Jeffrey -- The Winner -- Speaks

October 19, 2006

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Not only was Jeffrey not booted from competition, he won the whole damn thing! He was at the Bravo offices again yesterday and I forced him to sit down at my desk for a face-to-face interview. What could be a better prize for winning Project Runway!?

SO, WHAT WAS IT LIKE AFTER YOU FOUND OUT YOU WON?
This is the worst question to ask. I mean, you were there that day! I was exhausted and in shock! So many thoughts went through my head and all I could think was, "What does this mean? Does this mean that I am the next great American designer?!" My experience tells me no, nothing is in the bag. It means I worked hard and did some smart things and won a contest. And now, hopefully because of the nature of the contest I can fuel my business with this. I don't take anything for granted. I am hoping for a higher standard of living for my family and a great career.

WHEN YOU WERE STANDING THERE WITH ULI, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING TO WIN?
Honestly, it was easier for me to grasp the idea of Uli winning because there was nothing attached to it for me. I am fine thinking, "Oh, this is going to be so great for Uli!" But I have a hard time stepping outside myself and thinking about what's great for me. My opinion of the finale shows was that it went how I thought. I sometimes don't get the judging, but to see Michael go first for the reasons he did made sense, and then Laura and then I thought from the moment I got there that it would be between Uli and I. I don't pretend to know what the judges are thinking. If you show up and be in the moment and not have expectations you're not prepared. The moment got big and exciting and i was like, "Wow, now what do I do?"

PEOPLE POSTING ONLINE SEEM TO HAVE TURNED ON LAURA FOR RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR WORK. DO YOU THINK THAT'S FAIR OF THEM? DO YOU THINK IF YOU WERE IN THE SAME SITUATION AND HAD CONCERNS ABOUT HER WORK THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE RAISED THEM?
I would not have raised them. It reminds me of the Keith incident. Keith came to me when he claimed to have found the books and tried to involve me in that whole web and though they're different -- I just didn't want to be involved in his drama or anybody elses. I didn't want that to be part of my experience. With Laura, I wanted to celebrate being at Fashion Week. What I've learned about myself especially through being sober is that my head loves to lie to me, and that I can make up a myriad of realities in any given moment. They say in Buddhism, "Tame the monkey's mind," which means thoughts will spring up and will eventually die. Not every thought has to be considered real -- and they're not all real. They're only real if you start acting on them. If I had had the thought in my head I would imagine the conversation would be, "Look at all that beading, Laura's mom lived with her for two months while she was preparing her collection and she also taught her how to sew -- I bet she had help with that!" And then I would think, "Who f**ing cares, why are you concerned about what laura is doing? Get focused on yourself." I wouldn't want to draw that into my life experience.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HER NOW?
I can't imagine calling Laura and saying "Hi" anytime soon, but I don't have any hard feelings toward her. There's a part of me that is sad for someone who puts themselves through that much turmoil. She spent a lot of her waking hours thinking of me and things that were out of her control. And for me, part of my philosophy is do I want to cause myself pain obsessing about things that have nothing to do with me.

FOR YOU, WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT WINNING PROJECT RUNWAY?
Again, the possible opportunities. I could crash the car and spend the money! (Laughs) The opportunities.

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