HGTV Design Star crowned its winner last night, with David Bromstad defeating Alice Fakier to win the first edition of the reality design competition show.
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"I am proud to say these wonderful words -- David, you are HGTV's Design Star," HGTV Design Star host Clive Pearse announced at the very end of the show's pre-taped finale and reunion show. As HGTV Design Star's winner, David, a 32-year-old artist and designer from Miami, will receive a contract to star in his own HGTV television show that will premiere in Spring 2007.
"This is the best day of my life, hands down," David said after the finale ended. "I'm exhilarated, I feel like I'm in a dream! This is just unreal! It is exactly what I hoped for and wanted, but at the same time I knew I would have a hard time winning if it meant that Alice would be eliminated. She was a formidable competitor and I have tremendous respect for her work. It's never easy to win at the expense of a friend."
"I'm happy for David because he is such a good designer," said Alice. "I said from the beginning that it would be fine if I lost this competition to someone who was exceptional. David is that person -- I'm honored to have worked with such a great talent."
Prior to revealing that home viewers had voted David as HGTV Design Star's winner, Clive had one more surprise for David and Alice -- as the show's two finalists, they will each receive a brand-new Mercury Mariner SUV. According to HGTV, home viewers cast more than 630,000 votes during the two and a half day voting period that followed last Sunday's Labor Day weekend broadcast of HGTV Design Star's penultimate episode.
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"I wish you both could win, we fell in love with both of you," HGTV president Judy Girard told the finalists just before David's victory was revealed.
Although David's own design show won't premiere until 2007, viewers won't have to wait that long to see more of him. Beginning Thursday, November 2 at 11PM ET/PT, HGTV will air Making of a Design Star, a four-episode follow-up series that will document David's behind-the-scenes journey from HGTV Design Star finalist to design show host.