Project Runway Winner Irina Shabayeva: "I Can't Believe I Won"
Credit: Courtesy of Lifetime
Designer Irina Shabayeva is a cut above the Project Runway rest.
The 27-year-old New York City based designer took home top honors on Thursday's sixth season finale of Runway, praised for her "cohesive" and "modern" Fashion Week collection.
Shabayeva, who beat out finalists Althea Harper and Carol Hannah Whitfield, both 24, for this season's title, was initially criticized for sending a collection of black and gray-colored items down the runway.
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At the conclusion of her 13-look runway show, however, Heidi Klum and fellow judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia changed their minds. "Your line was sleek, modern and cohesive and it told a story," Klum told Shabayeva.
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"I can't believe it!" the designer exclaimed after Klum announced her as the winner. "I'm definitely proud of myself," she said. "I think this deserves a pat on the back, because I did have some stiff competition."
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For her efforts, Shabayeva earns a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine, a trip to Paris and $100,000 to fund her own line.
Tell Us What You Think
83@melissa November 21, 2009 - 10:53pm: Say what you will about Irina, but how can you say that Sunny Fong was a "mean b****" who copied everyone else!? Sunny Fong was one of the nicest, most talented and gracious contestants I have ever seen on a reality show. He never copied anyone else and he certainly never acted like a b****. Get real. To the rest of you, get over it. Irina won. In that otherwise complete bomb of a lame season, someone had to be the "villain", so the producers edited her to play that part. At least she had skill. Everyone's clothes last season might have been boring, but hers was the best of a poor bunch. Carol Hannah did some great work, but her collection was incredibly disjointed, heavy-handed, and overworked. And anyone who has watched this show long enough should know by now that nine times out of ten (or five times out of six, Chloe Dao being the exception) separates and sportswear will win out over over-worked pretty dresses.
I just saw Irena's website and her new Spring line...yeeaah, no. Forever21 is on the come up better than Irena. What's with all the cutout butterfly stuff? It's like going back to '92 and shopping at Rave or Chameleon or Rainbow, but then asking for a million dollars for it. No thanks! And the modeling, make up accessories look extremely amature. I'll be honest and say I enjoyed her Bryant Park show, but I didn't watch this season because I didn't care to see the show in LA...so I have no clue what her previous looks look like. BUT, after looking at everything on her site, past collections and new, I see that she must have consulted heavily with someone, for Bryant Park or she's a one hit wonder, cause the rest of her stuff is crap.
I agree Irina was the best designer by far! Her final collection was amazing, and everything she made throughout the show was great! I do agree though - the butterfly collection she's selling right now isn't the best. And very overpriced!
I have just posted my congratulation letter to Irina ,but for some reason it has gone. So I would like to sent my message again and say :I am so happy Irina won. She is the most talanted and hardworking person I have ever seen . I completely understand her feelling. I must be extremely difficilt for her to win. Congratulation IRINA!
I am so happy Irina won. She is the most talanted and hardworking person I have ever seen. I complitly understand her feelling while she was working. Congratulation IRINA!
Carol Hannah was definately the best. However, I knew Irena would win because of all the online promos of her. One thing people have got to remember is that a designer must have a personality as well as talent. What Irena had none of, was personality. She was rude, selfish, and did NOT work well with anyone. A designer has got to work with many people throughout their career and for Irena, this will be impossible. Trust me, in a year she'll be gone from the scene. She won't be heard of after this, and if she is, it will be with contempt by people who attempted to work with her. While the PR judges most likely did not see Irena "behind the scenes", I am still confused as to how they could choose an off the wall "black" collection over more modern, trendy, wearable garments in Carol and Althea's collections. I believe that PR does these things to irk people. In this case, they did quite a good job of that. Most people would have chosen anyone BUT Irena as the winner. But it's TV for goodness sake...can we all say DRAMA??
I THOUGHT ALL THE LADIES FASHION WAS BEAUTYFULL. IRINA WAS THE BEST FROM DAY ONE, GOOD LUCK! CCB. GARDENA!
Has anyone seen Irena's website? enough with the D*** butterflies already, the collection goes on sale in a few days and who wants to buy butterfly stuff in the d*** winter? Seriously, I know the models need to be thin and match the collection but feed your model Irena she looks ill!
CAROL HANNAH SHOULD HAVE WON......THE JUDGES GOT IT WRONG!!
I'm happy that Irina won. I wanted her to win. She's got more interesting stuff coming from the heart and soul rather than just designing for the sake of it. Fashion is not just throwing clothes; its about a statement, filling or boosting one's soul and etc... Yes Carol Hannah had some interesting stuff. On the other hand, Althea had a few other interesting things. But as for that greay sweater I think that's when she copied the style from Irina. If you watched the show when she was sort of stuck -she got inspiration from what Irina had already designed. The funny thing with that Heidi and her crew let Althea get away with that. Irina wasn't hateful as some of you claim - instead you are so used to catty-lying people hence you're taking Althea's side who denied being inspired by Irina's design.
Irina shouldnt have one because she plagerized. That's right - her list of reason to love New York she put on the tees? Not hers (and she clearly stated it was). That came from New York Mag's annual reasons to love new york list.
TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE WHO IS HATING ON IRINA, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE ABOUT FASHION. HER STYLE OF CLOTHING IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY. I WOULD WEAR EACH ONE OF THOSE PIECES THAT WENT DOWN THE RUNWAY. SHE'S A VERY TALENTED LADY AND SHE'S ONE THAT KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS AND WHO SHE IS AND NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK HER MIND. IRINA YOU DESERVED IT.
Irian won get over it, people. You are all haters yourself. She was never mean to anybody. All she had - a big ego that did not come across well. However, her ego is based on true talent, which none of you could really understand. She has a gift and she will go far in her career as a designer. She makes high fashion, which not really many of common people could understand.
I am very happy that Irina won. She is a talanded designer, who understands her audience. And to all of you who is unhappy with her win - YOU JUST DONT GET FASHION)))))
I was hoping Carol Hannah would win as I think her designs are more wearable, really lovely. I do wish three the best; all are sooo talented.
completely agreed carol hannah should have won. how did they criticize irina's the most and then make her win? ... to me it seems like such a pity vote. now irina's dad will believe in her, but seriously i would love to wear carol hannah's clothes and work with her, carol hannah doesn't bash everyone and cause drama.. and also, irina's model was pretty sickening as well. what a perfect match.
carol Hannah should've won I can't belive Irena won she didn't deserve it those people don't know what they're doing. Irena's a mean b** who thinks everyone copies her while she's copying other people like sunny fong in canada.
Not so happy about Irina winning, I'm not sure how she one, everyone seems to have the same opinion that she definitely shouldn't have won and perhaps Carol Hannah should have...interesting
She's talented, I agree. But IMO, she's nowhere close to Carol Hannah and she's a self-centered b**** who thinks everybody copies her. I can't believe I sat through a whole season for this sh**, I'll pass when next they decide to air another season.
Throughout the show Irina did make alot of pretty and detailed clothes. Her personality was totally hateful though! I hated the way she said Althea copied her - she did not!! I liked Carol Hannah's collection the best. There was nothing to Irina's collection, very dark and they all looked alike.