
Christian Siriano became the youngest Project Runway winner, at 22, when he beat out the other finalists Jillian Lewis and Rami Kashou. Being the big winner of the night, Christian won a six page spread in Elle magazine, a Saturn Aura, and $100,000 to help start or run his own company.
“I’m humbled,” he said in a phone interview hours before Part 2 of the finale aired. “Project Runway the show, with the challenges, that’s my game. I can make clothes quickly and I can make clothes creatively.” But Project Runway at New York Fashion Week? “I was really nervous. … It was a really scary thing. I only planned to win. I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life if I didn’t win.”Christian also gave an exclusive interview to OK! magazine after his victory.
Although Christian always seemed so cocky and confident on the show, his nerves got the best of him in the finale.“I was just competing with really amazing designers. I mean, Jillian and Rami are really amazing designers. They are so talented, it was scary. I didn’t know what the judges would want, it was scary, but it worked out.”
Christian got a big boost from celebrity guest judge, Victoria Beckham. “I’m going to hopefully meet with Victoria next week, so that will be great.”
Who is another one of Christian’s favorite celebrity style heroine? “Cate Blanchett. I think she takes a little risk with her fashion. It’s Europeon inspired, and she wears a lot of Alexander McQueen and I interned there, I just think she’s fabulous. And Sarah Jessica Parker too.”
What’s next for the young designer? First he’s going to take some of his PR prize money and buy a bed. “Yes, that’s the first purchase, let me tell you. When that check comes in the mail, it’s like ‘cha-ching.’ Yes, deposit that check, and clicky-click that bed, I mean that.”
In the meantime he’s been keeping busy with charity events. “I did a benefit for my high school, raised $50,000, that was great.” First and foremost, though, “ I want to work on my own line for next season, that’s like a really big goal for me. I have a lot of things going on. I don’t want to jinx anything.”