Project Runway: Irina Shabayeva Talks Victory, Attitude and the Future
Project Runway
has wrapped up another season and named another winner, so it’s time for the obligatory check-up on her. Irina Shabayeva may not have been popular with audiences because of her attitude, but she certainly got the attention of the judges. On an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the designer discussed her experiences and plans, as well as the portrayal of her Mean-a Irina persona.
Determined and straightforward as ever, Irina explained the aura of this season of the show. “It’s a competition,” she said. “Everyone came to win and no one came with the thought, “I want to go home.”"
Irina talked about how editing made all the difference in how the designers were seen on the show. “There was tension, but perhaps with the editing it looked a little more snarky than it was in reality,” the Project Runway champ revealed.
“We were all business in the work room, but when we got back to the loft and had 20 minutes to unwind and chat with each other, we were really friendly. Also, we huddled backstage after the runway shows, but they never showed that, probably because it looked too friendly.”
Still, coming into the show and emerging in the final three really came as a surprise to her. “Honestly, in the beginning I probably wouldn’t have guessed that that would be the final three, but in the end it made sense,” Irina went on. “I thought maybe [Rodney] Epperson would make it a little further along than he did. I certainly thought he might be in the final three.”
Now that she’s done with the competition though, she’s resolute in making it big in the industry. It’s the usual Project Runway
winner dream anyway, but it’s what Irina wants.
“I’m definitely going to focus on continuing to build my line — I want to be out there in the stores, hopefully Saks and Bergdorf’s, even, with the right backing, to have my own shop in the city.”
Also watch any Project Runway Episode that you might have missed.
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