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Project Runway Models Paid in Irony
Wednesday October 18, 2006


Barbara Nitke/Bravo Photo

As Season Three of Project Runway comes to its thrilling conclusion tonight, all eyes are on the final four participants. However, the four models who have been along for the ride have gotten substantially less exposure (and not just in the sense that they become invisible when they turn sideways) and would like something more than just great their 15 minutes of fame -- like money.

While one of the four models chosen by Michael Knight, Uli Herzner, Laura Bennett and Jeffrey Sebelia will walk away a spread in Elle magazine, Michael Knight's model, Milwaukee native, Clarissa Anderson, 21, says that glimmer of hope for that big break is just about the only thing the models were offered in return for their time on the show.

Anderson tells OnMilwaukee.com she doesn't regret doing the reality series, but the time commitment made it almost impossible to get other jobs and the girls weren't paid for their Project Runway participation. Anderson had recently moved to New York to model and was signed to an agency before responding to the open casting call for Project Runway.

"Just doing (Project Runway) and not being able to do other jobs while doing that was hard for me," said Anderson. "I had to beg my parents for money because I simply had no income at all. They say, it's good exposure and everyone's going to see you; just think of all the jobs you'll get. I haven't gotten many jobs because of it -- like , none."

According to the article, the models were compensated in calories -- the TV show kept the models "well-fed" for the up to 12 hours a day at Parsons School of Design.

When not being fitted for their outfits or in the Loreal Paris hair/make-up room, the models were kept together in a makeshift green room they called "Solitary Confinement" (hey, no one said they were geniuses), unable to book gigs, forced to socialize with their competition, and had their 100 lb. bodies jolted into a caloric stupor by a show that just happens to have a supermodel host who spends her free time making commercials for McDonalds. How's that for irony.

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PagePosted by Noelle Hancock at 5:55 pm ET     Permanent Link | 10 Comments


5:04 PM Anonymous Says:

To AlexinCA- people in the northeast have a different fashion sense and she is dressing like one of them.

I think it's creative and fun, and not overly glam/boring. That's Dull.

11:59 AM AlexInCa Says:

Jessica Simpson used to be cute (as far as dumb blonds go). Now she dresses like she's poor. Looking like a Goodwill store recipient on top of already having a lower IQ than a salad bar, can't spell good things for the future.

10:09 PM Pam Says:
After her split with Nick I am not so big a fan.. I do think she looks best with minimal makeup and jeans.NO fancy weird designer stuff....

4:19 PM QueenB Says:

Jessica simpson is a naturally beautiful girl....she doesn't need clothes to define her, but she need to do something with her look, what happened to the fun loving jess that would wear jeans and a t-shirt and look sexy. What made Jessica so popular was that she was a normal girl in hollywood.....you'd see her in nice jeans and tops and she looked fabulous..... she's now gone hollywood and gone all wrong. It seems she's trying to hard now to look glam and it's having the opposite effect. Go back to being you Jess! 4get hollywood..... you were doing just fine being you!

1:00 PM Monroe Says:

Why do people feel the need to nit pick and tear her apart, if she walked into a room everyones heads would turn.

12:06 PM ex-model Says:

what a complainer. how many other girls would kill for the chance to showcase themselves on such a highly rated show. paying your dues sucks but it is how the industry works.

she knew she wasn't getting paid when she signed up. reality shows are filmed on a very tight schedule over a very short period of time (which is why a lot of contestants are stressed out and start acting crazy). the entire ordeal probably lasted a month. if she can't last a month, she's not going to last

maybe she can't book jobs bc she's just a poor model. maybe bc she has a poor attitude. maybe bc she can't handle the standard patience-trying-monotony and 12 hr "solitary confinements" that models have to accept as part of being a live mannequin.

5:10 AM Anonymous Says:

FIRE THE STYLIST!!!!!!! FIRE THE STYLIST!!!!!!! FIRE THE STYLIST!!!!!!!

I used to LOVE the way Jessica dressed, now its become a joke. Every week it gets more and more confusing. Either its the ugly over the pants boots or long sleeves and way tooooo much black. Its not just the clothes, her makeup has gone down the drain! Her lips are so gross and shes wearing so much eyeliner now...

The girl needs some help. Her songs are getting worse, and so are her looks. She should take a break from the Hollywood thing, hand nick a white flag and admit defeat. Oh, and stear clear of her Dad.

1:34 AM TexasContessa Says:

As bad as I think it is that they were not compensated for their stint on the show, they knew that and signed up for it anyway...yes, they have gotten more exposure than what they might have in the end, but then, Project Runway hasn't always picked the best "bodies" for their shows. With all the broo ha-ha over eating disorders and models being too thin, I would think they would want to encourage their models to look slightly healthier than what the models appeared, but then my one voice won't change much, especially when you're dealing with $ signs as the bottom line, and people too afraid to risk their money by actually show casing their talents on the realistic female form rather than a 12 year old little boy figure...

9:14 PM Anonymous Says:

Does anyone know what happened to Jia Santos? She was the model who was injured in an accident. They said on the show that she recovered and is modeling again, but I don't believe it. I heard she was badly injured and would require reconstructive surgery. Poor thing. They really gave her the short shrift on the show and basically ignored what happened to her and wrote her out. Shows you how much they care.

8:57 PM Anonymous Says:

I totally believe this. Reality shows are always trying to take advantage of people. Shame on them!

Season 2 was the best season. Season 3 is second and Season 1 is last.

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