German supermodel Heidi Klum has made the fashion television show Project Runway a hit for 10 seasons.
After winning a modeling contest on a fluke by entering on the suggestion of friend, Klum quickly rose to stardom, flying away with a Victoria's Secret's Angel campaign and gracing many magazine covers such as Elle and Vogue.
She has hosted Germany's Next Top Model, as has even sung on several musicians' singles and voiced several characters for movies. Her success has certainly resulted in financial fortune, as she has come out on top of Forbes' list of the top-earning supermodels.
Project Runway, which Klum co-created, originally aired on Bravo in 2004 before moving to Lifetime in 2009.
Fashion designers are encouraged to "make it work," facing challenges and an elimination each episode at Parsons The New School for Design before the final three compete with their collections at New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park. Judges Klum, designer Michael Kors and Marie Claire Fashion Director Nina Garcia (along with a guest judge) give critical feedback to each competitor after his or her piece walks the runway.
Faster than you can say "auf wiedersehen," we had a little chat before the new season started.
Windy City Times: Hello, Heidi. What has it been like being on Project Runway for the 10th season?
Heidi Klum: It's been amazing. It's been 10 years and we all would've never thought that we would make it this far. Michael always says that we're on longer than I Love Lucy, which we always laugh about; I can't believe it. Ten seasons is a milestone. It's a long time.
And I have to tell you even though we've been doing it for 10 seasons I still love coming to work every season. I love being with Michael and I love being with Nina and Tim. They're all so much fun, and we have become a family.
WCT: How do you keep things fresh after all this time?
HK: It is always exciting to see these new designers, to see their story. They all have a different story to tell and they're all passionate. They're young people that come here with green eyes and not really knowing 100 percent what this business is about and they're not jaded. It's always fun to have these people that are so hungry for it all. I don't know; we love it. We still laugh and we sit there and have a great time.
So it's exciting and we're proud, you know? We're very proud. I started Project Runway from the very beginning. Going around New York City trying to sell the show to networks and trying to explain what the show was all about—I'm very proud of it. It's like it's one of my babies.
WCT: What do you think of this group of designers as compared to past seasons?
HK: It's always hard to compare because I never like to say that this season we have more talented designers than previous seasons because they were all always talented. And each year fashion evolves and fashion becomes different and so do our designers. I think we have some on this season that are not that talented and we quickly see that. We have some that are really amazing; [they] come up with new things where we sit there and we're like, "Wow, we haven't seen anything like that" or "You have a different technique."
So it's always mixed. There are always some designers there that aren't that great that we're hoping to be better and they just aren't. And then there are some that blow us away and they do beautiful work in the time that they have. So it's always both, good and bad.
WCT: Some seasons are more dramatic than others. Is this one more dramatic or more low-key?
HK: It's also mixed. Our show is based on talent. It's not based on having characters on. I feel like there are so many shows out there that just put people on because they look a certain way or they talk in a certain way or they're goofy and funny or they do a lot for show or they do a lot for TV.
WCT: Rumor has it that several designers leave the show early.
HK: Yes, you will definitely see it on the show. This has never happened to us before. They just could not make it work, and in the morning they were gone. They literally packed up their bags and ran off in the middle of the night when everyone was sleeping. We just couldn't believe it, either.
You would think that a grown-up would say, "Thanks, but I can't make it work. I've got to go early or something." This is something that a kid would do, but we were all very surprised. But if people can't make it work, then leave the spot for someone else that wants to make it work.
WCT: I noticed lots of gay designers on this season as well as lesbian Alicia in the group. Can you talk about openly gay Gunnar, who didn't make the final cut last season, and your decision to bring him back?
HK: Gunnar came last year and he didn't make it. He had this dress that confused us. It was kind of this prom-looking gown that he had and it was just not very on trend or fashion-forward. It was very Cinderella, old-school, and we just did not believe in him that much.
I think he grew in that year and he showed us a lot of great things. He showed us that he evolved as a designer so we wanted to give him a shot. Last year we didn't give him a shot and this year we wanted to give him a shot. So he made it on the show; he's a good designer. We like it when we're wrong. We like it when they prove us that we're wrong, that they're better than expected. He's a fun guy and he deserves to be here.
WCT: Who can we expect as guest judges?
HK: Obviously, I can never give too many guest judges away, but [one person] I was allowed to mention was Patricia Field. She has been a stylist. She has a store here in New York City. She's very well-known for doing Sex in the City, The Devil Wears Prada. She does a lot of full movies and television.
She's actually been one of our very first judges ever on Project Runway. She did our very first challenge on our very first season. So we thought it would be fun to bring her back. I love her very much.
[Actress] Hayden Panettiere has been one of our guest judges. Also [actress] Krysten Ritter, and I think I'm not allowed to give any more away.
WCT: Well, who has been your favorite guest judge so far?
HK: Favorite guest, it's hard. We've had some great people on. I, for example, personally love Bob Mackie. I'm a huge Barbie collector and I have all of Bob Mackie's Barbies and all the special Barbies. So when I met him for the first time I was really like, "I love you, Bob Mackie."
For some of the designers maybe it was more like Christina Aguilera or, like, a Victoria Beckham. I don't know. Everyone has a different kind of excitement for a certain person. For some people, the bigger the star the more excited they are.
Some actresses that have been here that I'm personally friendly with; I obviously love having them here. Debra Messing is a friend of mine. She's been here in the past. I love having people who I spend personal time with.
WCT: If you had to pick a past designer to make you a red-carpet dress who would it be?
HK: I have to say Christian Siriano because we've become friendly over the years. He's a little Jack Russell. He does not give up. He's the kind of person that jumps up and down on you and then makes it happen.
So last year for the Emmys I wore a Christian Siriano, and I'm proud to wear his clothes. He worked to the last second to make it special and I love that about him. So I would pick him; I've worn many of his outfits over the years.
WCT: What has been your most awkward moment when filming Project Runway?
HK: Well, a lot of the time I would make my outfits too short and then I have to sit in the director's chairs and I literally have to tell the cameraman to please keep me from the waist up, because no matter how I cross my legs it's always too short. Michael is like, "Put your cards on your lap."
WCT: You are doing a Project Runway book-signing in New York. Would you ever do one in Chicago?
HK: It is not my book. I wrote a little bit for it and there are definitely some of my stories in there, but it's not my personal book. It's the show's book and someone else wrote the book. I was very excited that they asked me if I would go to Barnes & Noble and sign a little bit, but I'm not going to go on a book tour.
Watch every Thursday as the new contestants are one step closer to walking down the runway in Bryant Park. Visit www.mylifetime.com for listings and details.
