'Project Runway' Winner Anya Ayoung-Chee's Caribbean-Cool Designs [PHOTOS]
Project Runway winner Anya Ayoung-Chee already has celebrities knocking on her door for her much-acclaimed designs.
Ayoung-Chee, who was just announced as the Season 9 winner in the Oct. 27 finale episode, is already getting calls from celebrities, reports People magazine.
I finally feel like I can enjoy it now that I can tell everybody, Ayoung-Chee told People. It's really overwhelming. I came from not expecting to go past the casting because of my sewing skills ... it's just the most unbelievable story, and I'm just along for the ride.
Ayoung-Chee, 30, was the judges' and fans' favorite. With her unique island-inspired designs and trendy silhouettes, Ayoung-Chee showed her ability to be both high fashion and commercially sell-able at the same time.
Her Caribbean pieces proved to be the most attractive to the judges this season. Ayoung-Chee's final collection was a compilation of the same sort of style, easy and breezy with a heavy influence from the islands of Trinidad where she was raised.
But Ayoung-Chee says that there is still room for growth.
I think that [the collection] was powerful and had a lot of appeal, she shares. But with a little more time, and more clarity, I would've had a little bit more variety in the shapes. I think it was a little repetitive in some of the necklines.
Anya Ayoung-Chee learned to sew just four months before the show began. In her case, taste won out over technicality since Ayoung-Chee beat all of her by-the-book competitors -- Josh McKinley, Kimberly Goldson, and Viktor Luna.
The former Miss Universe 2008 from Trinidad says that her sewing skills have already greatly improved.
The first item of clothing she ever made was a slouchy, gray jumpsuit that she wore to the Miss Universe beauty competition.
Her personal favorite designers are Haider Ackermann, Stella McCartney, Gareth Pugh, Dries Van Noten, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake, Alexander McQueen.
Some of her style icons are Kate Moss, Coco Chanel, Frida, Tom Ford and Rachel Roy. And she says that earrings are always a wardrobe must.
The Project Runway winner is already thinking of plans to give back.
I will start a microfinance loan with the fan favorite money to support young, creative people in the Caribbean, says Ayoung-Chee. It's an unsupported region of commerce, so I'm excited to start that.
She is in the process of setting up a website but you can currently find her looks at: pilarbyanya.com, anyaderogue.com, facebook.com/pilarbyanya, and trinidadlookbook.com.
Here are some of the Caribbean-cool designs from her final runway show.
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