Project Runway All Stars crowned Dmitry Sholokhov its fourth-season winner during Thursday night's finale broadcast of the Lifetime fashion design competition.
 
Dmitry from Belarus, who currently resides in New York and previously won Project Runway's tenth season, was chosen as the winner of the competition by host Alyssa Milano, mentor Zanna Roberts, judges Georgina Chapman and Isaac Mizrahi as well as guest judges Zac Posen and Mira Sorvino.

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Dmitry won with his mini collection entitled "The Art of Fashion" which he unveiled on the runway at New York's venue Diamond Horseshoe at the Paramount Hotel. The designer's eight-piece collection, which he created and executed in only four days, was inspired by the ageless, modern and cosmopolitan woman. He defeated runner-up Sonjia Williams and third-place finisher Helen Castillo.

In an exclusive interview with Reality TV World, Dmitry talked about his Project Runway All Stars experience and victory. Below is the concluding portion. Click here to read the first half.

Reality TV World: Sonjia had said she was more thirsty to win this all-stars competition than you because she never won Project Runway. Would you disagree with that?

Dmitry Sholokhov: (Laughs) I disagree with her just because, you know, it's almost like the more you get, the more you want. So I think I was as thirsty -- maybe even more thirsty -- than she was.

Reality TV World: Your pink dress was seen as both a highlight and flaw in your collection from the different judges. Why did you include that dress and, knowing what you know now, do you stand by that design or would you have changed it had you gotten the chance or more time?

Dmitry Sholokhov: Well, to tell you the truth, when you have less than five hours for a look, you don't have much time to think. Definitely, if I would have more time, I would probably re-work the dress a little bit because it was cohesive with the rest of the collection but it still had a different vibe as you mentioned, definitely. But yes, I still loved it.

Reality TV World: How much did Zanna help you throughout the competition and how would you compare her to how Tim Gunn had advised and mentored you during your season on Project Runway?

Dmitry Sholokhov: That's a great question. You know, with Zanna, she always tells you how it is and she gives you her opinion, but I always have my own opinion. I always listen, but if I disagree with her, then I disagree. For me, it's always a huge surprise when the designer changes the gameplan completely or changes a design completely after a critique.

I don't get it. You have your own opinion and your vision. Why would you change your design completely if someone just tells you, like, their opinion? So, for me, I don't understand it.

In terms of how different Zanna and Tim are, Tim approaches you because he used to be a teacher. So he approaches you in a more, kind of, delicate [way]. He's more delicate in terms of what he says. Zanna can be rushed a little bit and it's fine, but I think the difference between Tim Gunn and Zanna is that Tim Gunn is more academic. He takes an academic approach to it.

Reality TV World: Just out of curiosity, how much did you actually get to sleep in the four days you were designing your final collection?

Dmitry Sholokhov: Oh my goodness. (Laughs) I don't know! But in general, I think we did not sleep more than five hours. We'd get up at 5AM every day and then go to bed at midnight or 1AM. So, yeah, it was extremely challenging physically, emotionally and creatively, for sure.

Reality TV World: Helen thought she had the upperhand by designing different parts of her various looks all at once while you and Sonjia focused on executing one look at a time. Looking back, how would you describe your time management? Do you think you handled everything the best you possibly could given the timeframe?

Dmitry Sholokhov: I think everyone has a different approach and I have my approach. And again, it's not something that I plan. I do plan, of course, when you have such a short period of time. I do plan what I'm going to do, you know, now and in two hours -- because you have to have a schedule. But I think everybody works differently and there is no rule to it really.

Reality TV World: During deliberations, the judges had mentioned you have a very "cool, aloofness" to your designing while Sonjia is "real and approachable." Do you think that's detrimental to your career or do you feel personality and being personable is sort of irrelevant in your career?

Dmitry Sholokhov: I think everything we do is a reflection of ourselves, and I do agree with it. I'm trying to be more approachable, I guess. (Laughs) But there's nothing I can do about it. That's who I am and Sonjia is who she is. I think that's great because that's what makes us different, you know?

Reality TV World: Before you competed on All Stars, how was life after winning Project Runway? Would you say you had found success as a designer, and therefore, what made you want to compete on the All Stars edition?

Dmitry Sholokhov: Well, I had an amazing couple of years. So I had a collection and I showed a collection in Panama, I showed collections in Moscow, I had a collection for Lord & Taylor nationwide, and then I was just developing and building my brand... and then I had a great opportunity to give back.

Actually, I said "no" to All Stars a couple of times because I couldn't even think about going through the same experience again, because it's just insane. But then I was invited to judge auditions for Season 13, and when I [did that] and saw all the cameras and all the producers and people, everything kind of came back to me. And then I decided to do it.

Plus, it definitely helps your career. I think that Project Runway All Stars and Project Runway in general is such an important, you know, program and competition. It helps your career and helps give you recognition and give you a chance. I took the chance again because it came to me, so why not?

Reality TV World: What part of the prize package were you most excited about winning? And what's next for you? What's the next goal you have set for yourself?

Dmitry Sholokhov: One of the most exciting [prizes] is definitely QVC collection. That's a great opportunity to bring your product to millions and millions of homes in America. So I think that's amazing.

And, with that being said, I'd love to develop an ongoing relationship with QVC and develop a brand for QVC... And I'd love to do more television for sure. Just day by day, whatever comes my way, I'm open. We'll see. You never know! You can't plan really.

To read more from Dmitry's exclusive interview with Reality TV World, click here.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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