Meet the Season 9 Project Runway Designers – Part 6

Posted on Jul 26, 2011 in Fashion

Let’s make some more completely unfair comparisons to previous contestants, darlings! Why? Because we are ALL ABOUT unfair comparisons here at The T Lo School of Reality Television Studies.

Cecilia Motwani

What’s influenced your designs over the years?
In the past, the women in my life. They were always very clean, elegant and extremely feminine. In the present, my love for other art media and philosophy in general.
What’s your biggest fear as a designer?
I don’t have fears; they enslave you. Take me or leave, I am me and my circumstance.
Project Runway challenge you wish they’d bring back for your season?
This will bite me right back in the . I like the couture one; they all sucked at it.
Why do you think you will win Project Runway?
I’ve already won. Just guts.

Well! Check out Miss Confidence Pants here!

It’s weird how they have very few nice things to say about her work, then it’s all “You’re in!” She seems a bit dry and defensive, personality-wise. There are some interesting pieces there, but we agree with what the panel said: it’s not fresh and seems a bit unfocused. We can’t really come up with a comparison. At first we thought she was a bit like Mila, but Mila had a VERY strong point of view; to her detriment at times. We’re gonna go out on a limb and call her Angela 2.0. She’s probably not as loopily upbeat, but we’re getting the same design vibe off her.

More info on Cecilia here.

Joshua McKinley

What was the first garment you ever made?
I apologize but I can’t even recall what it was.
When did you realize you had designer potential?
When I moved to New York at 18 to attend FIT, I realized I was on my journey, my path, and that I had something to give and a voice to be heard through clothing.
What are your strengths as a designer?
My ability to choose color, fabrics and notions that might otherwise go unused or untried, put ‘em all in a blender, and come out with something truly exciting and inspiring.
Why do you think you will win Project Runway?
I am strong and courageous, and live my life each day with desire, dedication and determination to be better than I was the day before. I plan on giving each challenge and each opportunity 150 percent, because that’s all I know how to do.

Ohhhhh, girl. You are SO going to go into eyebrow wax withdrawal if you’re there for more than a week.

“Could you say it one more time?” NO. SHE. DIDN’T.

Here’s all you need to know about Joshua: he has pictures of himself in his underwear in his portfolio; he took off his shirt at his audition; he uses far too much product above the neck (and probably below it, since his torso is positively alopecian in its hairlessness), and when he’s on camera, he knows exactly what to do to keep the camera on him for as long as possible. Then he does it. Jack Mackenroth 2.0, people.

More info on Joshua here.

Serena da Conceicao

What was the first garment you ever made?
Glass-bead applique tulle genie costume with gold lame that I designed at age five for Rio’s carnival.
What’s influenced your designs over the years?
Vanessa Beecroft, Egon Schiele, urban street people-watching.
Who are your favorite style icons?
Don’t have one.
Why do you think you will win Project Runway?
I have the drive, stamina, smarts and talent, plus I love the challenge.

This gal needs some coffee. They’re gonna have to put a mirror in front of her mouth in the workroom every now and then just to see if she’s breathing. There’s laid back and then there’s coma. But she seems sweet. Her portfolio seems limited and the main draw seems to be that the work is well finished, but the designs, while pretty, aren’t going to wow those judge bitches. As for comparisons: cue up any of a number of young, sweet girls who made pretty clothes but eventually got auf’d for being boring. Aside from “Flamboyant Queen”, it’s the number one personality type on PR and, sad to say, these gals are always reality TV red shirts. She’s Starr 2.0, or Alexandra 2.0, or Alison 2.0, or Emily 2.0, or Janeane 2.0, or — you don’t remember any of these girls, do you?

More info on Serena da Conceicao here.

[Photo/Q&A/Video Credit: myLifetime.com]

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Project Runway Season 9

Anonymous

Yeah, none of these contestants are exciting me. Here’s a question: My sis will be in town during the premiere. What food should we make that night? A Colombian food and German wine pairing with Cheetos on the side to honor the judges? Help me out here fellow minions!
- Anonymous
  
  Yah I’m definitely feeling the lack of talent this season. No Mondos, Ramis, Victorias, Kuto, Leannes, not to mention Christian etc. I mean really to be honest, the last season PR was on Bravo with Kuto and Leanne and Kenly, was the last time I saw that much talent in one season. It’s like they don’t WANT to cast for talent. They’re casting personalities. I’m let down by the continuing dumbing down of Project Runway.
- Anonymous
  
  Well, I don’t know where you are, but assuming you are not in NYC but are in a place with the resources, you should get take-out from the most diverse array of restaurants possible, then pretend you are in NYC and were able to have them all delivered or could pick them up on the walk home from the subway, rather than having one delivered and driving around for a solid hour to pick the rest up.
  - Anonymous
    
    Unless, of course, it’s just you and your sister, in which case the leftovers might be excessive.
    - Anonymous
      
      LOL. Great idea. I’m in the Bay Area, so no shortage of food options. And it’ll be my family, too, including my bottomless pit of a 16 year old son. No such thing as too much food.
- MilaXX
  
  I’m indulging in ravioli from my favorite local Italian place and a glass of homemade sangria, I’ll have some spinach on the side to pretend I’m eating healthy,
- Anonymous
  
  If you’re working towards an edible realty show, perhaps consider some Peeps for dessert: sweet, insubstantial and absolutely synthetic.
Anonymous

Yeah, none of these contestants are exciting me. Here’s a question: My sis will be in town during the premiere. What food should we make that night? A Colombian food and German wine pairing with Cheetos on the side to honor the judges? Help me out here fellow minions!
MilaXX

None of these folks are setting the world on fire for me. Joshua may be pretty to look at until the moment when he opens his mouth and a metric ton of stupid falls out.
- Anonymous
  
  “a metric ton of stupid” hahaha!
- Anonymous
  
  Well, after hunting for something nice to say, I like the jacket he’s wearing in the photo.
- Anonymous
  
  Perpendicular to @formerlyAnon:disqus , I like the boots he’s wearing in the photo.
aussiegal77

“She’s Starr 2.0, or Alexandra 2.0, or Alison 2.0, or Emily 2.0, or Janeane 2.0, or — you don’t remember any of these girls, do you?”

OMG, no, I freaking don’t!!! Yikes. Point taken. Loving these random judge-y posts by the way. Is it TLounge time yet??
- http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
  
  I remember Alison because of the weird Minnie Mouse hair-bow on her model for her aufing. And I remember Janeane because she made me insand — she was so damn weepy and whiny and irritating. I don’t remember the other 3, though, either….
  - amanda crow
    
    I also remember Alison, and I liked her very much and was pretty butthurt at her auf’ing.
    - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EDI2DLE7DE3YPW2ONIHBWOVHMA ecallaw
      
      I was too! I remember it very well, because I really thought she was a front runner and her auf’ing was pretty unfair. I think she had a new model that they described as “zaftig” (she looked like a size 4 as opposed to a size 0) and they thought Alison’s design wasn’t flattering for her body–I really liked it and thought they were crazy for kicking her off!
Anonymous

I’ve been meaning to say: I love what Laura is wearing in these auditions.

–GothamTomato
Anonymous

Is Cecelia wearing Gretchen’s jumpsuit from last season’s billboard challenge?
- Anonymous
  
  I’m glad somebody else noticed that! That’s the first though that came to my mind when I saw her.
- http://twitter.com/laylagalise laylagalise
  
  Yes! That’s exactly what I thought when I saw her picture on the Lifetime website.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LI35AZLWSZEYRDZ4PUCBHUCZUI Jonathan

star made pretty dresses? are you talking about the candy store explosion? the green dress with a red tumor? the Harlequin costume? i dont think a single thing she made could be labeled pretty unless the meaning of pretty has been shifted to mean hideous.
Anonymous

I recommend a pork tenderloin sliced thin with balsamic drizzle, and LOTS of medeira. I really get the feeling lots of wine is going to be needed.
Anonymous

When is PR starting officially? This week?
- Anonymous
  
  July 28th according to the Lifetime site
Anonymous

Joshua McKinley seems to mistakenly think he’s auditioning for “America’s Next Top A-List Cast Member”. Whipping together things to wear in your Grindr pic doesn’t make you a designer, doll.
- http://blog.infomofo.com infomofo
  
  I do wonder what his unlock looks like though.
Anonymous

The only thing I wonder after having seen the designers thus far- was there a sale on combat-style boots somewhere? Short of boot camp I don’t know when I’ve seen so many pairs in one place.
- Anonymous
  
  I was wondering if they were swapping a single pair from the Accessory Wall, till I realized some were more beat-up than others.
- margaret meyers
  
  Is the combat boot going to be this year’s granny panty shorts?
  We can see from the designers that boots are mostly making them look short and heavy legged.
- Anonymous
  
  Indeed! I am trying to restrain my love for combat boots this very minute, simply because if it came down to the footwear, Blue Steel up there would be our winner.
Anonymous

Cecilia has no fears and she’s already won? Puh-leez.
Anonymous

Aww, you’re being too hard on Serena. I love that she referenced Egon Schiele and Vanessa Beecroft, love the shoes she’s wearing, love her first design project and I would actually buy and wear a couple of things in her portfolio (the white dress and striped skirt). Sounds like she comes across a little too low-key in the video but I never watch those things.

Josh is creepy. Cecelia is an ass.
- http://vhanna26.typepad.com Vera
  
  I like Serena’s clothes. Cute and well made–although the first dress is a bit gyno.
- Anonymous
  
  Serena’s white dress is gorgeous!
- http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash
  
  i liked serena too.
  
  i was taken aback for a few minutes by the overly fond of himself & his dubious nether attractions semi naked guy.
  
  then i remembered i not only wanted but needed to note that cecilia may not want but NEEDS to take those four parakeets OUT of that teeny tiny cage in which she has them locked. if i dont do another good thing today {& it’s been an irritating day}, i’m hoping that enough people YELL this at her after seeing it online or on television that she actually quits it w/ the minor torture. i mean, she’s giving them about six inches space apiece.
  
  as a tired aside, i dont know if she knows it but instead of being dressed like a wrinkled patti smith in a parachute jumpsuit, she looks more like a wrinkled joey ramone when he was called “jeff starship” & was in a band that was, i believe, called sniper. were he alive i doubt even he would wanna recreate these fashion moments & there cecilia is, just doing it by accident.
  
  actually, if i remember, her clothes werent that bad. i just remained distracted by the unfilled underpants & the overcaged pets.
Anonymous

Actually, I remember ALL those girls–the quiet ones. (Oh, all right, for God’s sake, I don’t remember Janeane!) But out of this trio, Serena’s my girl. Cecilia’s all “Donchu get all up in my GRILL, bitch!” (add side-to-side head wobbles) for absolutely no reason, so she can’t possibly be Angela 2.0–Angela was afraid of her own shadow. I don’t know who the hell 2.0 she is, but I don’t like her already. And her clothes?

As for PrettyBoy, anyone who uses the words “my journey” AND “my path” in the same sentence has won my eternal disdain. Plus, the underwear shot. Kinda insufferable, no?

“positively alopecial”–A phrase too good not to steal!
- Chris D
  
  Yes! “My journey” is such a dealbreaker. And he’s not nearly as hot as he thinks he is.
Anonymous

Has anyone else ever used the “Edit” function successfully?
- Anonymous
  
  Yes, but sometimes after I click “Edit,” the page jumps down to the bottom and I have to scroll back up to find the edit box.
- Anonymous
  
  Yes. What you can’t do, unfortunately, is remove a post if you make a real booboo. The post stays but w/o your name attached to it. But edit does work for me.
- MilaXX
  
  I edit all the time no problem because I can’t spell to save my life.
- Anonymous
  
  It works for me as well (Firefox browser). In fact, I love it.
- http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash
  
  every day. i’m on a mac, too & using chrome on top of that. i’m pretty sure it generally works but once in a while it, like everything else, goes a little wonky. just try again in a few minutes.
Logo Girl

All of these are on my list for “eliminated before the show starts”. I call Cecilia, this Joshua, the other Joshua and Serena.
- Anonymous
  
  I suspect the same thing. In fact, some spoilers out there are predicting pretty much the same thing.
Anonymous

WTF are up with Cecilia’s models? Either they suck or she can’t direct them for shit. If it’s the latter, that might work against her.
Anonymous

Josh is hot, but now I’m questioning my taste level.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PRM766RS56X25A5742XLACK2LM Sam
  
  Sometimes we all just need a good douche.
Anonymous

“There’s laid back and then there’s coma.” TLo – I love you. Marry me.
- Anonymous
  
  In a parent-teacher conference one time, I was trying not to insult the parents and said, “Your son is…….um, very laid back.” The dad looked at me stonily and said, “If he were any more laid back, he’d be in a coma.” Awesome conversation followed.
  - Anonymous
    
    Love parents who know what’s going on.
Anique Ashraf

Uh, Jack was too nice. Joshua whathisname is not hot the Jack way and not sweet the Jack way. But, hey, I don’t think we’ve had a self absorbed prettyboy, so Jack is an OK comparison.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NMIFZ6A7BHP66M546AO77BWVQ4 Bonnie

I am strong and courageous, and live my life each day with desire, dedication and determination to be better than I was the day before. I plan on giving each challenge and each opportunity 150 percent, because that’s all I know how to do.

Josh, the former Miss Trinidad is going to cut you if you keep speaking in beauty pageantese. Watch your back, sweetie!
bitchybitchybitchy
Anonymous

Seriously Josh M? I can’t even identify what the women are wearing in the photos. The striped shirt is a bit interesting, but it’s just so “International Male”.
Anonymous

I want Josh to reach to at least the decoy level, because I think he’s narcissistic enough to want to model his own collection, and that would be comedy gold.
- Anonymous
  
  Please God let that happen.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3QHOT6GHMBNGPZHH53WM7FC3SQ Mike W

Joshua has “prentenious queen” written all over him. I hope he sticks around just for the drama factor alone.
http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash

he wouldve looked far better were he modeling, perhaps, shorts instead of underpants in his i model my own collection photos. similar vibe, mightve actually accentuated the positive instead of what looks, from here, like a member, if you will, of the missing. i hope i make sense.

edited to add:
nearly missing. it’s something like a small cameo appearance.
Anonymous

I like some of Serena’s clothes a lot, but she will have to bust out a good bit to survive. Ms. Motswani seems fated to be either the annoying gnat that goes a surprising distance or soon gone.

You just know that judging panel was busting a gut not to snicker at Joshua before he got out the door. I hope he’s good enough that we don’t resent that some more interesting designer was axed for his reality show Personality Plus antics.
- margaret meyers
  
  I like the way even the camera man turned away when he started peeling. OMG,Josh’s taste level is going to be hard to find.
Max Wirestone

Perhaps, but sometimes the quiet girl wins. Leeanne?
Anonymous

Enough with these posts already. I am ready for TLounge!!!!!
margaret meyers

So, Joshua is designing a men’s wear line for gay male prostitutes? That vest/shirt thingy he tried on for us looked like it came from International Male’s more out-out-of-the-closet brother publication, International Rent Boy.
He is so on the make.
http://twitter.com/SophiaPehawkins C. Bazurto

I don’t like Cecilia’s satin jumpsuit. That sounds awful typed out, why would she ever think that’s a good idea?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QFW22QV426LUOEPGASPZJWJMDE MishaFoomin

I think Cecilia is more like Zulima maybe. I can imagine Cecilia wanting a walk-off.
Anonymous

Well, let’s see:
Cecilia – I’m a little confused. The casting panel seemed completely unenthusiastic. Her work is okay; I like but am not wowed by it. In the interview she seems quite confident in herself, to the point of obnoxiousness (though, she is right about the Couture challenge – they did all suck), but in the home visit she seems nice enough (and, I could listen to that accent all day). Not enough time in the video to be overconfident? Something not carrying over well in print? Cultural differences? I don’t know. As for comparisons, someone a while ago suggested Irina 2.0: personality-wise, that is seeming about right.

Joshua – Everything about that video looks like something from the “Road to the Runway” they did in Seasons 2 & 3, where Tim would be talking about the crazy people who show up to casting. Speaking of which: does anyone remember the guy in the S2 casting who had been “making space suits for chickens”? I have a recurring fear that the show is reaching the point where they’ll let him on. But back to Joshua: all of that aside, I don’t know what to say about his designs. I’m not even sure what they are.

Serena – I am mostly inclined to agree with the sweet, nice, boring assessment. But, I do remember all of those girls! I’m even not sure I’d agree with the inclusion of a couple of them. To me, Starr is more the first in a cruel PR tradition, which really took of in Season 5 and this season looks to be in force like never before: the tradition of casting people who are in no danger of winning – people who just don’t make what the show rewards and are cast to fail. Also, Emily was a bit more fiery, I think – Jennifer might be a more appropriate example.

Okay, that was way too long-winded of me.
Anonymous

Maybe I’m a little too obsessed with the show, but Alison was auf’ed for her Daisy Duck outfit. Alexandra flirted with Robert in season 1 and was auf’ed for her Missoni look-alike bikini, Starr is the lawyer who told Kevin to say nasty things to her face instead of behind her back. I don’t remember Emily. I can picture Janeane but can’t remember her designs.
Anonymous

Maybe I’m a little too obsessed with the show, but Alison was auf’ed for her Daisy Duck outfit. Alexandra flirted with Robert in season 1 and was auf’ed for her Missoni look-alike bikini, Starr is the lawyer who told Kevin to say nasty things to her face instead of behind her back. I don’t remember Emily. I can picture Janeane but can’t remember her designs.
Anonymous

You should see the article in the August Marie Claire about the PR auditions. One guy showed up with a shirt that had a “dry clean only” label in it. Showing stuff that he bought at a store!
Anonymous

that’s fine. Keep ‘em coming. The more designers they add to the season like this last couple sets, the better for chances my home girl from Minneapolis (the tiny, wonderful Danielle, who can sew, design, and tailor).
Anonymous

I like Cecilia’s clothes. They look like something I could wear and feel nice in. Probably not what the PR judges are looking for.
Anonymous

Cecelia: She has 4 parakeets that don’t have names??? I don’t like her for that alone. Meh on the clothes–I really agree with the judging panel that they are old fashioned. She also doesn’t know what the definition of “sheath dress” is.
Joshua McK: I do not mind that he took his shirt off at the casting session. I like his “put it in a blender” comment. He has a strength in doing menswear, so when that challenge comes up (as you know it will), he’ll do well, as long as he doesn’t use a lot of mesh for his men’s tops (no no no) which he seems to favor. And, the shirt unbuttoned halfway gives him a creepy late 70s Rock Band vibe which I hope he stays away from when designing for others, and tank tops are not flattering, sorry–but he likes to be comfortable so again another thing I hope he stays away from in his designs.. His clothes di have nice execution and he likes to get clothes from thrift stores and re-work them. I think he’ll go far.
Serena: I LIKE her! Remember, Leanne was comatose too and she won the whole thing. Most importantly, I like her clothes. I think we’ll have to see. Maybe she’ll bring some Rio Carnavale crazy into stuff. I won’t spoil the spoiler for anyone, but I (and anyone who watches her other videos) know what she makes her first challenge out of!
Anonymous

Cecelia: She has 4 parakeets that don’t have names??? I don’t like her for that alone. Meh on the clothes–I really agree with the judging panel that they are old fashioned. She also doesn’t know what the definition of “sheath dress” is.
Joshua McK: I do not mind that he took his shirt off at the casting session. I like his “put it in a blender” comment. He has a strength in doing menswear, so when that challenge comes up (as you know it will), he’ll do well, as long as he doesn’t use a lot of mesh for his men’s tops (no no no) which he seems to favor. And, the shirt unbuttoned halfway gives him a creepy late 70s Rock Band vibe which I hope he stays away from when designing for others, and tank tops are not flattering, sorry–but he likes to be comfortable so again another thing I hope he stays away from in his designs.. His clothes di have nice execution and he likes to get clothes from thrift stores and re-work them. I think he’ll go far.
Serena: I LIKE her! Remember, Leanne was comatose too and she won the whole thing. Most importantly, I like her clothes. I think we’ll have to see. Maybe she’ll bring some Rio Carnavale crazy into stuff. I won’t spoil the spoiler for anyone, but I (and anyone who watches her other videos) know what she makes her first challenge out of!
Anonymous

Aaaargh. Have they completely run out of design talent over there at Lifetime? Say what you will, at least Christian Siriano et al over at Bravo could run up a little something interesting. Not sure I can take much more of this. Bring on all stars, and bring me back Jay.
Anonymous

Why were my comments deleted? If you click on my profile, you can see my 2 recent comments on this post, but they’ve been removed here. There was nothing offensive in them.
- Anonymous
  
  They are there now.
  - Anonymous
    
    Thanks for letting me know! It looks like they are gone again.
Jenn B

Reading the MC article about the auditions was all I needed to read about Cecilia. They said she said she would do anything to anyone to win this competition, then stormed out of the room, swearing the whole time. Classy.
Anonymous

The only thing that stuck out for me is being influenced by Egon Schiele. Have you seen a lot of Egon Shiele?
Anonymous

Hopefully Joshua will fall early; I can’t stand watching him.
mc90

I remember ALL those girls, and Alison was better than that. Anyway . . . Did you mean “red herring”? I thought red shirts were Communists. Smooches, in any case. —Emmylou
- http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
  
  Clearly, you are not a sci-fi fan! Red is often used for Communists, but not “red shirts.” What you may be thinking of there (in the political/historical realm) is “brown shirts” which would be Nazis.
  
  Red shirts, however, are a pop culture reference. In the original Star Trek series, when the crew would go on an away mission, the would often have a crew member no one had ever seen or heard of before, who was wearing a red uniform. This person would have no full name, and would be killed in the course of the episode. After that, people started referring to them as red shirts, meaning someone who is going to be overall unimportant to the narrative for anything other than a quick death.
Lisa

I can’t wait till tomorrow night! AAAHHH!!!

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