It’s said that real life is stranger than fiction. And in the case of ordaining a new Pope, that has certainly been true. Viewers – Catholics and non-Catholics alike – seemed glued to their sets as the cable news channels broadcast every puff of smoke to come out of the Vatican chimney.

After two days and two rounds of voting resulting in black smoke, white smoke billowed from the chimney on Wednesday, signaling that a new Vicar of Jesus Christ (one of the titles he will inherit) had been chosen. In the end: The Vatican’s Next Top Catholic is Argentina’s Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who will be known as Pope Francis I from now on.

It was all rather thrilling, really, and actually became quite the water cooler talk here at Celebuzz (The Bachelor finale, what?). TV producers can only wish to create a reality show this spellbinding, which had us thinking…

From the suspense to the pageantry, here’s five reasons why the Papal Conclave was the Best. Reality. Show. Ever.

1. Open call auditions. The criteria for which clergymen can be considered candidates for becoming a Pope is a lot more general than you’d think – the main eligibility criteria really only requires you to be a male, who’s under 85 years old, and Catholic (duh). Clearly, most viable candidates have been appointed bishops or cardinals. But, that doesn’t mean that whittling the process down couldn’t be very engaging television. Yes, we watched Showtime’s The Borgias. The backroom politics can get very heated.

2. The ritual of smoke. Many reality shows have some type of symbolic ritual to signify each passing round of competition, whether it be the Rose Ceremony on The Bachelor, the extinguishing of one’s flame on CBS’s Survivor, or the simple “You’re out” moment on Project Runway. The Papal Conclave, a foundation that has been active for centuries, happens to use black smoke and white smoke to visually depict to the audience exactly what is going on inside the Vatican during appointment time.

3. The Room of Tears is much like the confessional. This room where we get up close and personal with a reality show’s stars dates back to the first Real World. Now, the confessional interview is a staple on pretty much every reality show. The Papal Conclave equivalent? The Room of Tears. It’s where the newly selected pope gathers his emotions and steps into the Papal robes for the first time. Imagine the emotion of capturing that on camera?

4. The wardrobe. The Top Chef winner, for example, can be identified by his or her chef’s jacket – something only a small group of contenders can claim to own. Let’s forget that every cardinal is dressed in their appropriate accoutrements. But after the white smoke signified a choice had been made, the new Pope would be dressed for the official announcement.

5. The huge audience. Millions of Catholics, non-Catholics, lookie loos and people looking to make wisecracks? That equals buzz, Twitter trending topics, and, of course, ratings – all things any network could want for its shows. If the whole selection occurred during primetime, it most certainly could knock American Idol off its perch.

Were you as spellbound by the Papal Conclave as we were? Sound off on the selection process below.

Marcelle Luna contributed to this post.

Watch below: Bill Maher’s new rules for the Pope.

A new season of Project Runway premieres tonight, and there’s a whole lot to be excited about. With Michael Kors signing off and Zac Posen in, we can expect a fresh new feel to the show.

Season 11 is sure to bring more fabulous guest appearances by fashion A-listers after last season upped the ante with Katie Holmes’ cameo — plus, more of the drama, style and Heidi-isms that have made the show a hit.

“Ten years has produced ten talented casts and racks of fashion eye candy!” says David Zyla, Emmy Award-winning stylist and author of Color Your Style.

With ten seasons and a successful spinoff, Project Runway All Stars, under its belt, it’s hard to remember what life was like pre-Project Runway. The fashion reality series has come a long way since its first season, when the designers, limited to items that they bought in a grocery store, fashioned looks made out of everything from crawfish and candy to aluminum foil and flat bread. Amazing.

So as we countdown to tonight’s premiere, we’re looking back at some of the fashionable highlights from the past ten seasons of Project Runway.

We all have our favorite episodes of Project Runway lore — Santino Rice’s pitch perfect impressions of Tim Gunn (“Andre, you really embarrassed me tonight at Red Lobster!”) and Austin Scarlett’s corn-fed innovation are up there for us.

See the rest of our favorite moments from the past ten seasons of Project Runway.

What’s your favorite Project Runway moment? Share your highlights below.

Get a sneak peek at Project Runway Season 11 in the video below.

Next Thursday’s episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All-Stars, will feature model and actress Stacy Keibler as a guest judge. Keibler was more than excited to lend her style advice to the all-star designers on the show.

“I was just asked if it was something I would want to be apart of and I jumped at the opportunity,” she said of getting involved on the show.

Though Keibler is known for her red carpet fashion, the task of judging designers wasn’t the easiest for the 33-year-old.

“This is the all-stars, so they are all so talented and it was really hard to choose someone to go home because they are all so wonderful,” explained the former WWE wrestler. “But to me it just ended up being about the hanger appeal. For me, [it was about] keeping focus on what the challenge was.”

The challenge for Keibler’s episode features the remaining designers creating garments with retail in mind as the winning dress will be sold in Elie Tahari Stores and online.

Kiebler will be soon be on Lifetime weekly, hosting the reality competition show, Supermarket Superstar, which is set to begin filming in early 2013.

“This show gives the everyday American the chance to fulfill their dream of seeing their homecooked recipe find their place on supermarket shelves,” she said. “Everyone of us spends time in the supermarket so as consumers we are all experts at what we would want to eat and want to buy. So, I think this is such an exciting show to come on the air and I’m really excited about shooting [it] in January.”

The actress is also developing her own food line, which she said will definitely “be something healthy.”

“I’m really passionate about educating people about the food that they put into their bodies. So, if I can make something that is still a snack or that’s still something that’s fun but it’s healthy, I think that everybody wins.”

Kiebler’s episode of Project Runway All-Stars will air Thursday, Dec. 27 at 9pm on Lifetime.

– Imani Joi Harris

Are you excited about to see Stacy Keibler as a guest judge?

It’s a weird statement to make this far into a reality show competition and change a one of its major points so drastically. For Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designer contestants are always cautioned against going too over-the-top and therefore invoking a costume feeling, rather than a wearable, grounded garment. Yet tonight, they were asked to make the opposite, taking just about all of them out of their comfort zones to create something for the Rockettes.

Yes, those Rockettes!

These designers are in the competition to create a real line, not pageant or performance wear, though. A challenge like this one is stunt-y but not indicative of anything the designers will ever be asked — or want — to make in the real world. Naturally, this provided for ample drama well beyond the typical time crunches and sewing machine snafus.

Note: Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched Thursday’s episode, “I Get A Kick Out of Fashion.”

This week’s challenge started with a trip to Radio City Music Hall where Tim Gunn introduced the remaining designers to the Rockettes who did their famous line kicks with special guest Heidi Klum. It was all very showy and fun but not more so than the actual challenge to create an outfit for the Rockettes. After so many themes where the designers are warned not to make anything too costume-y, this time that is exactly what it sounded like they were being asked to do.

After examining actual Rockettes costumes, the designers headed off to Mood for a quick montage of money, crystal, and budget woes. But from there, it was… dinner. That’s right, rather than getting right to work, the show spent time to see them out of their element and just interacting with each other Real Designers style. Remember when this show used to be about creativity and fashion instead of stretching to fill ninety minutes every episode?

Anyway, we finally got a good look at the early garments the next day in the workroom. Newly energized from an apology chat with Dmitry, Elena actually put on her own creation, which Gunn said looked like it was “missing a baton,” in that it was more cheerleader or Rockette Barbie than actual Rockettes.

Dmitry’s design featured fringe but wasn’t heavy enough on it, per Gunn’s critique, while Melissa used a complex pattern that worried everyone with the time constraints. Though the designers were plugging along, not all very concerned, the show decided to throw them a bone and gave them more money and a return trip to Mood. After all, if you blind the audience with sequins, they won’t notice poor stitching, right?

Smartly, though, Fabio, Dmitry, and Ven decided to skip the shopping sequel in favor of just continuing to work on their current garments. Not smartly, Christopher shared some of his money with Melissa, which could have turned out to be against the rules — if the show was looking for a little extra drama this week.

(They weren’t, so no one called attention to his generosity.)

Actually, everyone seemed to pitch in to help Melissa this week — even Ven. How did it effect their individual dresses come runway time? Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, and special guest judge Debra Messing (over whom Christopher hardcore fangirled) ultimately made the following assessments:

While Fabio was safe and sent backstage solo, Ven, Sonjia, and Elena landed in the bottom three. This meant Christopher, Melissa, and Dmitry were in the top.

Criticism of Sonjia’s costume was mostly that it wasn’t practical and more cocktail than costume. It was, after all, a boxy, muppet-like ice skater uniform. Again, that will be the only time such a statement is used as a negative, and it was kind of upsetting to hear now.

And then there was Ven who has been criticized countless times for always giving the panel the same fan design. Each time he has said he won’t do it again, but inevitably he does. It is his style, and it’s hard to fault him when he sticks to it; at least he knows who he is as a designer. But he has clearly stuck around this long because of his technical skill, even while seeming to not take the competition, or the constructive criticism, seriously. On this episode, he was accused of being boring not because of repetitiveness but because the garment didn’t tell a story. Also, it was sloppy; the hem was uneven! At this stage in the game!? Show you care a little, Ven!

Finally Elena is called out for her tacky, cheesy, overly shiny Vegas mess. It wasn’t modern, and the fabric was a nightmare. It was a shame considering how much of a strategy she had going into the challenge, in order to finally pull out a win. Though Elena was trying to push herself outside of her comfort zone with a new color and by trying to make things “more wearable,” those are not really praiseworthy attributes at this point in the competition, and she was called out for underperforming.

Meanwhile, on the positive side, Dmitry won points for his dominatrix-esque outfit being polished, glamorous, and modern, just like for which the challenge actually called, while Christopher was celebrated for creating a beautiful silhouette and illusion with the color and technique and texture and even the New York skyline.

Finally, the real confusion came when Melissa was the third to land in the top. It was as if she was put there just because they didn’t want to break format and have only two there. She lost points for the incorporation of the number in her color block design and its cocktail style and then Messing pointed out she liked the sparkles, which is the equivalent of saying you like the lighting in a film.

The bottom line was that Christopher was chosen as the winner of the challenge, so his design will be incorporated into the real Rockettes shows, while Ven was out. And in true Ven fashion, he was a sore loser about it, right until they showed him the door.

Buzz Moments

OMG!: Dmitry reveals a hidden talent: he was once a professional ballroom dancer, which naturally makes him, along with a few other designers, assume he has the edge.

Thank you, TV gods: Sorry, not sorry, but we were hoping Ven wouldn’t make it to the finals. With him gone, the energy over the show is sure to be a lot lighter and more positive.

Awk-ward: The designers at dinner was an unusual act for a formulaic reality show like this, but add on top of the change the “important conversation” Dmitry, Ven, and Elena had, and we, too, were reaching for the wine!

Hotness: We’re not going to lie: Heidi did a kick ass (pun intended) job with the Rockettes.

Fab-u-lous: We quite liked Christopher’s “Bob Mackie” moment just as much as the judges.

Can. Not. Wait.: Who will emerge as the next new villain, now that Ven is gone?

Celebuzz Meter (1-10): 7

Were you okay with who was sent home tonight? Weigh in in the comments below!

– Danielle Turchiano

Go around the world and learn where your favorite celebs are today in The Daily’s Buzz’s ‘Globetrotter’ segment. WATCH FULL SEGMENT BELOW. Watch The Daily Buzz each weekday at 4.30 pm ET. 

With eight designers left for the season, Project Runway is trimming the fat along with its hemlines. However, as series host Heidi Klum pointed out in Thursday’s episode, “It’s All About Me.” These designers still have a long way to go before the final runway show!

So without further ado, the remaining eight got right into challenge mode. Mondo Guerra, the All-Stars winner, was on hand to help Tim Gunn explain their next project. Guerra and Gunn tasked the designers with creating their own textile with inspiration drawn from their individual cultural heritages. It was a challenge with a special place in Guerra’s heart (hence his involvement), having won the week in season eight for utilizing plus symbols to represent his HIV status in his pattern.

If only this season’s designers could come up with something as revolutionary and touching…

Note: Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched Thursday’s episode, “It’s All About Me.”

As the designers sat down to sketch in the workroom, they received the surprise of a lifetime with loved ones streaming through the door to equally re-inspire and distract. They stay in the workroom while the designers color on their tablets — err, HP Ultrabooks (because product placement pays for this show, and besides, Guerra designed a new case for the Ultrabook that he wants you to go out and buy right now!).

Sonjia actually used her mother as a fresh set of eyes to get perspective. But Ven just dictated as he draws so his sister understands what he’s working on. Elena broke down upon seeing her mother, but Melissa felt the tension of having her mother stand over her shoulder, watching her work.

Gunnar perhaps took the most interesting approach. Explaining that his mother was the person he was closest to growing up because he was so badly bullied. He thought outside of the box and decided to incorporate an artistic expression of bullying as a non-traditional heritage into his print. We’re all for creativity and uniqueness, but the judges usually are only to a degree. After all, when Claudia (in The Babysitters Club) drew a butterfly for her self-portrait because she saw herself as that kind of a free spirit, she still got docked a grade. You still have to respect the assignment!

Everyone in the workroom loved Gunnar’s “wretched hands reaching towards the birds” jacket idea, especially Christopher. This allowed Gunnar to feel like the wall might finally be coming down between them because they have learned they have a lot more in common than they expected. But Christopher didn’t have time to focus on his new friend. After admitting he “hates prints,” he spent a lot of time just wandering away and thinking about his ladybug cocktail dress. When his grandmother passed away, there were ladybug designs everywhere in his family’s house, so he is paying homage to his family, if not quite his heritage that way. So, it appeared he and Gunnar were even starting to think alike!

Ven also used the print in a slightly reappropriated way — and sparingly — as just an adornment to his usual fan dress. He incorporated a Hibiscus flower, which is an important symbol in his religion.

Both Dmitry and Sonjia made separates. Sonjia’s pants were made out of her geometrical pattern, but Dmitry used traditional ornaments poking out of a black jacket. Melissa used stark red lines to represent her family tree and bloodlines; Elena chose a multi-colored Marlo Thomas type jacket; and Fabio played with thin colors that looked like lasers but which he said represented the “source of life” (yes, that means sex).

Ultimately, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors, Klum, Guerra, and other Project Runway winner and guest judge Anya Ayong-Chee broke down the group like this:

Elena and Fabio were safe, sent safely away from the runway scrutiny.

Ven, Christopher, and Gunnar were in the bottom and had to defend their designs, while Melissa, Dmitry, and Sonjia were the top three designers of the week.

Ven was accused of doing the same technique over and over, but this time failing at it for making his girl look like “a Hawaiian stewardess” (that one was Klum). Gunnar lost points for the lack of technique in his jacket, despite the emotional story behind his print. Christopher disappointed the judges for both over-designing and not embracing the print part of the challenge enough.

Melissa won points from the judges for not only making a dress that many women would want to wear and for stepping outside of her comfort zone. Dmitry caught a little flack for not showing more of the print, but made up for it by creating an overall extremely well-put-together outfit that Klum said she would love to buy. Sonjia was praised for the beauty of her detailing because, as Kors pointed out, if the pattern was even centimeters over, it would look like “Pac-Man was eating her [model’s] crotch.”

In the end, Dmitry walked away with the win, while Gunnar was sent home. But at least he found a new friend in Christopher first, right?

Um, no; no one comes on these shows to make friends! That’s reality TV 101.

Buzz Moments

OMG!: Fabio says he sees “penises and vaginas clashing and colliding” in a print. That says a lot about him, doesn’t it?

Thank you, TV gods: Tim Gunn tears Ven down a peg by telling him the front of his dress looked like it was covered in maxi pads, “a homage to a menstrual cycle.”

Awk-ward: Gunnar gives an interview saying he wants to win the show to buy his mother a boob job. A few minutes later in the episode, his mother actually shows up in the workroom, and half of the audience undoubtedly gives her the once-over just to see if they agree with Gunnar.

Hotness: Gunnar and Christopher hug it out before Gunnar heads home. And no one even walked away with a pair of fabric scissors in his back!

Fab-u-lous: Dmitry’s use of a bright, bold red print was used as an accent, not to overpower.

Can. Not. Wait.: Has the brilliance that was Ven in the early weeks finally worn off? It certainly seems so, and between the redundancy and the bad attitude he has exhibited in the past, we can’t wait to see him called out again next week.

Celebuzz Meter (1-10): 6

Were you okay with who was sent home tonight? Weigh in in the comments below!

– Danielle Turchiano

Back-to-back winner Michael Costello is proving he is the one to beat on Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars!

Michael C dished exclusively to Celebuzz about the differences between the All Star season and season 8 of Project Runway. He let’s us in on some of his inspirations and dream clients, his secret to handling pressure and how he plans to win!

The season 8 finalist on Project Runway has been on a winning streak, winning the last two challenges. The first win was a challange in which the contestants had to design a look for uber-fashion icon, Miss Piggy! The second and latest win was a doozy as the designers only had 6 hours to create a look based on a flavor of gelato. 

The All Star incarnation of the hugely successful design competition show brings back favorite designers from past seasons to compete for the chance to sell their exclusive collection in select Neiman Marcus Stores and on NeimanMarcus.com and a year stint as a guest editor for Marie Claire.

The hosting and judging panel is all new this round. No Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, or Michael Kors. New to the table are host Angela Lindvall and judges Isaac Mizrahi, Georgina Chapman, Joanna Coles along with a slew of special guests.

Watch the video to see more with Michael, and be sure to tune in Thursdays on Lifetime at 9pm to catch all the All Star action!

Project Runway fans, are you ready for a new season? Well, Celebuzz is, and we got the chance to chat with fashion world icon and Project Runway mentor Tim Gunn about the upcoming 9th season of the show, premiering on July 28. In our interview, Tim shared some thoughts on summer fashion do’s and don’ts and also discussed his work with the Tide campaign, his role in The Smurfs movie, and more!

Kim Kardashian appears as a guest judge on Project Runway this season, but in the past Tim has been very critical of the Kardashian Klan, calling their style “largely vulgar”! Has he changed his tune after working with Kim? And which celeb does he think gets summer fashion right? Check out the full interview for all of the candid details!

Let’s talk about summer style. Do you have any tips or tricks for dressing your best over the next month or so to finish the season?

Dress up! There is such a pervasive tendency to wear short shorts and a tank top. It’s very on trend to be wearing maxi dresses but you have to dress them down, with a pair of basic sandals. But nice, beautiful flowery prints and wonderful cotton fabrics, they are easy, they are breezy and you can go anywhere in a style like that. But it doesn’t just have to be a maxi dress. My message is simply dress up.

Are there any past summer trends that are “out” this year, or some things to stay away from?

I don’t even want to say this has been a trend, it’s just been everywhere, but simply showing too much skin, specifically a bare midriff. I mean it’s fine if you are in a two piece bathing suit but if you’re in city streets, forget it. It’s simply not attractive, it’s not something people want to see or should see. Leave a little to the imagination.

Are there any celebrities who you think get summer style right?

I’m always citing Angelina Jolie, she knows how to navigate the real world with style. The photos we always see of celebrities are red carpet shots, and for me that’s not the real world. How do you look day in and day out? She’s one I always talk about.

Which young celebs do you think we should be on the look out for? Any rising fashion icons?

Hailee Steinfeld. She knows how to dress age appropriately, and be sophisticated without dressing older than she is. She has a youthfulness that has a sophistication. I’ve been very impressed with how she presents herself. Usually these younger celebrities are either dressing entirely too old or too easy and inappropriate. There is something about her sense of style that is so correct for her age and who she is. Frankly, I’m impressed with it.

Project Runway’s ninth season premieres on July 28. Is there anything different we can expect this season?

I’m calling season nine the first season, because it is a season of firsts. There are so many things that happen that are completely unprecedented that have never happened on the show before. People say to me, ‘Aren’t you tired of it, isn’t it like Groundhog Day, you just go through the same thing over and over again?’ And I say no! It has been a really terrific season with very interesting designers, and an interesting dynamic among them. This is also the first season we have brought on 20 designers, so everyone arrived with an excitement and enthusiasm, but also terror because they knew that 4 of them would be going home right away. It was more a matter of ‘Am I on this show?’ than the cockiness that people come in with saying, ‘I’m on this show and I’m going to win it.’ Sending four people home at the very beginning was sobering for everybody. I’m eager to see how people respond to this season.

Do you think contestants approach the show differently having seen previous seasons and knowing what you like, and what the other judges like?

I do. But I beat them back. They have to be true to who they are. They can not anticipate what the judges will think, and that is simply the facts. I’ve prided myself on being able to anticipate what the judges are going to say, and I share it with the contestants. Nina is going to say this, or Michael is going to say that, Heidi will have this point of view about your look. I learned in season eight, I don’t even have a clue! If I said you’re going home, you’re probably going to win the challenge. It’s been very much the same this season. I spill out my truth telling to them, but I also say, I don’t have to stand up and support this look on the runway, you do. You have to have every confidence in the decisions that you make, and you need to be able to defend them. So yes, on the one hand, the designers arrive with a certain set of beliefs, but I quickly dispel them, because the beliefs are about how to please the judges, and that is not what this is about. 

We know that Kim Kardashian is a guest judge on Project Runway this season. You’ve been critical of her style in the past. Did working with her change your opinion?

I don’t want to say anything disrespectful. Kim was an excellent judge. One could say that she dresses beautiful for her body type and who she is. I would never hold her up as a fashion icon, personally. It’s not a style I think most people would want to emulate, but she is who she is and I think there are those who would say she is definitely a fashion icon. It’s just not my cup of tea, let’s put it that way.

You’re also appearing in The Smurfs movie. Can you tell us about your involvement in that?

Well it comes out July 29, and I am very excited about it. I’m not a smurf, I’m a real person. It was nine long days of pure joy. I loved every second of it. We had a wonderful director, a wonderful executive producer, and a great crew. I worked with Neil Patrick Harris, Sofia Vergara, Hank Azaria. Who wouldn’t have a blast? It was surreal.

You have a daytime show in the works currently called, The Revolution. Could you tell us a little bit about that?

Well I think the show is going to create somewhat of a revolution, it is about inspiration, education and changing lives. I’m deeply honored to be a part of it. I never intended to have a regular, ongoing role in the show, it just evolved. I was originally brought on to be an intermittent guest every few months, and that’s not how it turned out. Nobody is more surprised about it than I am. Quite frankly, I have been talking to the producers about the work I have done with Tide, and Proctor & Gamble, and I want to have a whole week of education about how to clean your clothes, which effects every single person in this nation. There is a true science to it. I feel that people just dump detergent in and assume the clothes will be clean. It’s really not the case. It’s like making a cake, you need to measure, you need to know about the textiles you’re washing. It’s so important to me. The biggest crime against fashion isn’t bad clothes, it’s bad clothing maintenance, and it drives me crazy, especially in these trying economic times. Take care of what you have!

What is the main premise of the show? It sounds like something of an all-around Extreme Makeover.

In a way, yes. That’s an interesting way of putting it. We are trying to help people navigate their own world and lives with more knowledge and awareness, with a higher expectation of what they should be getting out of life. We are trying to do something that nobody has ever done before. We’re covering everything from clothing to weight loss, health, homes, family and children, relationships. It’s about everything that effects our lives. There isn’t a prescription or a formula, it’s just one long ongoing dialogue and we are just seeing where it takes us.

You do a lot of work with Tide. Do you have any upcoming projects or campaigns to tell us about?

We had a wonderful blogger competition that was really great. I got to meet all of the winners, we had a wonderful time. Being out in the real world with real people is the most satisfying thing in the world to me. I live in New York, which is sort of a bubble, it’s not really the real world, which I say to my colleagues all the time. Get out there and talk to people who are really a part of the real world! And I’ve learned a huge amount by being a part of the Tide campaign. I take better care of my own wardrobe because of the work I do with Tide, it has had a profound effect on me.

After filming an episode of Project Runway together, Heidi Klum put her new BFF Kim Kardashian to the test when the duo buddied up for a 4-mile run through New York City’s Battery Park. But the svelte supermodel admits by the end of the run, Kim was the one pushing her to go further.

“It was amazing. I had to keep up with her. She is a better runner than me,” Heidi told Celebuzz at the New Balance sponsored Hamptons Magazine party held at STK. Continuing to compliment the reality star, Heidi added: “Kim has a great body and curves. She had not one stitch of makeup on, and she looked gorgeous.”

Although they chatted a lot during the long run, Heidi admits she didn’t give Kim any marriage advice. “I don’t like to give marriage advice because every marriage and couple is different. Everyone needs to work it out and figure it out for themselves,” she said.

Earlier in the day, Kim filmed an episode of Project Runway for the fashion competition show’s ninth season. “It was fun. She knows a lot about fashion, and she is not quiet about what she thinks. We’ve had celebrities in the past who would rather say positive things than say what they really think. She says what she really thinks, which I admire. I like when people have an opinion and aren’t scared to speak it.”

The fashion competition show’s ninth season appears to be showcasing Lifetime’s sexier image — starting with Heidi baring it all on the show’s new ads. “This was definitely sexier than what they normally do, so I was quite surprised they wanted me to do that. I was surprised,” she candidly reveals.

Meanwhile, she’s busy being a dotting mom to her four children — Leni, 7, Henry, 5, Johan, 4, and Lou, 1 — taking her brood to the city’s best parks for fun in the sun.

So have any of her children caught the modeling bug, yet? According to Heidi, her oldest daughter Leni is “starting to play around with the idea.”

“She has a closet full of fun things from hats to belts to jewelry. And she loves wearing my heels… All my kids love dressing up and doing little fashion shows at home,” Heidi said. But she thinks they’re just having fun and will eventually steer clear of the modeling world. “I don’t think Leni wants to be a model because she has other things she’s interested in. She loves nature, has a green thumb and loves animals.”

The style-savvy Kim Kardashian is lending her fashion expertise to those vying for the prize on Project Runway. The reality star is shooting the show in NYC and tweeted about the experience, writing: 

“Fashion fun today on Project runway with @HeidiKlum@MichaelKors @NinaGarcia!”

Kim hopped on the Project Runway style bandwagon, and showed up to set on Friday in a LBD with white paneling, and of course paired the minidress with a pair of sky-high black Christian Louboutin heels. Black was also the color Heidi Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia wore as well! The fashionista geared up for her day on the runway in a peculiar fashion. Kim tweeted: 

“Up early listening to Christmas music. Is that weird? I wish it was Christmas time. My favorite time of year!”

Project Runway judge and style maven Nina Garcia gave birth to her second son over the holiday weekend. Talk about a Thanksgiving treat!

The 45-year-old mama broke the news of her baby’s birth on Twitter. “Delighted to announce that over the wknd we welcomed 8lb13oz Alexander David Conrod into our home!” Nina wrote.

Nina may be one of the most stylish women in America, but is she above letting her kids wear hand-me-downs? Alexander’s big brother Lucas, 3, will probably have some cute baby clothes in his closet that he can share with his new bro.

Whatever the fashion situation, the Garcia-Conrods must be having a very happy holiday season!

What do you think of Nina’s new son? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Jessica Simpson was all smiles as she left the Project Runway runway show in New York on Thursday.

Jessica was a celebrity judge on the season finale of the hit Lifetime fashion reality show. Every year, the Project Runway finalist show their final collections at New York Fashion Week.

Do you think Jessica will make a good judge? Check out more photos of Jess at fashion week and share your thoughts in the comments below. Check out Celebuzz’s Paparazzi-Razzi for more pics of celebs doing awesome things.

It looks like the gods have finally answered our prayers: Project Runway‘s Santino Rice and Austin Scarlett are getting their very own TV show!

The show, called On the Road with Austin & Santino,  will follow around the two designers as they visit small towns in America and create “dream-come-true” looks for women in unique situations. It’s like What Not To Wear meets Extreme Makeover meets Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Sounds great!

The show will premiere on July 29th, right after Project Runway‘s 8th season premiere. We can already smell the drama and fighting.

We just hope this doesn’t mean that Santino has thrown in the towel for judging RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Will you watch Austin and Santino’s new show?

Ready to make it work—on the Wii stick?

Variety reports that popular fashion-competition show Project Runway is being turned into a video game by Atari, which will hit store shelves in the spring.

The game will initially be available for the Nintendo Wii, with other versions to follow. Runway‘s Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn will be providing their input on the game.

As with the show, players will compete to create different designs, but they will also have the opportunity to become the model and showcase their creations on the runway, using the Wii Balance Board.

Says Atari CEO Jim Wilson,

“Of all the brand opportunities out there, we thought Project Runway was the leading fashion brand. The audience is building, the talent is recognizable. It reaches such a broad audience.”

Hmm…

Do you think they’ll be able to make this work? Let us know in the comments section!

Don’t expect Tim Gunn to be heaping accolades on Robert Pattinson for his fashion sense anytime soon.

Celebuzz caught up with Project Runway mentor Gunn at the Marshalls “Shop Till It Stops” anti-domestic violence event in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday and asked him the question that’s on everybody’s mind: What does he think about Twilight heartthrob Pattinson landing a spot on People magazine’s best-dressed list?

Gunn opined,

“Robert Pattinson…It’s a look. It’s a style. I mean, he could…he could be stunning, but I think it’s a little sloppy for my taste.”

Cue mass Twi-hard indignation in 3…2…1…

So if Pattinson isn’t Gunn’s cup of tea, who does he think does deserve the title of best-dressed man?

According to Gunn,

“I love George Clooney‘s look. I think Justin Timberlake always looks great.”

Hmm….

Readers, do you agree with Tim Gunn’s assessment? You might want to look through our gallery of R-Pattz photos before making your decision.

Tim Gunn, superhero? Believe it, for it is so.

The New York Times reports that the Project Runway guru will star in the first issue of an upcoming Marvel Comics mini-series, Models Inc., which hits stands on August 26.

In the issue, Gunn will don an Iron Man costume to save a fashion show from being ruined by a bunch of evildoers.

The plot of the series involves the murder of a set designer during Fashion Week. When diva Millicent Collins (aka Millie the Model) is accused of the dirty deed, a bunch of other runway walkers—including Spider-Man’s girlfriend, Mary Jane—join forces to clear her name.

Whew; sounds like a real nail-biter!

For his part, Gunn is excited for his super-transformation. “I’m not certain of the particulars of how I’ll be portrayed, but I’m really excited about it,” Gunn notes. “To say I’m a character in a comic book is wild!”

Indeed.

Readers, have your say in the comments section: Does it make sense for Tim Gunn to star in a comic book?

Has Bravo found someone to fill Heidi Klum‘s really big shoes?

The Hollywood Reporter says that the channel has approved a new show that’s suspiciously similar to Project Runway.

Launch My Line—originally titled Celebrity Sew Off—will feature a gang of famous contestants vying to launch their own clothing lines. Each celeb will be paired with a fashion expert who will help to bring the line to fruition.

What, celebrities need a reality show to launch their own clothing lines now? In an age wen even K-Fed is putting out kids’ fashions?

Project Runway, of course, is moving on to the Lifetime channel, after being kept in legal limbo for months.

Bravo is also going forward with a new show for Work Out star Jackie Warner, entitled Jackie’s Gym Takeover, in which she will attempt to revitalize failing fitness facilities.

Have your say in the comments section: Will you watch Launch My Line, or does your loyalty to Project Runway run too deep?

Good news, Project Runway fans—Heidi, Michael, Tim and Nina are returning to the airwaves!

People reports that the show—which has been stuck in extended limbo due to network squabbling—will begin airing this summer on the Lifetime Channel.

The network shift isn’t the only change that will take place. The show will be pulling up stakes and moving from New York to Los Angeles for its upcoming season—which, according to a source, means that the show will utilize celebrity-rich “local resources.”  It’s rumored that the upcoming season will feature appearances by Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria Parker and Rebecca Romijn.

Hopefully there won’t be any cases of assault-by-feline involved.

Have your say in the comments section: Are you excited that Project Runway is coming back on the air, and do you think the changes will improve the series?

For five seasons Project Runway aired on NBC Universal-owned Bravo.

After producers the Weinstein Co.’s contract was up at the cable channel this year, the company signed a deal with Lifetime to air the program.

But Bravo successfully sued in September to keep the Heidi Klum-hosted reality series from being moved to Lifetime.

The latest, E! Online notes, is that Lifetime went to Manhattan federal court on Tuesday to put the brakes on Bravo’s plan to move ahead with their re-gained assett.

“Lifetime asserts that the network holds the copyrights to the show and that any attempt by Bravo Media to hang onto it would be a violation of those rights,” says the site.

The Weinstein Co. is named in the suit, as well. They seem to have sold Runway to Lifetime for $20 million, despite the series not being “free and clear of any third-party obligations.”

The sixth season of Runway was set to air on Lifetime in January 2009; it will likely be pushed back till at least next summer while the legal battle is hashed out.

So where does this all leave 35-year-old Heidi Klum? Probably wishing she could sprout wings and fly away.

Heidi Klum has taken on many identities lately; woodland fairy, milkmaid, freak magnet.

She knows the deal. Gotta keep those endorsements coming in now that Project Runway may be out like last year’s Gucci scarf.

Below is a clip of her latest gig, gyrating in her bra and panties for Guitar Hero’s World Tour.

Take some notes, Madonna!

Wonder if this is how Tom Cruise always wished it could have been?