Michael Costello
Costello in 2014, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Michael Yanko Costello
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: January 20, 1983
Ethnicity: Romani
Michael Costello is an American fashion designer and reality television personality. He appeared on the eighth season of Project Runway, and on Project Runway All Stars. Many celebrities, including Beyoncé, have worn his dresses.
He has said:
My dad is Italian-Hungarian, my mom is Russian and Greek.
It appears that his family is Romani. His mother is Sonia Yanko. He moved to Palm Springs, California when he was fifteen. Michael has two children.
Michael has written about his great-grandmother, Mileva Yanko, who was born in Brasov, Transylvania, and who was a seamstress and dressmaker.
Source: http://www.onesourcetalent.com
His father?
http://www.guerragutierrez.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=2123031
Okay nevermind, his father’s name is George “Joey”. The man does look a bit like Michael, though.
His birth name is Michael Yanko Costello, and he was born in January 20, 1983. “Costello” is his mother’s surname.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGXT-27S
so he has Irish ancestry too
His mother’s maiden name is Yonko.
I’m pretty sure he’s 100% Romany.
He posted this on his instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQHKcquFeKO/
Good find. Is this a official account? It describes him as a gypsy designer. I also read that he had a prearranged gypsy marriage before his coming out.
https://mobile.twitter.com/michealcostelio
He has a son and a daughter from a previous relationship. Don’t know if it was prearranged or not, though.
How do you know that’s his mother’s maiden name? The birth certificate, again, says it’s “Costello”. Mileva Yanko could’ve been another one of his four grandmothers.
Most sources tell he is Gypsy. Maybe his Romani ancestors came from different (East) European countries. I think he claimed Italian ancestry just because “Costello” surname sounds Italian.
His social media (and his parents’ social media) and United States public record. Her name is Sonia Yanko (although she goes by Nancy on instagram).
Oh, and I’ve been indexing California birth records in the last few days. I encounter frequently cases of women’s married name being in place of her maiden name.
Here’s a source stating Michael Costello was born in a Roma Gypsy family:
http://www.onesourcetalent.com/agents/casting_spotlight.cfm/337/19-New-York-Talent-Requested-to-Audition-for-MTCostellos-New-York-Fashion-Week-Show
Michael Costello is a Gypsy. I’m a Gypsy and I know Gypsies who are related to him.
His Wikipedia page says he’s a Romani:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Costello_(fashion_designer)
Greek and Italian
http://www.fashionxt.net/meet/Michael-Costello
“Costello” is Irish. Wannabe Romani?