Wendy Pepper from Project Runway

A lovely article about her-

I was wondering why she passed away, and it indeed was related to cancer.

It sounds like a she was a wonderful and creative person-

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by Anonymousreply 90August 27, 2018 9:20 PM

I didn't think she was very talented, but she was the entertaining bitch that got the show renewed.

by Anonymousreply 2August 26, 2018 8:32 PM

She was malign by the entire cast of bitter asshole cunts for playing the game. Her work was lovely but because she was a middle aged woman she was dismissed by the cast as nothing. It was very typical gay male behavior. The women of the cast were worse because they saw the feeding frenzy and jumped in. I hope they all feel terrible but I'm sure they don't.

TRUTH.

by Anonymousreply 3August 26, 2018 8:33 PM

I declare the term “fashion icon” deader that Wendy Pepper.

In the manner of eulogies, they describe her as “cunning” on PR when she was seen by most as just nasty and manipulative. She was not maligned because of her age; she was provincial, whiny and judgmental. And her clothing was not lovely, it was competent at best and clunky at worst. Are you talking about that sheer chocolate brown top that showed off her model’s breasts in the finale? It looked like what Chicos would design for strippers.

I guess she was a frau to whom other frauen looked up. That’s something. I feel bad for her daughter. RIP.

by Anonymousreply 4August 26, 2018 8:38 PM

When Tim Gunn did the home visit with her she took him to her grandmother's home which was a humongous old mansion. Very old money southern aristocracy.

by Anonymousreply 5August 26, 2018 8:39 PM

R3, After reviewing that first season- I agree completely.

I was 28 when that first aired and I am 42 now- and I completely see it.

I found her hit or miss in her designs, but she was GREAT tv, and I knew that she was IN ON THE JOKE- which is half the battle.

My guess is that she had an aggressive breast or lung cancer based on the pneumonia...

God bless her.

R4, I agree in on a few of your points but the sheer nastiness is a little much.

by Anonymousreply 6August 26, 2018 8:40 PM

R4, total revisionist history. Villainess of S1 was Kara Saun and her blatant cheating. Pepper did nothing underhanded or deceitful and her judgements of team captains Austin and Kevin while on the runway were completely fair. Her best comment came during the finale when Jay said "this isn't a game show" to which Wendy said "yes it is, it's a competition." She also knew she was one of the least talented in the competition but still got to the final three by being good TV. And to her credit, she had some very nice designs like the Banana Republic winning dress.

by Anonymousreply 9August 26, 2018 8:43 PM

Kara Saun. What a COOZE!

With her fraudulent shoes and breaking of the rules!

CUNT!

by Anonymousreply 10August 26, 2018 8:45 PM

Wow, I’m truly surprised that Wendy Pepper is well liked here. Perhaps I was wrong.

by Anonymousreply 11August 26, 2018 8:46 PM

r4 / r11, some of us can see past the bullshit being fed to us.

by Anonymousreply 12August 26, 2018 8:48 PM

She wasn't until she died., R11.

by Anonymousreply 13August 26, 2018 8:49 PM

I still remember Wendy talking about Kara talking about her. She said that Kara is perhaps on her way to winning PR and she was in the bottom in almost every challenge. She was no threat to her. So why was she going all mean girl on her? It took me a second to process that but she was totally right. Kara Saun did her sanctimonious act only to be shown up as a hypocrite. On the finale, this is what she said to her and it was glorious.

“I'm going to tell you that Jay and I shopping at the store for five-dollar shoes is hardly comparable to you custom-designing shoes and putting an arbitrary value of five dollars on something that looks like your shoes,” she told Kara. “I just heard you on the phone equate a shoe at a sample sale for five dollars to a shoe you custom-designed and had made to your specifications, and that, my dear, is not fair or above board, Miss Perfect. It just shows how you're so f*cking morally corrupt and you walk around saying other people are all f*cked up but you're perfect; but it's okay for you to fudge when it works to your advantage, but god help anybody if they fudge for their advantage.”

by Anonymousreply 14August 26, 2018 8:50 PM

And people forget that in the finale, she had someone helping her in the studio, suggesting she also had extra help putting her collection together and not just DollHouse shoes.

by Anonymousreply 15August 26, 2018 8:53 PM

Kara tried to cheat and Wendy called her out on her shit. That's the truth. So why was Wendy the villain?

by Anonymousreply 17August 26, 2018 8:56 PM

If Vanessa had half a brain, she could have been the villain of PR. Tim Gunn hated her and said if he never encountered her again, that would be fine with him. She made a complete ass of herself on the PR Reunion Show, trying to go after Wendy but merely showing herself up as a bitter cunt.

Although there were some mistakes in judging, I think we got a magnificent season from S1. We would have loved to see Austin Scarlet in the finale but I think Wendy had a definite purpose for the show. Of course, Starr should have been the first to go before Daniel Franco but then the PR legend that Franco became wouldn't have happened.

by Anonymousreply 18August 26, 2018 8:58 PM

Remember Mustache-gate? Someone drew a mustache on a photograph of Wendy's young daughter (Wendy probably did it herself).

by Anonymousreply 19August 26, 2018 9:00 PM

It was so obvious Kevin did it when they asked him about it on the Reunion Episode. He got all shifty eyed and nervous. Also, he admitted it later. Not to give Kara Saun any credit but she earlier in the season said he was passive aggressive and difficult to work with.

by Anonymousreply 21August 26, 2018 9:04 PM

And it happened RIGHT AFTER Kevin was voted out. Hmmmmm?

by Anonymousreply 22August 26, 2018 9:07 PM

R22, not only that, Wendy said to the judges she felt he was lacking as a leader.

by Anonymousreply 23August 26, 2018 9:08 PM

Here is the infamous Vanessa Riley interview that pissed everyone off. Incidentally, she lost her store in Texas so she should be happy since she makes it sound like she's being held captive there. She also later claimed this wasn't an interview, just a talk with someone but they recorded her illegally.

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by Anonymousreply 24August 26, 2018 9:12 PM

Wendy was the established villian through the run of the show. Shoe gate didn't happen until the last episode. Wendy talked about alliances a lot. She thought she was on survivor. PR isn't Survivor the contestants can't vote each other off. It's a talent show. Contestants should focus on showing their talent, not strategizing. Wendy was trying to be very political, rather than being talent focused. That's what put people off. She also took the "I'm not hear to make friends" approach. Obviously no one goes on the show for the purpose of finding new friends, but many of them do make friends on the show. There's no reason to come in actively hostil.

by Anonymousreply 25August 26, 2018 9:13 PM

RIP Wendy.

The early seasons when PR was on Bravo were by far the best in terms of talent and relationships among the contestants. Later/recent seasons it became more about the contestants back story than their actual talent. At least that’s how it came across to me.

The only innovation I liked on the post-Bravo seasons were that the judges actually examined the designs up close to see how they were cut, sewn, etc. on the models. I remember a lot of pins and tape and even glue used on models in the early seasons, imagine who would have been cut then if they did this?

Other than Cristian Serrano (sp?) has anyone else from PR really made it as a designer?

by Anonymousreply 26August 26, 2018 9:14 PM

R25, the season was long over and people have definitely reevaluated their feelings about the show and contestants. PR was indeed Survivor in the sense that the strongest survive and you use your wits about you, not just your talent. Lots and lots of talented contestants on PR have been eliminated because they weren't good TV so in essence, she did the right thing because she knew she had less talent than many.

by Anonymousreply 27August 26, 2018 9:18 PM

r25, she did nothing bad to people on the show but compete in a competition. She saw it as that. Nothing wrong with what she did.

by Anonymousreply 28August 26, 2018 9:20 PM

R26 Austin Scarlett has become quite a name doing wedding gowns and of course, Michael Costello had perhaps the single most famous gown with the Beyonce Grammy dress. Lots of others have earned niche spots like Chloe Dao who has a boutique but those who really become stars in the fashion world are very scarce.

by Anonymousreply 29August 26, 2018 9:22 PM

Re-watch season 1. Kara, Jay and Vanessa all attacked people personally. Wendy never did. She attack their work but never personally.

by Anonymousreply 30August 26, 2018 9:24 PM

[quote]Kara tried to cheat and Wendy called her out on her shit. That's the truth. So why was Wendy the villain?

For one thing, Pepper played the role of villain. With gusto. And at least some self-awareness, though I always suspected she was not as smart as she tried to present herself, and I felt bad that the show exploited her.

Nice to hear that Pepper is fondly remembered by those who knew her, and probably was not the difficult nutbag she seemed on the show. Reality TV brought out something ugly in her. But as someone pointed out already, she reaped benefits from it. She sure didn't make it to Fashion Week based only on talent.

I don't watch much reality TV that first season was great.

by Anonymousreply 31August 26, 2018 9:27 PM

R31, PR created her as the villain.

by Anonymousreply 32August 26, 2018 9:29 PM

The first season looks so primitive now, I think PR improved greatly once it hit its stride a few seasons later. Santino Rice and his season sent it into high gear.

by Anonymousreply 33August 26, 2018 9:30 PM

Duh! Thanks R29 - I knew about Austin, can’t believe I didn’t think to include him! I totally forgot about Michael Costello and I liked him on the show! I knew about Chloe’s boutiques (I think she has a few now) but I don’t know if she sells her own designs? Laura Bennett was selling her designs at Bergdorf’s for a while, but I think she’s out of the fashion business since her husband died. Chris March is still making OTT costumes and dresses - even had his own Bravo show about it for a hot minute.

I’m sure there are other PR alum that have their niche markets where they make a living, but you don’t hear much about them. I don’t think anyone else has been as successful as Cristian?

by Anonymousreply 34August 26, 2018 9:30 PM

Have you watched those episodes recently, R32? She is on camera behaving oddly or downright badly. More than once. Including discussing her strategies to psych out her competitors and painting herself as a manipulator.

I have no doubt that the editors misrepresent people. But I also have no doubt that Pepper was no fun to be around during filming.

by Anonymousreply 37August 26, 2018 9:35 PM

"It sounds like a she was a wonderful and creative person-"

Not on the show, that's for sure. She played the Mommy card from minute one and that alone would have made me hate her were I on the show. Talk about a hausfrau.

by Anonymousreply 38August 26, 2018 9:36 PM

She was also in the Peace Corps.

by Anonymousreply 40August 26, 2018 9:37 PM

[Quote] She played the Mommy card from minute

It happened once or twice on the show but nice try.

by Anonymousreply 42August 26, 2018 9:41 PM

R42 and she also said it was kind of underhanded and deceitful but she said had to do it. However, that angle went out the window after the first few challenges.

by Anonymousreply 43August 26, 2018 9:42 PM

Nope, starting with gathering the troops and saying they all had to eat (and admitting she was playing that to camera). Then running up like Mommy when Model From Hell was late and comforting her, then saving her from going home to everyone's chagrin, then to saying she was Mommy every episode to the tears over some stupid ass photo. Haus. Frau.

Oh and a lot of whining about how she had no opportunities, waah. And couldn't sell herself like the young cute ones. Ugh.

by Anonymousreply 44August 26, 2018 9:43 PM

R44, how long did that last? One episode? Two? It was quickly forgotten.

by Anonymousreply 46August 26, 2018 9:45 PM

(I have that season on in background a lot when I work and basically have it memorized. Most of the early seasons, in fact. And I live next door to the biggest fabric shop in my city and see Project Runway alums in there all the time, which is cool. They always look a bit baffled that I know so much about their season and their designs).

by Anonymousreply 47August 26, 2018 9:45 PM

It started in episode one with the food suggestion/Mommy establishment and last 'til the finale when she walked down the runway with daughter in hand. Anything to get the pity vote. "See? I would've been huge by now but I was a MOMMY first." Did you folks watch the season?

by Anonymousreply 48August 26, 2018 9:47 PM

r38 / r44 / r47 / r48 = Mario - Still bitter from his 11th place finish.

by Anonymousreply 49August 26, 2018 9:49 PM

Nah, Mario was born hot and that means more than any fucking fashion. Fuck off, Wendy.

by Anonymousreply 50August 26, 2018 9:51 PM

[Quote] Fuck off, Wendy.

That would be the ghost of Wendy, hon.

by Anonymousreply 51August 26, 2018 9:55 PM

When Tim Gunn visited her in her hometown, she presented him with a drawing her daughter made. WP said, "She wanted to make this for you." The daughter said, " No, I didnt. You told me to. " Cringe.

by Anonymousreply 52August 26, 2018 9:55 PM

R48, yeah, it started with the first episode and was abandoned right after. Did YOU watch the entire season? Here is "hot" Mario with Jay doing his cultural appropriation.

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by Anonymousreply 53August 26, 2018 9:57 PM

R34 Speaking of Chris March, he nearly died and is still in a bad way. Sad that Andy could only cough up a couple of thousand (His weekend drug money) and that's by sharing. Siriano may have donated anonymously but I am surprised they have only met a third of their goal so far. I remember he helped Sonja a few seasons ago. She probably paid him in dog chow.

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by Anonymousreply 55August 26, 2018 10:14 PM

R16 YAAWWWNNN, queen. It's the truth. Wendy got dragged through the mud on DL. Stop pretending people here always championed her.

by Anonymousreply 56August 26, 2018 10:42 PM

[Quote] YAAWWWNNN, queen. It's the truth. Wendy got dragged through the mud on DL. Stop pretending people here always championed her.

You replied so it can't be that tiring , KWEEEEEEN.

by Anonymousreply 57August 26, 2018 10:57 PM

Wendy Pepper made an ass out of herself on national TV. Her strategy: I’m not really talented, but they’ll keep me if I’m nasty to everyone. Because they need a villain. After everyone gets tired of my abuse and calls me out. I will play the poor single mommy victim card.

Trying to make her a tragic hero who was more talented than she was and who was picked on is just plain revisionist nonsense. Her goal was to not out see the others. Her goal was to scam and manipulate everyone and anyone. She was a real nasty wack job and she made ugly clothes.To quote Michael Kors during the post office runway competition. Why would you take something that’s already dowdy and make it dowdier?

She got what she wanted. Her nasty manipulations got her to the finale. But she paid the price with fans of the show. Who still hate her.

It’s interesting that her defender here praises her nastiness, her manipulations and her survivor approach as fair. But you’re made because Kaura manipulated her connections to get free shoes. Of course most of the designers are obviously going to manipulate their connections to get discounts and stretch their budget. I personally know where I can find discounted fabric. If I were a final contestant. I would buy my fabric there and I would use my connections for discounts.

by Anonymousreply 58August 26, 2018 11:16 PM

R58 is easily manipulated.

by Anonymousreply 59August 26, 2018 11:28 PM

R59 = Wendy’s poor orphaned (35 yr old) daughter, rehabbing her moms reputation.

by Anonymousreply 60August 26, 2018 11:51 PM

r60 = dimwit who thinks TV is real.

by Anonymousreply 61August 26, 2018 11:56 PM

Has anyone heard about a new season? Now that its been wrestled from Weinstein and back on Bravo.

I suppose the season of PR All Stars that was in the can before the scandal broke will never be shown.

by Anonymousreply 62August 27, 2018 12:07 AM

Out of all the contestants over the years, I probably remember a handful of them.....Wendy is one of them. RIP

by Anonymousreply 63August 27, 2018 12:10 AM

[quote] R60] = dimwit who thinks TV is real.

What’s dim witted is your attempt to rehabilitate Wendy by calling the show fake while attempting to villainize the rest of the cast on the same fake show.

Reality tv is not 100% reality. However, that does not make Wendy anymore talented or any less nasty and manipulative.

by Anonymousreply 64August 27, 2018 12:43 AM

R64, Kara Saun brought the shoes to the show herself. The show did not do that, nor did they explain her rationalization of charging $5.00 for custom made shoes.

by Anonymousreply 65August 27, 2018 1:05 AM

r60 / r64 = one of dumbest DLers EVAH!

Don't blame me because you believe the shows "villain character" edit as truth. I'll bet you fall for it every season, hon?

Oh and where did I say it was fake?

by Anonymousreply 66August 27, 2018 1:10 AM

R66 = that one cunt on every thread. HAS to be the same one.

Who the fuck defends Wendy Pepper and her big bag of bullshit (dead or not)? She was a hag.

by Anonymousreply 67August 27, 2018 1:34 AM

Ha r67! Re-read your reply at r58 and ^^^^ that one. You are right out of the PR production playbook. Good job, fucktard! #keepitrealdumb

by Anonymousreply 68August 27, 2018 1:44 AM

r67 also believes everything said about Hillary and most likely voted for Trump.

by Anonymousreply 69August 27, 2018 1:46 AM

R55 Wow, this is what happened to Chris March (from his Gofundme.) It’s pretty terrible:

Dear everyone, today is the one year anniversary of my accident, so I wanted to tell you what happened so you hear it from me...here goes: I fell and hit my head in my apartment. It’s that simple. I passed out and laid there for 4 days. I woke up and called 911 and somehow got to the hospital. In the hospital all sorts of medical problems happened: My blood sugar was over 500. My organs started failing, my right lung collapsed, and they had to give me a tracheotomy and put me on a ventilator. From there they put me in a medically induced coma. My kidneys failed, my lung kept collapsing, my gall bladder was infected. I had a wound on my right leg. My body went septic. The coma lasted about 2 months. I came close to death many times—they called my family and they were told if they wanted to say goodbye to come right away. Somehow I miraculously woke up—I couldn’t talk and didn’t know where I was for a couple of months. I ended up being paralyzed in both legs from the knees down. My right hand and arm are paralyzed. I have been convalescing and doing physical therapy for many months. I am currently in a medical facility in Northern California. They get me into a wheelchair so I can go outside sometimes. This has been a long and extremely difficult journey, physically and emotionally. And I have a long way to go, just like Dorothy. I could not have survived without my family and friends. I deeply appreciate everyone who has donated to the Go Fund Me page. I have good days and bad days and the worst days you can imagine, but I still have my brain, and for that miracle I am forever grateful. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement. As always, your friend Chris March (I have also lost 160 lbs.)

by Anonymousreply 70August 27, 2018 1:47 AM

Not R58, cunt. Two different people. And I will definitely vote for Trump before I am on the same side as you on anything. What assholes. PLEASE tell me you are female.

by Anonymousreply 71August 27, 2018 1:48 AM

Sorry r58 !

r67 = Jan with all the Mommie issues!

by Anonymousreply 73August 27, 2018 1:53 AM

[Quote] I will definitely vote for Trump

Will? You already did, hon.

[Quote] PLEASE tell me you are female.

More Mommie issues?

by Anonymousreply 74August 27, 2018 1:56 AM

What R25 said. At the time of S1, Wendy was [bold]not[/bold] popular on DL, and was dragged [bold]a lot[/bold]; and this remained the case for numerous post-S1 PR threads in which she was brought up. However, as is so often the case for the deceased, she’s being sanctified and history is being rewritten (even though it is all on tape).

On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed Vanessa Riley’s interview linked at R24. I have always been curious about the behind-the-scenes goings on at PR, and the contestants have almost always been so overwhelmingly and artificially positively gushing. It was nice to get a different perspective… and rather than her coming across as angry to me – as others likely labeled her – she seemed refreshingly candid.

by Anonymousreply 75August 27, 2018 2:02 AM

Thanks OP, for starting this thread. I had no idea that she had died. I've enjoyed reading the comments here. I thought that the very first season of Project Runway was the best but it was the worst for contestants because it was such a shoe=string budget and the contestants didn't really receive anything. It's ashame that more of these people are not breakout designers. The only one I ever really hear about is Christian Siriano and I don't know what season he was on.

Too bad about Wendy. But, she made a mark in this world.

by Anonymousreply 76August 27, 2018 2:05 AM

[Quote] At the time of S1, Wendy was not popular on DL, and was dragged a lot

Nowhere in this thread said she WAS. What are you talking about?

by Anonymousreply 77August 27, 2018 2:06 AM

I think Pepper's reevaluation began pretty much after the season was over. Reality TV was in its infancy during S1 and she played the part the editors gave her. Later villains like Poison Ivy Higa show just how mild Wendy Pepper really was.

by Anonymousreply 78August 27, 2018 2:22 AM

According to Reddit she died of pneumonia complications 5 months after being diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. I can’t find what type of cancer it was but it sounds very aggressive, like pancreatic maybe? Anyway it’s sad. She was only 53.

by Anonymousreply 79August 27, 2018 3:00 AM

Vanessa sounds poisonous in that interview. I don't remember her at all in S1. She made a funny point about all the production people being very good looking.

by Anonymousreply 80August 27, 2018 3:39 AM

How can I watch S1?

Who won the most recent All Stars? Please, not Ken.

by Anonymousreply 81August 27, 2018 4:19 AM

R77 You just join us in progress, hon?

I don't think the interview with Vanessa is poisonous at all. I think it's incredibly candid and on point. She's obviously pissed off. but her remarks about how the people who are drawn to being on reality TV are messed up, and how the shows exploit that, are pretty obviously true.

I'm sorry Wendy became ill and has died. That's incredibly sad. But turning her into a saint is ludicrous. She was a guileful scheming person , at least in terms of the show, and that was always apparent.

by Anonymousreply 83August 27, 2018 6:33 AM

[Quote] Oh dear. Mess.

Still at it, r82 / r83 / hon? That's sweet.

Oh and it's, Oh, dear. Kisses!

by Anonymousreply 84August 27, 2018 6:37 AM

Vanessa's rantings were that of a bitter has-been who thinks too highly of herself. On the reunion special, everyone, including Jay, said that what she said was total BS, done to explain why she was dismissed and the rest was just sour grapes.

by Anonymousreply 86August 27, 2018 5:02 PM

Incidentally, Vanessa herself disavowed the interview when she realized that her words were having an effect on the sales at her store, which had since closed. So she's also a hypocrite.

by Anonymousreply 87August 27, 2018 5:05 PM

The "we love Wendy" frau has killed this thread.

by Anonymousreply 88August 27, 2018 5:14 PM

Still going on about it, r88 / r13 / r56 / r82 / r83, dear?

We still don't agree with you, hon.

by Anonymousreply 89August 27, 2018 5:35 PM

I think most of what Vanessa said was true. The problem, and it's a big problem, was that she put down mgost of the other contestants. I don't think her assessment of them all being beneath her was accurate. She was correct that being a designer isn't the same as being a quick seamstress. The show rewards people who are fast at sewing. People who been designing for a while will have other people doing the grunt work. The show doesn't take the coat labor into account with it's budgets. She also had a point that they all gave up a lot to go on the show. The show owns designs that they present on the show. If they have an established business or job they'll have to take time off. Again the only really bad part was the way she put herself abov everyone else. That part was really bad though. It's hard to take her valid criticism seriously after that self serving bull shit.

by Anonymousreply 90August 27, 2018 9:20 PM

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