But what about Andraé?

New York Magazine's look at Bravo reality stars from past seasons is getting attention over the plight of Jay McCarroll, the first winner of Project Runway. McCarroll reports that he's now homeless, sleeping either at his work space or on friends couches as he tries to figure out how to turn his Project Runway notoriety into financial success.

The quotable and dynamic McCarroll isn't the only gay former contestant the article checks on, however, and it seems a shame those stories aren't being highlighted.

Andraé Gonzalo mixes teaching with the occasional custom dress while also hosting events as a fondly-remembered reality TV star. He talks about having to return to his job waiting tables as his season of Project Runway was airing (please tell me it was at Red Lobster!), resulting in moments when his customers would ask to take a photo with him as he was serving them food.

Nick Verreos was able to expand his clothing label, Nikolaki in addition to creating a cocktail and prom dress line for Windsor and taking on the occasional red carpet dress, like the one he created for Brenda Strong while his Project Runway season is still running. He also makes the occasional TV appearance, commenting on style and fashion. Verreos has a golden quote when he says:

“In the supermarket, crossing the street, at a restaurant, it’s, Whatareyoudoiiiiiiiiiing? Whatareyoudoiiiiiiiiiiing?” he says. “And I know it comes from a wonderful place, but it feels like, ‘Oh, poor you. Are you working?’ To this day, I still rattle off a résumé. And then I realized: Nick, they’re not judging you. They just want to know, ‘Where can I buy your stuff? You have to be doing fabulous stuff, because — you’re fabulous!’”

After a regrettable appearance on Battle of the Network Reality Stars and passing on a role in Emily's Reasons Why Not (a romantic comedy which, you may remember, was canceled after one episode), Austin Scarlett is now the creative director for Kenneth Pool bridal lines.

Santino Rice gets plenty of attention as a former reality star, with stories about getting recognized on the street and in clubs. He ways his income has quadrupled since appearing on Project Runway even without having his own workspace or line, getting paid for personal appearances and making couture dresses. He continues to show a flair for quotable catty comments, saying that Runway judge Michael Kors "has made an excellent business for himself appropriating everything Halston already did." and of his former Runway competitor, "It’s lucky that I turn things down so that Nick has stuff to do."

Overall, the article is a must-read if you're interested in getting a peek into Bravo's talent-based reality programs. I find Tom Colicchio's quote that, "For the first two seasons, you could tell the producers were like, This isn’t a cooking show, it’s a reality show," to reveal quite a bit about Top Chef (and my disappointment in its second season). I also found it interesting to learn that Top Chef contestants Harold Dieterle and Marcel Vigernon had very different personalities in their auditions than on the show.

Bravo head Lauren Zalaznick comments that it's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy that defines the network in her mind: "We had to define what pop culture meant on Bravo. And what pop culture, as defined by us, has come to mean is five affinity groups: fashion, food, beauty, design, and pop. It’s not coincidental that the five guys in Queer Eye each represented one of those things."

Still, I am a bit disappointed that, after looking at how McCarroll struggled to turn Project Runway into a successful business in fashion, the article didn't stop to talk with either Chloe Dao or Jeffrey Sebelia (who, since winning, has broken up with his girlfriend!). After all, if part of the problem with McCarroll was his lack of business experience, how was the prize used by the season two and three winners, who did have the knowlege McCarroll lacked?