by Gina Scarpa

For a minute there (okay, maybe more than a minute), it looked like Carol Hannah Whitfield wasn’t going to make the finale of Project Runway last month.   After making it to the final three, and earning a spot in the final runway show at Bryant Park, she became extremely ill.  Thankfully, after a trip to the doctor, she recovered and was able to make it to New York City to present her work to the judges.  Carol Hannah ended up finishing third in the competition, but there is no doubt that she was a fan favorite this season.  Today, she spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about her experiences on the show.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Have you watched past seasons of Project Runway? What made you decide to try out this year?
A. Carol Hannah: I've been a big fan of the show for a while!  My sister, my best friend, and I lived together through college and had Project Runway parties each week. I finally tried out when I got tired of saying, "I could do that!" every time I watched the show.  Jillian Lewis (from season four) came to my first show in Charleston, and she was so encouraging that I decided it was time to go for it.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You spoke about not having as much experience as some of the other designers, yet you were extremely successful this season. Were you at all intimidated going in?
A. Carol Hannah: I wasn't really intimidated going into the show.  This surprises me now, since I can see that I was a bit of an underdog in terms of training and experience.  I just wanted to show people what I can do and have some fun along the way.  Plus, I feel that not having formal training can help you in a lot of ways.  I learned by doing, which means that I did what made sense to me, not what someone told me to, which tends to result in new ideas.  I also had quite a few years of dressing normal people under my belt, which gives me a different perspective.  I think about design more from the consumers point of view, and I think my business and marketing background doesn't hurt in that respect.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's the best piece of advice that Tim Gunn gave you this season?
A. Carol Hannah: Not to over-think things. I tend to do this at times.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Which challenge do you feel really showcased what you are able to do as a designer?
A. Carol Hannah: I'd say the Bob Mackie challenge and the companion piece challenge.... gowns and dresses!  It was fun to have to make some things out of my regular zone too.  I loved the paper challenge and don't think I've ever made anything as hot as the movie challenge.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You seemed very close with some of the other designers on the show. Who did you form strong bonds and friendships with?
A. Carol Hannah: Logan and Epperson and I just opened a studio together in the city!  They are both such real, genuine people and we bonded quickly on the show because of that. Mitchell and I connected very early on as well, though the viewers didn't really get to see that.  Althea and Malvin and I have been living together in Brooklyn since March.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Tim appeared concerned that you might not make it to NY for that final challenge. Were you at all worried and how quickly did you recover before the final runway show?
A. Carol Hannah: I was very worried, and so were the producers. They sent a production assistant to my house on Long Island to take care of me and haul me off to the doctor the first day.  Once I made it into the city, I just tried not to think about it and to put on a happy face.  I felt horrible, but I didn't want anyone to know how badly because I was afraid they would send me home. It took about a month to feel completely back to normal and to regain the weight I lost (seven pounds in a week!).  Even watching that again was rough.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How much time and effort went into creating that final collection?
A. Carol Hannah: Pretty much every minute I wasn't sleeping for three months! I didn't really do anything else during that time. It was a little obsessive!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Were you surprised that you were the first one eliminated after the runway show?
A. Carol Hannah: Well, at the time, no.  I didn't really expect to win because I knew they were looking more for sportswear rather than gowns and dresses.  I think there is always a push and pull between these two categories in fashion.  It's interesting that there was such a response from the fans and that the majority thought I should win, but I think it's because the average consumer can relate to me and my work.  I learned fashion by dressing real women, not models.  I barely worked with models until Project Runway!  I think that comes through in my work.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was the biggest lesson you learned on Project Runway?
A. Carol Hannah: Stay true to yourself... as both a designer and a person.  There will always be people who love you and people who hate you, but at the end of the day you can't let go of what makes you "you."

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's next for you?
A. Carol Hannah: Everything! This is such an exciting time! I started wholesaling a few months ago and am expanding into more stores for the spring (see www.carol-hannah.com for current locations), as well as selling online. I just opened a studio in Manhattan with Logan and Epperson, which serves multiple purposes - workspace, showroom, shopping space, fittings, trunk shows, etc. It's a great way for us to work together and motivate each other on a daily basis. We're planning a big holiday opening party for shopping and meet and greet in mid-December. I'm also launching a bridal line in March, which I am the most excited about. I've been doing bridal for years...custom gowns, dressing wedding parties, working as a bridal stylist in high end salons. I have such a love for the bridal industry, and I can't wait to get these gowns out there! In non-fashion news, I'm going to be fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through a marathon I'm running in April. I decided it is time to redirect some of this attention to do some good!



(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

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