Interview with Carson Kressley

AE: How do you keep a show like this fresh? Again, making people feel better about themselves is a great thing, but doesn't it run the risk of becoming repetitive?
CK: I was worried about that too when we had the initial talk about the concept of the show, but one thing that separates this from most makeover shows is that there's so much heart to it. And there's a myriad of body issues out there, people thinking their too whatever, so I think there's an endless supply of people with unique concerns.

There's a lot of ways to provide the viewers with great takeaway information for how to dress for a zillion body types. And each woman has a different story. That's the most important thing. It's not just about "This skirt will look cute on you. Put it on." It's about, "Why do you feel this way and how can we help you?" Each woman has a very unique story and I think that resonates with our audience, especially on Lifetime.

AE: I'm curious if you ever envisioned becoming this incredibly famous person or did Queer Eye completely catch you by surprise?
CK: I was always a little bit of a dreamer. Maybe some of that comes from being gay, but I think some of it's just a personality trait you're born with. I always wanted to design clothes, or decorate houses, or just be fabulous, but I didn't expect it to come in the form of fame, and certainly didn't expect to have a TV show. I never even imagined that. Queer Eye was just an amazing, happy accident. I guess it's like that old adage where preparation met luck and it all worked out and was just really good karma.

AE: What's the worst and best things about being famous?
CK: I guess the best thing is that you have the ability to impact people's lives in a positive way. When you're a celebrity, it's silly and it makes no sense to me, but people tend to listen to you more. If you have a cause or you want to draw attention to something that's really important, you can.

Before, when I was growing up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, I was really shy and I kind of not proud of who I was, and it was just like "Hey, there's the queer dude." But now, after the show, it's like "Hey! There's the queer dude!" It's a phony reason for being accepted, just because you're on TV, but it allows people to get to know you and what you stand for, and it helped me raise money for an amazing scholarship that I do for gay kids and kids who embrace diversity in their schools in my hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

It allowed me to write a kid's book that says being different is okay and don't worry about it. As a kid, I was filled with grief and worry and despair because I had this big dark dirty secret and I thought nothing was ever going to be okay. Then I realized that it was, and now I get to spread that message and that's the best thing about being famous.

And the worst thing is that I can't meet guys on Manhunt anymore. Well, I guess I can... No. The worst thing I guess is there's a certain preciousness to privacy, and just having that anonymity to go to the grocery store and look a mess, and just go get your paper on a Sunday morning. But that's a small price to pay for all the great things, and that's what my job is now. With every job there are pros and cons, but I'm happy to take them. I usually get a better table at a restaurant.

AE: Where do you see yourself in five years?
CK: Oh, I have no idea. I've never been able to work a five-year plan. I don't even know what I'm doing next week! I guess I'd like to continue to work in television. I know it's a very fickle medium, so every time, after Queer Eye, I'm always delighted that I'm still working, so that's probably number one. And I guess I'm reaching that point in my life where I'm approaching the big four-oh and I'd like to be settled down and living in the country with a bunch of horses, taking things a little slower, but who know?

AE: Do you follow politics closely?
CK: I do.

AE: Which candidates are you a fan of?
CK: I really feel like the only presidential candidate that's supported our community and our issues and addressed them head on is Hillary Clinton. She's definitely my choice at this point, but certainly, we have a long way to go before we know what our choices will be. And I would never say vote for this person, because I think it's incredibly personal. It’s not just about the gay issues, it's about a lot of issues.

Again, being gay is just one aspect of who we are. There are so many other things. We're brothers and sisters and kids, and we all have different constituency concerns. We just have to wait and see what our choices are, but for me, I'm a Hillary fan.

AE: What do you make of Governor Huckabee's recent comments equating
homosexuality with bestiality?
CK: [laughs] I think it's really funny, first of all, but it illustrates ignorance, and that's really sad. Aside from wanting to make a joke about it, and wanting to laugh about it, when it all comes down to it, it's an incredibly sad and ignorant thing to say. And he's human. He makes mistakes.

I'm not going to bash the guy for saying something stupid. We all say stupid things. That's what debates and all this long process of going through the primaries is all about. Eventually, it establishes a track record of these people, and you can see over time what their real positions are, hopefully.