Change Is Good: Peach Carr’s Take on "Project Runway" Season 11

This new season of "Project Runway" follows a new format – one that took everyone by surprise! I do love the idea of shaking things up a little for Season 11. The team format is certainly beneficial for a designer who may have a weak design but remains "safe" because they are on the winning team; the downside to this is when a designer clearly has the winning look while on the losing team. A double-edged sword, to say the least. It does seem, so far, that many a weak design has been improved through team intervention. I also feel that relationships will form (good or bad) more quickly with team challenges. I would have flipped out a little, unless, of course, my teammates included my gurrl April and my buddy Mondo. During Season 8 we had a team challenge: Each team had to make a cohesive five-piece collection. I credit April and Mondo for our win, as they were the two designers who took the initiative to make sure there was continuity within our collection. I believe I would have done very well with this team format, as we had many talented and supportive designers on my season.

If I had to give some advice to the new crop of designers, it would be this:

1. Be yourself, not a character. Many designers feel that they will be remembered more if they act out for the cameras and fans. Not true.

2. Remember your strengths as a designer and draw from them when things get tough. It will serve you well.

3. Enjoy the journey, for it is an amazing blessing and gift you have been given.

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Often nice guys finish last, but I would rather have been on my journey than that of a few of my fellow designers. I didn't participate in designer-bashing and scheming, and although I didn't win, I would never have wanted to watch my season again while cringing at every episode. We have seen plenty of "nice guys" finish as winners ... and I am fortunate to have them as friends.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds. The challenges have been fun to watch each week, and if I had to choose one to repeat from past seasons, it would be another drag-queen challenge ... fun and outrageous!

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