"Project Runway"'s Ricky: more than just a sob story.

AE: Back to this past week’s show with the wrestling divas: what did you take away from that?
RL: At the end of the whole thing I just realized that it’s a game. At the beginning I took it so seriously, like “It’s my life!” But it’s just a section of my life. And looking back I realize that it’s just a game and it doesn’t represent what I’m completely about. With all the rules and just trying to get through the challenges, you just do the best you can. So for me, I made a beautiful swimsuit! [Laughs] I liked it.

AE: During the show, you guys must be constantly under such a time crunch. Can you give me an indication of what it’s really like as the challenges come so intensely and quickly?
RL: What’s interesting is that on TV you only see little parts of it. It’s stressful. The whole thing is stressful. And the longer you’re on, the tougher it gets. If you put it all together, it makes for highly stressful, tiring situation.

AE: Since the show’s been on, what’s the craziest thing that’s happened with regards to you being recognized?
RL: I was shopping with my niece the other day in a shoe store, and this girl comes up to me and says “Oh, I love you!” and she gives me a hug. And she called her mom right away, and then she gave me the phone and said “My mom wants to talk to you.” And she hands her phone to me and her mom says, “Hi, I love you—but you gotta stop crying!” [Laughs]

I thought that was the cutest! She was like “You’re gonna be fine, Honey!”

AE: Now who do you think is going to win?
RL: Do you really want that answer?

AE: Sure!
RL: I think Rami is going to win.

AE: Based on…?
RL: Based on his history, he’s a strong designer. And he’s got the experience. And at the end of the day, I think he’s learned from everything that was thrown at him and he’ll bring something that’s going be interesting and beautiful. That’s my opinion, but with the judges, you never know.

Rami Kashou, Tim Gunn

AE: Watching the show in Bryant Park, was that a bittersweet experience — seeing other people showing their stuff, and running into the other contestants?
RL: It’s like a reunion. You’re going to see people you like, you’re going to see people you don’t like. And life goes on, so you just move forward.

AE: And what was the worst garment made on the show?
RL: Oooh, I can’t answer that. That’s just asking for someone to hate me.

AE: Okay, then. What was the hottest, best garment made this season — and it can’t be one of yours?
RL: I think it would have to be Rami’s candy dress. I really like that. It was just fun.

AE: Now that it’s all over for you, what are you working on?
RL: Well, I just finished my market for lingerie. It’s Fashion Week, but it’s also Fashion Week for lingerie, so to speak. I just finished showing and my line will be shipped out to L.A. for their market. Right now my line is in Neiman-Marcus, and a few Nordstrom stores and little boutiques nationwide.

And I’m actually working on getting my hats to market. I’m working on doing a swimwear line and maybe some dresses, little cocktail dresses. You know, little pretty things. That’s what I’m working on.

AE: Nice! You could also do some men’s swimwear or underwear while you’re at it.
RL: I think the men’s stuff will come, but I also know that my men’s stuff will be definitely geared toward gay men. And I say that with a full heart, because making men’s clothes, you can either have fun with it and more gay men will want it, or you can go the marketable route. And who knows? Maybe straight men will want my hats, but I don’t see that happening.

AE: One last thing: Having seen the show in its previous seasons, was it a struggle to decide, “Do I want to do this?”
RL: That’s the funny part. I’d only watched one of the seasons from before, and I never really watched the first season. And a lot of the people were briefed on what to expect, but I’m not really a TV person, or a reality-TV person so I kind of just went into it blindly. You know, stupid me. [Laughs]