I think Jack Mackenroth, the Project Runway contestant who had to bow out early this season due to illness, was robbed of the $10,000 fan favorite award on this week’s reunion show. And I got the chance to tell him in person this morning, when we met up at Cliche in Minneapolis. Jack – who was actually born in MN – is in town to judge DivaMN’s student design competition (he sees himself as more of a Michael than a Nina, fyi) and he’ll be back March 8 to show his own mini-collection at the big Club Diva AIDS fundraiser at International Market Square (tix still available).
As for the fan fave, Jack agreed that he deserved the sympathy vote, but says it’s out of sight, out of mind on TV and his exit happened too early to maintain the momentum. He’s actually good friends with the winner of the fan favorite prize and show prodigy, Christian. As arrogant as that "fierce" young designer is, Jack says Christian is talented enough to back it up and a lot of fun to be around. On the other hand, Chris, who got to come back when Jack exited, he didn’t have such nice things to say about…
I’ll have a full report of our shopping trip and more PR gossip in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Sunday, March 2.