Mar 17, 2008
Redding
Sam Ruggiero struts her way to Project Runway finale
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by Rachel Kirkpatrick
rkirkpatrick@thereddingpilot.com
Throughout this season of the hit Bravo TV series “Project Runway,” Reddingite Samantha Ruggiero modeled outfits created by designers before a panel of judges and viewers at home.
Last week, however, her experience on the show culminated in a dream come true for those looking to make it big in the fashion world: A chance to be in the season finale show at Bryant Park during the famed New York Fashion Week.
Sam, 19, a Joel Barlow High School grad, was cast as a model for the show, whose episodes were filmed last June.
Hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, the show features 15 designers who compete to be able to show a line of clothing at Fashion Week. Designers compete in a series of challenges, creating outfits which are showcased by the models before a panel of judges who include noted fashion designer Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, a fashion director at Elle magazine, and Ms. Klum.
“This was the biggest show I’ve ever done, and the runway was so long,” Sam said last week. “I just tried not to think about it. If I had thought about all those eyes on me, I probably would have tripped!”
After each episode the winning designer can swap models if they choose. Sam started the show with designer Steven, who was eventually voted off, and finished the show with designer Rami, known for his Greecian-style draping technique. The winning designer gets to feature his or her model and creation on a spread in Elle magazine. Christian, an up and coming 21-year-old designer, won the prize, and Rami came in second place.“We watched it every week, we TiVo’d it; it was extremely exciting for us,” Sam’s mother, Jean Ruggiero said. “We’re sorry it’s over.”
Family and friends, including Sam, gathered for a small party to watch the finale, which was filmed on Feb. 8. That day, Sam and the other models had to be at Bryant Park by 4:45 a.m. to start hair and makeup for the 9 a.m. fashion show. As if the nerves were not enough, Sam said she had to wear shoes that were two sizes too big on the runway.
“We did put those Dr. Scholl’s pads in the shoes to try to make them fit,” she said. “So that was the most stressful time.”
After the fashion show, the models and designers had to immediately return to Parsons The New School of Design, where the series is filmed, for the final judging. Filming finally wrapped at 9:30 p.m.
“So it was all done in one day,” Sam said. “I was so tired.” She and a few models, she said, went to get massages afterwards.
Though the filming of the finale took place weeks prior, Ms. Ruggiero said Sam never let on as to who the winner was.
“We were so disappointed, but whatever the outcome, it was a still a wonderful experience for her,” Ms. Ruggiero said.
Sam said she was “fortunate” to get to work with Rami.
“He’s an awesome designer, and he’s an amazing person,” she said. “And he’s so down to earth, too, I met him up close and person, face to face, but from watching him on television he comes off just the same as he did in person, very genuine.”
One of her favorite challenges, she said, was the candy challenge. Designers visited the Hershey’s flagship store in Times Square and had to make an outfit out of materials found there.
Rami’s pleated, futuristic cocktail dress, the skirt of which was fashioned out of candy wrappers, won over all. Sam said she had to be sewn into the dress.
“I couldn’t sit down all day though, so that was rough!” she said. “Other than that, it was such a cute dress, the detail was amazing.”
Though filming was “brutal,” she said, the exposure seems to have paid off. Since the show aired, a casting agent from Burberry contacted her and, she said, people have been contacting her through BravoTV.com and MySpace. She is currently interviewing with top modeling agencies in New York City.
“I didn’t mind losing, because second runnerup and making it to Bryant Park was just like winning,” she said.
Sam plans to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
“We’re just so proud of her, and she’s just grown; this whole experience has matured her,” Ms. Ruggiero said. “We’re excited to see what will happen and where she’ll ultimately end up.”
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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