Project Runway Roundup Part One: Jerell Auf’ed, Loved His Dresses, Feels “Blessed”

By Julie Zied
Fancast.com

Wednesday night Jerell Scott, the emotional 28-year-old Los Angeles transplant was divorced from Project Runway after a bridal challenge that didn’t exactly leave the judges hearing wedding bells. The fact that he’d won more challenges than any other designer this season apparently didn’t mean diddly in the end. But while the loss was a bit shocking, Jerell himself is still shining.

Was watching last night excruciating or was it ok?

Jerrell: Well, it wasn’t excruciating at all. It was good. It was fine. I did tear up a little bit with the whole thing with my father cause I mean, I love him so much and to be able to see it and all that…but I’m fine. I’m good.

Well how about this whole time as you’ve been watching as the show has been going on? Has it been tough to see yourself on TV or are you finding it funny at times?

Jerrell: The editing was amazing. I mean seriously, they did a really good job at editing it. I’m so pleased. I think they’ve really shown the full range of my personality. And you know..like when you are going into a reality TV show and then you’re not sure if they’re going to make you come across as this one-dimensional character or something, but they have been amazing. I could not ask for better editing.

Is there anybody who you think appeared one-dimensional or appeared differently on screen than they actually were in person on the show?

Jerell: Not from my experience. I think that’s a question for the individual persons. I’m not able to know the full range of someone’s personality. I know the full range of my personality and I think that definitely comes across. I like to play a lot. I’m very helpful and I’m kinda light-hearted. I think that all kinda came across.

Well speaking of personalities…tell me about the Kenley situation. She’s polarizing, and you can feel how contentious her relationships with everyone were. Last week you withheld your tulle because you didn’t want to help her out. Then this week it looked like all was forgiven.

Jerell: Well you know to see her on the first part of it, like when we went away to work on our collections, we were all exhausted and tired. I don’t know if it really comes across how physical or how demanding the process really is…but it’s tough. None of us really work like that. So I think that some kind of lashing out…different people handle stress in different ways. For me, as far as the whole tulle thing, it is a competition. It was down to the wire.

So do think because you guys had all that time apart she came to her senses? The apology seemed kind of half-assed…

Jerell: Well what probably happened is she had an opportunity to kinda step away. Whether her apology was half-assed or not, we were all more than happy to accept it and just take it. Because it’s just so much easier to work in an environment that’s not all stress and drama.

OK, back to you! You mentioned your process was all about letting the fabric speak to you and not necessarily planning ahead of time. Do you think that hurt you in the competition, or might it have helped?

Jerell: I don’t know if I can say it hurt or helped. What I can say is that it’s my process. trust myself and I trust my work. As far as what the judges thought, I really love my wedding dress. So for me going up and announcing something I was confident about or something I felt was a true representation of me, made it easier to do it. A lot of the people who got eliminated felt they were changing who they were to please the judges. I felt it was really true to who I am. As long as you’re happy with your work…and I am. I’m a winner!!

You won more challenges than anyone else this season.

Jerell: I think that’s so cool and I’m really happy about that. I knew just going into it — of course I want to win the $100, 000 and the Saturn, although honestly I need a little more leg room because I’m a big guy — that the real prize is having the opportunity to show the world what it is that you do. I’ve had some opportunities. I got to do the show, all 12 initial episodes and show my collection. And you know, anyone with access to the internet has seen it by now.

The audience is meant to believe that you guys don’t get to show at Bryant Park at all, but in fact you and Suede got to in order to throw off speculation about the final three. So what was that experience like?

Jerell: It was amazing! It was so…like for designers that is the height of it, you know? To actually have that experience…and yeah… my mom and dad and my sister were there. They’d never been to New York, so they all came out to check it out. It was amazing. Even though I wasn’t in the top three, it was truly a dream come true. I love my collection and think it really spoke to who I am.

The other night you introduced your “love interest,” but didn’t say boyfriend, significant other, or anything. So, is he your boyfriend? Undefined? What’s going on?

Jerell: He is my boyfriend now. At that time…well we’ve been dating for 2 years. But he works a lot! He’s part of this advertising agency. So he was traveling a lot, but now they’re restructuring, so he’s not working nearly as much so there’s more time for us to actually be together. So, yeah we actually made it official and I love him. He’s an amazingly supportive person. I can’t really walk down the street now without lots of people stopping me, and he’s fine with it. He’s so chill and just a beautiful person and he inspires me.

Congratulations!

Jerell: Life is just amazing. It would have been a lot better if I had a Saturn! But honestly I feel so blessed.

Stay tuned for part two of the Jerell interview next week. In the meantime, take a look at everyone’s final collections here.