Dear Ven Budhu of Project Runway…

Dear Ven Budhu of Project Runway…you are what’s wrong with the fashion industry. In your rude, unthoughtful, and abrasive words, you have proven in last night’s episode that you are not fashion designer material. 

When faced with designing for an average-sized American woman, who deserved a lot more than what you gave her, you used words like “I’m in shock” and “very dissapointed.” Those should have been the words poor Terri used when she found out you were her designer.

According to you “wide waist and hip lines” are “definitely challenging.” Stating that you couldn’t work on her figure, that she had no sense of style, and her before picture was a nightmare proved to me that you have no insight as to how to address a woman respectfully.

How do you think you can design for women, if you can’t even appreciate the natural shape of a woman’s body?

Then when Tim Gunn asked you what size Terri was, you gasped “Oh my God…a 14.” Did you or have you even realized that one of the world’s best designers (and your judge) Michael Kors also designs plus size clothing? Or that the plus size industry was worth $17 billion is sales last year, according to ABC News?

And then to berate Terri right in front of her face stating that you were “surprised” at how beautiful she looked after she got her hair makeover. Constantly reminding her that nothing fit her and how she looked before she was honored with your presence, apparently God’s gift to fashion.

I really hope you take time to reach out and apologize to Terri, after you treated her the way you did. Not because you feel like you have to, but because she is a human being that deserves to be treated with respect. Maybe you can even take a few tips from your fellow contestants like Gunnar who said that it was “extremely important to design for the average woman” and was actually excited about it. Duhhh…those are the women who will more likely waste money on your clothes.

Unlike a lot of people who have written about your behavior, I’m not going to sit here and make any comments about your physical appearance. That would be lowering myself to your level.

I seriously thought a long time before writing this, not wanting to give you the time of day on my blog. But, I do know that if you ever decide to take your career seriously, you need to know the face of one of the many women you’ve pissed off. Not that you’ll care…or make anything for me to wear anyways.

Truly disappointed,

Monique Frausto

Founder, Curves and Chaos

P.S. Terri you are an amazingly beautiful woman. Contact me and I’ll put you in contact with REAL designers who create clothing for women of all sizes.

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