Project Runway 2 – Is Project Runway A Knock-Off? Plus, More Designer and Model Info

First, the bad news!

According to the Chicago Tribune, writer Joel Lamontagne has sued the producers and sponsors of Project Runway, alleging the reality show is based on a rejected script he wrote two years ago. Court documents have Lamontagne claiming he wrote a script titled “America’s Fashion Designer Search,” which he submitted to producer Tony Yates at Project Greenlight Productions in 2003. Supposedly he was told the company was too busy to proceed at that time.

When Project Runway started airing on Bravo last December, Lamontagne noticed numerous similarities between the show and his script, which he had registered with the Writers Guild of America in January 2003. According to the suit, Lamontagne is seeking damages “well into the tens of millions of dollars.”

Now, the good news!

Bravo has finally posted the official biographies of this season’s 16 designers, along with a brief blurb regarding each of the models. I must admit, these biographies are much more complete than what I was able to dig up for my last article, so you may want to check them out. That said, I think I would be remiss if I didn’t at least write a bit about the designers where I turned up little or nothing. On that note, let me introduce:

Emmett McCarthy, 42, NYC – Emmett was born in North Haven, Connecticut. His talents were discovered at the early age of six! After graduating from Parsons, Emmett moved to London, then Paris, and worked for designers while cultivating his taste for European style, color, and silhouettes. He returned to New York City and designed for many prestigious labels. Emmett is currently constructing his own boutique, EMC2, and is in the process of creating a small collection of women’s coordinated sportswear and dresses for the holidays. His website and boutique will both be launching this month.

Raymondo Baltazer-Flores, 24, LA – Born in Morelos, Mexico, Raymondo is a graduate of Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. He is the founder of “Young Balls,” a line of “leading edge” youthwear, and is currently putting the finishing touches on his “Young Balls 2” collection.

Kirsten Ehrig, 37, LA – Kirsten hails from the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts, and attended the University of Southern California, graduating with a BA in Art History and French. Kirsten spent several years modeling in Paris before earning her law degree. Many of her clients are up-and-coming designers. She is the founder of a line of women’s swimwear called “O Maillots de Bains.” Her designs have been featured in many national magazines.

Guadalupe Vidal, 29 LA – Guadalupe earned her degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 2001. “She believes the language of fashion is about making a statement where the wearer is the subject, the silhouette the noun, the details the adjective, and the fabric flow, the verb.” Plain Lucid is a label that was created in response to Guadalupe’s vivid dreams. Her designs are described as “lush, feminine, trippy, and otherworldly.”

Daniel Vosovic, 24, NY – Daniel is a recent graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, and has become a committed globetrotter while trying find his place in the fashion world. When not designing, he has received professional status as a dance instructor/choreographer, and has been a competitive national gymnast for 12 years.

John Wade, 24, LA – A California native, John received his bachelor’s degree in fashion at California State University, Northridge. While in college, John took specific interest in costume design, which led him to designing costumes for local independent films. John has designed commissioned custom pieces as well as styled clients for film and television. With the help of Project Runway, he may find out if his career will err toward costume or couture.

There you have it! This completes my unofficial list of the designers and their biographies for Project Runway 2. Thank you, Bravo! Now I’ll move on to the models. The Bravo Project Runway 2 website has included pictures of these girls, so you may want to check them out. Their ages range from 18 to 27, and their looks run the gamut from sultry and sexy to plain and dull. Below is the information Bravo provided, along with my first impressions.

• Allison McAtee – 25 – Erie, PA - NY Models – A gorgeous blonde, like at first sight!
• Alyssa Daugherty – 21 – Pittsburg, PA - NY Models - Brown haired, wholesome, another favorite!
• Cara Roberts – 24, Houston TX – Elite – A striking brunette!
• Claudia – 22, Germany – Karin – A wild blonde, our new Morgan?
• Danyelle – 22, Baltimore, MD – Elite – Beautiful skin; she reminds me of Bre.
• Eden – 18 – Major – I see a black Lluvy from last year’s Top Model. Very nice!
• Eliza – 18 – Fusion – This blonde has many looks, some I love, and some I don’t.
• Grace – 27 – San Diego, CA – NY Models – A sharp-faced, striking redhead. Not a favorite.
• Heather Brown – 20 – Major – A pretty brunette; I’m on the fence about her.
• Lesley Ann – 22 – Major – Another blonde; heart-shaped face, not a favorite.
• Maria Lucia – 20 – Major – This girl has many great looks and may be someone to watch!
• Melissa Braiser, 21, NY, NY – Major – This brown haired gal’s pictures are a bit athletic for my taste.
• Rachael Hartzog – 19 – A short-haired blonde. I wonder of any of her pictures did her justice.
• Rebecca Holliday – 22 – Savannah, GA – NY Models – A brown-haired gal with a hard edge.
• Shannon Fluet – 24 – Boston, MA – Click – She looks to be a redhead… no, a blonde… no, a brunette!
• Tarah – 18 – North Carolina – Karin – In one of her poses I saw a young Tyra, without the red hair! A very pretty girl!

This ends my introduction of the designers and the models for Project Runway 2. Please join me for the premiere episode on Bravo, December 7, which, according to my DVR, begins at 10 with a party hosted by Heidi Klum for this year’s contestants. The second episode follows at 11, which will air the designers’ first challenge. From all I have learned about the designers, the creativity this season should be limitless. Of course, I will be here to recap all that goes on, as well as give my not only worthy, but sometime worthless, opinions. Either way, I promise it will be fun.

Sandy McFarland can be reached with questions or comments at sadygal@yahoo.com.

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