Shantall Lacayo is born in Managua, Nicaragua, on May 4th, 1984, and is raised by her
single mother, Lauren Lacayo, an independent art gallery owner, “Museo- Galería
Génesis”. Her father has had an influence on her, even in the distance, through his
work. He is the Nicaraguan artist Julio Quintero.

Lacayo pursued a bachelor’s degree in Marketing at Universidad Americana (UAM) in
Managua followed by a certification in Textile Design from Escuela Argentina de Moda
in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Upon obtaining her certification in 2010, Lacayo debuted
her talents on the Spanish-language version of the hit television program “Project
Runway” — “Project Runway Latin America”. The reality television show was filmed in
Buenos Aires and was the first edition of the Project Runway contest in Latin America.
Lacayo secured the second runner-up position and lost against the Colombian designer
Jorge Duque.

In 2017, she presented the “El Jaguar y La Luna” collection during Miami Fashion
Week, which garnered international recognition thus allowing a collaboration to ensue
with Hasbro's My Little Pony. Lacayo then moved to Miami, Florida with her husband in
2018.

In 2021, Lacayo returned to reality television to compete against 15 designers in the
U.S. iteration of the “Project Runway” competition in New York City. Shantall Lacayo
become the first female Latin American designer to win the top prize on Bravo’s Project
Runway — Season 19 in 2022.

Today, Lacayo maintains her small team in Managua with her mother at the helm and
her sister Francesca’s unwavering support. She continues to specialize in womenswear
ready-to-wear and recently expanded to other categories including swimwear and
accessories.

Lacayo frequently draws inspiration from Elsa Schiaparelli’s early work, Nicaraguan
philanthropist Bianca Jagger, and Mesoamerican iconography. Her jewelry is made by
Mexican artisans, in collaboration with Daniel Espinoza's factory.