This ‘Runway’ was a catty walk
Step off, Santino.
Chloe Dao, the surprise second-season winner of Bravo’s “Project Runway,” had some sharp words for fellow finalist Santino Rice, who questioned her design pedigree.
During a tense elimination round, Rice told Dao he thought she was a “brilliant pattern-maker” but an average designer.
“I can only say that I guess you’re wrong!” says Dao, who won $100,000 and a mentorship from the Banana Republic design team. “I can’t help it if I had skills, honey.”
Actually, the 34-year-old designer admits she was surprised to win Wednesday’s finale over Rice and favorite Daniel Vosovic.
“I’m still shocked that I was chosen,” says the Laos-born Dao, although she adds: “I think my collection was the most cohesive, and I think I did step out of my own boundary.”
Bravo announced this week that it was renewing the popular reality show, hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, for a third season.
Will his campaign catch fire?
Raj Bhakta, one of the hopefuls fired by Donald Trump during the second season of “The Apprentice,” is running for Congress.
The Republican real estate developer is challenging incumbent Democrat Allyson Schwartz for Pennsylvania’s 13th District seat, representing suburban Philadelphia.
“I am not a politician. I am someone from a business background who wants to make a change,” says Bhakta, 30, best remembered by “Apprentice” viewers for his flashy bow ties, being rejected by tennis star Anna Kournikova for a coffee date and flirting with Trump’s secretary after being booted from the show.
Pinkett exposé, anyone?
Another would-be “Apprentice” – Rebecca Jarvis, the fourth-season runner-up – is joining business cable network CNBC next month as an associate reporter.
The 24-year-old has written freelance stories for business publications and also worked as an investment banker.
In last December’s finale, Trump chose Randal Pinkett as the winner, then asked Pinkett if he should give Jarvis a job, too. Pinkett replied that there should be only one winner, and Trump agreed.
Every dog has her day
The Duchess of Cornwall, the former Camilla Parker Bowles – derided by Prince Charles‘ first wife, the late Princess Diana, as “The Rottweiler” – is No. 10 on Tatler magazine’s list of the top British “fashion icons.”
She “wowed us in her red engagement dress, Philip Treacy hats and Robinson Valentine wedding outfit,” the magazine said. “Camilla is suddenly stunning.”
Model Kate Moss topped the list, followed by actress Naomi Watts.
Quoteworthy
Actress Sharon Stone, on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: “I would kiss just about anybody for peace in the Middle East.”
The birthday bunch
Singer Dean Torrence (Jan and Dean) is 66. Actor Chuck Norris is 66. Actress Shannon Tweed (“Falcon Crest”) is 49. Actress Sharon Stone is 48. Actress Jasmine Guy (“A Different World”) is 44. Singer Edie Brickell is 40. Country singer Daryle Singletary is 35. Rapper-producer Timbaland is 34. Singer Carrie Underwood (“American Idol”) is 23.