The judges laid into you for turning out similar garments throughout the season. Couldn't they have said that about any of the other designers -- like Mondo with his prints? Did their comments seem unfair to you?
Yeah. I think you're exactly right with that comment. We all have our things that we kind of are known for, you know? Mondo's is -- whenever they [showed] whatever he'd done throughout the season, I'd say, "I've seen that fabric numerous times." So yeah, I think it was a little bit abrupt for them to kind of call me out on something that a lot of the other designers also stick to. These are the things that make me think I was gone for a different reason, like that I didn't fit that role anymore. My story line was done or something. I just don't want to believe, I think, that it was because of my design.
While your design walked the runway, you said you believed your design was better than a couple others out there. Can you elaborate on that?
I hated Michael C.'s and I think a lot of people know how I feel about his work. I couldn't understand how he stood up there and didn't know what fabric he used. I felt it in the workroom, and it was acetate -- it was like, almost a heavy-fusion knit that he used. I just think as a designer you need to use these things. If you don't know every fabric, that's fine, but if you're going to design something, look a little bit more into it or research a little more into it. He just, you know, kind of did a number-five stitch on it and ruched together and put it on a cord. That's how a lot of his designs have been. And it's another dress. He's done a lot of dresses. I think that's the one thing I kind of felt conflicted about with my elimination -- and Gretchen as well. Her look was obviously vulnerable for elimination as well. But I was the one to go, so I don't know.
At different times this season, the judges picked random moments to suddenly adore Michael C. and lionize his work. I don't think the average fashion buyer would agree with them. Was their constant praise of Michael depressing?
I think him getting that kind of praise from the judges was definitely peculiar to me, coming right out of design school and knowing what forward fashion is. Project Runway, for me, was about being a new and creative and innovative designer, somebody that's up and coming. The stuff that he produces? Sure, that's fine. If that's what he produces, that's what he produces. But come on, honey, that's not forward fashion. You know what I mean? That's why I got so up in arms about it. I deeply believe it wasn't fair for him to surpass me in the competition. But in the real world, you're right, a lot of people wouldn't give him that praise.
Once and for all, set us straight about Gretchen. Sometimes she seems smart and other times she seems evil. And you seemed to get along with her at the end. So what's her deal?
OK, I'll let you in on this little Gretchen thing. The thing is, a lot of people thought I was starting to be, like, best friends with her toward the end of the show. What people don't realize is the production part of it. When we're the only two girls left stuck in a room, we can't just sit there in the morning on reality TV and just not talk to each other. We have to talk because people aren't going to understand what we're thinking or what we think of the boys in the competition, you know what I mean? So the producers tell us, "You guys have to talk to each other. You have to talk about this." So it's more or less like, we had to get along. I wasn't going to sit there and stir up some drama because I had to live with her, you know? I just wanted to make do, do my best, and not try to psych myself out about her by getting upset with what she had to say. She had told me numerous times that because I'd only won one challenge, I wasn't going to go on to Fashion Week. I thought that was kind of immature. I tried to tune her out towards the end and just get through with it. When she was on the runway talking about how she was tired of the challenges and all that, I really deeply felt that if you're tired of the challenges and sick of it all, then go home and let someone like me go who really wants it bad. That's where I kind of stand about the Gretchen situation.
Finally: Who do you want to win?
I would like to see Mondo win it. That's my personal opinion.