Project Runway's Runners-Up Spill to Movieline: 'The Judges Were Pulling at Straws'

To tie up our ultra-extensive coverage of Project Runway's finale today, we chatted briefly with the two crestfallen runners-up. How did they feel about the final verdict? How did they process the judges' acerbic comments? Are they medicated heavily? Join us for their reactions.

If you haven't recovered from Gretchen Jones's surprise win last night, imagine how third-place finisher Andy South and second-place designer Mondo Guerra feel. We grilled them about the bewildering (but altogether entertaining) proceedings.

Andy, how did you feel going into Fashion Week? How did you feel your collected looked compared to the other two?

ANDY: I loved it. That's because I put so much of my time into it, and it is what it is at the end of the day. I had kind of an up-and-down season with the judges, and that's always You never really know what they're going to say. We've all had ups and downs, but we all have to kind of like, do something and stick to it and be proud of it. At the end of the day, if you can represent yourself that can be respected, it's all that matters.

Mondo, I'm curious what you thought of two of the judges' comments: That your collection was too much like Seth Aaron Henderson's winning collection last year, and that your looks weren't as "on trend" as Gretchen's.

MONDO: Well, I don't think they said it was "like" Seth Aaron's, they said it was the "cousin" of Seth Aaron's. And none of my cousins look like me, OK? [Laughs.] And that I'm not on trend? Well, like Heidi said, one day you're in, and the next day you're out. Hopefully I have some longevity in the business, you know? So maybe I didn't win last night, but I'm gonna win tomorrow.

Did you think the "on trend" comment was b.s. though? Of course loud prints are "in" right now!

MONDO: I think they were pulling at straws, really. They really had to find a way to get around it. From the beginning, Nina was like, "I want to pick two winners." The great thing for me now is that I had Heidi, Nina, and Jessica on me. The only one who wasn't on my team was Michael. And so did the tables turn? How did Michael persuade the final decision? I don't know how it worked. I don't know. I don't know.

EARLIER: Movieline's interview with Project Runway winner Gretchen Jones.