Michael Cinco raves about his 'ANTM' experience

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco only has positive words to describe his “America’s Next Top Model” stint and its creator and judge, top model Tyra Banks.

“It’s not my first time to work with international models. I even worked with Naomi Campbell before. But, Tyra Banks is super down-to-earth – she’s a doll,” Cinco told La Moda Dubai in an interview published on April 10.

Cinco said that Banks loved the eco-couture collection he made for “ANTM," and, in the same interview, described the top model as “hilarious.”

He recalled, “I remember the first things she told me were ‘So, you’re the first Filipino designer on the show’ and ‘Did you bring all the blings from Dubai?'”

Aside from Banks—whom the designer said would always be "one of my personal favorite supermodels"—Cinco said the other judges, Andre Leon Talley and Nigel Barker, and in-house photo shoot director Jay Manuel were also in awe of his designs.

“He [Talley]… exclaimed upon seeing one of the dresses, and told that even if it was made from recycled materials it would still be red-carpet glamour for any famous Hollywood celebrity."

Describing Barker and Manuel as "nice and accommodating people," he likewise noted that they were impressed with the outcome of the shoot. "I think everyone loved it,” said he.

He also commended the rest of the “ANTM” models, staff and crew for being professional considering they “did the shoot in a smelly and gross landfill.”

“I’d never heard anyone complain from the staying in that location," he shared.

Cinco has the distinction of being the first Filipino designer to be featured on the Emmy-award winning reality show. Apparently, it was through the show’s Filipino producer Michael Carandang’s effort that Cinco’s designs were introduced to Banks.

Apparently, Carandang came to know of Cinco's work from a friend who saw the designer's collection at the Philippine Fashion Week 2010 and informed him about it.

Cinco also told La Moda Dubai that he “felt so ecstatic” when he received the call from “ANTM” inviting him to participate in the 16th cycle’s eco-couture episode, and described that instance as something so “surreal that it felt far from being ‘normal’.”

Using recycled materials such as safety pins, rubber bands, broken mirrors, cellophane, garbage bags and old parachutes, Cinco reportedly created "huge and voluminous dresses to overpower the massive landfill," as required by Banks herself.

"She even gave me creative freedom to do the collection as long as it would abide [by] the theme," he related. He likewise revealed Nigel preferred a "high fashion" look with "big hair and fierce make-up.”

The “ANTM” episode featuring Cinco was shot way back in November 2010 and will air on April 13, US time.

source: mb.com.ph