Christian Siriano Wins Project Runway!
Perhaps he said it best himself, looking directly into the camera and asking, “Hello, did you have a doubt?”
Christian Siriano, this season’s Project Runway favorite — and, at 22, the youngest winner ever! — took home the top prize in the show’s finale Wednesday night.
“I don’t believe it yet,” Siriano told PEOPLE at the TRESemme Finale Party in New York City, where guests watched the show in the Tribeca Grand hotel screening room. “I’m so excited. It’s fabulous. I have no words!” (He did, however, have text messages — more than 50 shortly after the finale concluded.)
“I did, I cried on the runway,” he admitted after watching his emotional moment in front of the judges. “I was scared! I thought I should win — I thought I deserved to win, but I really didn’t know. Rami and Jillian were so good.”
In fact, all three designers heard rousing applause from the screening room audience, which included their season 4 costars Chris March, Sweet P, Ricky Lizalde and Jack Mackenroth.
And for the runners-up, it was also well-deserved. Jillian Lewis tells PEOPLE she’s officially started her own company, Jillian Lewis Inc., and she’s meeting with buyers to sell a new line. “All of us did such different things, it’s like comparing a shoe designer a hat designer and a bag designer,” she says. “But when [Christian’s] story played out I thought he really has a strong vision and I understand why he won.”
Meanwhile, Rami Kashou may have a new celebrity client in Heidi Klum, who expressed an interest in wearing some of his creations. “She already pulled some of my clothes for fittings,” he says. “So that’s great. Anybody would want to dress Heidi!”
The Project Runway party wouldn’t be complete without show mentor Tim Gunn, who doled out warm hugs to the designers and addressed the audience before the show. “To Christian, Jillian and Rami,” he said, “it is a phenomenal race and all of you are winners. I’m thrilled and proud of each of you.”
As for the judges’ decision, Gunn “celebrates” the ruling but admits, “It was a tremendously difficult decision.” And despite some early reservations about Christian’s collection, Tim tells PEOPLE, “When I saw the runway [show] my concerns evaporated. I thought, this is fabulous.”
Tags: Project Runway
March 6th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Should have known better than to get on gossip sites before watching my Tivo’d episode of the finale… $%@#!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:16 am
you might want to put “spoilers ahead” or something because you just ruined it for some people who had to tivo it and haven’t watched it yet.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:23 am
you just ruined it…thanks…could have put spoiler alert!!!!!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Yes, this should have been titled “SPOILER AHEAD”! PISSED!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:46 am
It’s all OVER the internet today – you won’t be able to go anywhere without seeing it.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Um, if you guys haven’t seen the finale – then you shouldn’t be online. Every single website (including CNN) has announced the winner. it’s not Joselyn’s fault!!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:53 am
It’s not technically a spoiler if the episode has already aired. relax peeps
March 6th, 2008 at 9:08 am
You guys need to stay off the internet if you don’t want to be spoiled. that’s just plain stuuupid
March 6th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Well I had been on the internet all day and had yet to see it…everyone had spoiler and a link to go to it. Thought this site would be the same!!
March 6th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Gah! Could’ve put a warning. I get that it’s all over the internet, but most didn’t put the fucking results in the title!
March 6th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Amazing how worked up some people can get over a damn t.v. show
March 6th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
DAMMIT!!!! I haven’t watched it yet!!! I had a feeling it was going to be him but COME ON – SPOILER ALERT next time please!
March 6th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Seriously?? I hadn’t seen this yet!!!! And I went to the AOL homepage before this, and didn’t see it there…
Thanks a whole lot…Really looking forward to watching my DVR’d episode tonight now…..
Awesome….
March 9th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
you guys are jerks. you parents didn’t raise you
very well.
May 14th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I have a crush on him. Is that messed up?