Let’s get back to Eleven Minutes. In the film you said you’re the poster child for “angry insecurity.” Do you think that’s still true?
I think at that point I probably was, but it was two years ago. I’m in a much, much, much different place now mentally, physically, and emotionally. I was living in New York. I was playing the game. It was really hurting my brain and my soul. So I just moved away to Philadelphia and it’s much, much, much, much better. I’ve been really focused here and really getting back to where I was before the show. I don’t have any animosity towards Project Runway but it really put a complete jolt into my life. Within a couple months I was famous and living in New York City and had many, many, many expectations and pressures on me. I’m more earthy than that. I don’t feel willing to sell my soul and be obsessed with glamour and fashion for the rest of my life. I think it’s a weird thing to kind of demand upon someone. I mean for certain people, like Christian Siriano, it works because he’s 22 and vapid and it works. And he’s perfect for the fashion industry and they love him. But it wasn’t for me.
Do you think he also has the talent to back it up?
[Pause.] Sure. [Laughs.]
Okay...
Sure. I mean, everybody’s who’s been on the show has talent. Yeah. I think he’s talented. I don’t think he’s a genius like everyone keeps saying. I don’t think he’s the next Marc Jacobs. I don’t even think Marc Jacobs thinks he’s the next Marc Jacobs. I just think they really, really pressured him. I fear for him a little bit in the next few years because he has… I mean, I had shoes to fill but [Christian] has huge shoes to fill. They really, really, really have placed a lot of pressure on him to really justify the show. I wish him all the best, really. It’s a weird world, this world.
In the film you also said you wanted the respect of the New York fashion community.
Oh, I don’t care anymore.
Okay, that was going to be my next question. But do you think you got it?
Maybe one day [I will], I don’t know. For me it was more focused on putting out products that have my name on it and putting out cute and cool stuff, period. I don’t really need anyone’s respect anymore. Will I do more collections in the future? Of course. That’s fun for me to do. But I don’t need the fanfare of, ‘I need the New York Times to give me a good review.’ I don’t care. That’s what might fuel people but I just do it. What I realized, when I was doing the show in Bryant Park, yes, I wanted those kinds of accolades. I didn’t get them but now I look back at it in retrospect and realize it doesn’t even matter. My life would have gone in the same direction.
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