It's down to three contestants on Bravo's fifth season of "Project Runway," and Yuba City native Leanne Marshall is among the finalists.

"I think I cry a little every time she's on," Leanne's cousin, Lisa Thunen said. "I watch every week. If I TiVo it, I watch it twice a week."

For the past 12 weeks, Marshall has been competing in the show's weekly challenges to create new fashion designs. The contestants must also buy supplies, cut and sew outfits together, decide on hair and makeup for the models and have their designs judged by a panel that includes supermodel Heidi Klum.

Each week, one person gets kicked off the show until the 16 contestants are whittled down to three. Those finalists, including Marshall, will show their line at the prestigious New York Fashion Week.

The winner will be the subject of a feature story in Elle magazine, $100,000 cash, the opportunity to sell their fashion line on Bluefly.com and a new 2009 Saturn Vue hybrid.

Marshall's family has been watching her progress from week to week. Marshall is contractually prohibited from revealing the outcomes of future shows

Thunen, 34, of Yuba City said she's not spoken to Marshall since the show began, but is proud of her younger cousin's designs.

She said the two were close growing up and that she is happy to see Marshall succeed in something she loves doing.

"It's surreal to see my little cousin, who used to carry around her blanket, on the show," Thunen said.

Marshall could not be reached for comment for this update, but the 27-year-old Portland resident spoke with the Appeal-Democrat when the show began.

She said while on the show, "I definitely did several things that I had never done before. I had to think outside the box and work outside my comfort zone."

Marshall studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in San Francisco. After graduating in 2001, she moved to Los Angeles for a short time before she returned to Yuba City to design ads for the Appeal-Democrat. She moved to Portland in 2007 and began her own clothing line "Leanimal."

Thunen said all of her family is rooting for Marshall. She said they will meet at a local restaurant Wednesday to watch the final show to see if Marshall comes out on top.

"I'm overwhelmed," Thunen said. "It's exciting."

Watch Leanne

• When: 9 p.m. Wednesday on Bravo Comcast 181, DirectTV 273, Dish 129

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com