“We’re truly not looking for the next best sewer. We’re not looking for something to be sold off the TV tomorrow or anything fast fashion necessarily,” she adds. “We’re championing creative direction, concept and storytelling within fashion, and because of that, for the first time, we have hopes of finding new people to go into the industry and lead fashion houses.” 

So who comes out on top? You’ll have to watch to find out. But for the co-hosts, no matter the outcome, Next in Fashion is about making sure the person behind the garment (or the camera) always feels seen.

“I learned that within a space where I feel protected, safe and supported, being vulnerable and just doing your best can also have a good turnout,” Hadid says. 

As for France, he just never expected to feel for the contestants so deeply. “I actually really do have a heart,” he adds. “I’ve cried maybe two times in five years on Queer Eye. This got me almost every episode.”