The “On the Prowl” challenge on “Project Runway All Stars” featured the season’s most dramatic designer face-off thus far when Dmitry Sholokhov and a few other contestants insinuated that Michelle Lesniak stole Sholokhov’s ideas. The judges didn’t see it that way since they gave Lesniak the win. But did she really win by copying her opponent’s work? The “Runway” fans who responded to our poll are on Team Michelle on this one. Scroll down for our complete poll results.
When we asked our readers if Lesniak deserved to win for her edgy porcupine-inspired design, 52% said that she did. Another 29% thought the challenge’s runner-up Anthony Ryan Auld should have been the victor for his interpretation of owl elegance. Only 11% would have picked Sholokhov’s rhea dress, which mentor Anne Fulenwider warned him was reminiscent of a Renaissance faire. The last 8% thought the challenge should have been won by someone who wasn’t even in the judges’ top three — I for one was partial to Cynthia Hayashi‘s chic jaguar.
This is actually the second time Sholokhov and Lesniak have competed against each other. Sholokhov won the 10th season of “Runway,” while Lesniak won the 11th season, but they went head-to-head in season four of “All Stars,” where Sholokhov ended up winning again and Lesniak finished fourth. So for Lesniak, Sholokhov’s accusation felt like the betrayal of a colleague and friend, and presumably Sholokhov felt the same way.
The two designers seemed to bury the hatchet by the end of the episode, though Sholokhov didn’t look happy when the judges praised Lesniak and chose her as their winner. Perhaps this dust-up will sour their relationship for good. Or maybe it will be water under the bridge in the fickle world of fashion.
Be sure to make your predictions so that the contestants can see how they’re faring in our racetrack odds. You can keep changing your predictions until just before the next episode airs every Wednesday on Lifetime. You’ll compete to win a spot on our leaderboard and eternal bragging rights. See our contest rules and sound off with other fans in our reality TV forum. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
