Zamora: ‘Runway’ drama was overplayed

Hawaii designer Kini Zamora said producers of the just-concluded “Project Runway All Stars” on Lifetime warned him that the one of main story lines of the season would be an apparent feud between Zamora and Boston designer Sam Donovan.

During the contentious fashion competition, Zamora saw his reputation for being a soft-spoken, fan favorite during his original “Project Runway” Season 13 appearance turned upside down. Viewers and reviewers called Zamora out on social media for appearing “catty,” “snarky” or “petty.”

In Thursday’s season finale, Zamora was rewarded with a second-place finish behind Philadelphia, Pa., designer Dom Streater, the first woman to win “All Stars.” Back home, Zamora said he is relieved the episodes he taped 10 months ago have screened and to have a chance to clear the air about the story line the producers had months to craft and which he chalked up in part to “creative editing.”

“I wasn’t surprised because producers warned me, ‘You and Sam are a story line,’ so I knew already.

“We played around a lot in social media, like how it was in the show,” he said, fueling rumors about the continuing feud. “The other designers saw it as me joking but others saw me as being a mean person.

“I can’t change anything that came out of my mouth, but I didn’t bash anyone. I tried to keep it professional by giving constructive criticism, and the judges and other designers were saying the same things too. But the producers only used me as the bad one. I said a lot of good things and I was kind of bummed that they never used the good stuff I said.”

In one incident, Donovan accused Zamora of glaring at him from across the room, but Zamora said he was merely staring into space, thinking about what needed to be done, or was often sitting down, bored, because he finished so much quicker than the others.

The story line fell into place beginning in the third episode, when Zamora and Donovan were teamed up to dress the female singers of country music act Little Big Town for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Building on his reputation as a fast worker, Zamora finished his pieces quickly and helped Donovan by finishing his pair of pants and creating a top. The look he created for Donovan earned high praise, and for avid viewers of the show, it was a deja vu moment. This also happened to Zamora in his initial “Project Runway” appearance, when he created the look that gave Sean Kelly a first place win. Kelly went on to win the season that had Zamora finishing in third place.

He and Kelly remain good friends today, the difference being that, “Sean did say I helped him on stage.”

Donovan did not acknowledge Zamora’s help, even in subsequent episodes that had Zamora giving him extra fabric when none of the other designers would help Donovan. Yet, Donovan paid him back with insults, including suggesting Zamora is a great sewer, but not a designer.

“They played it that way for ratings, so they needed something like that,” Zamora said.