The Untold Truth Of Project Runway

If you thought creating an evening gown from scratch in less than 24 hours was the most challenging part of competing on Project Runway, think again. According to Sara Rea, one of the show's producers, the designers "usually get up about 5 a.m., if not earlier." After getting ready, receiving their challenges, sketching, and going to Mood Fabrics, they return to the workroom and work until 11 p.m. or midnight. The process is so intense, in fact, Rea admits they implement mandatory lunch breaks. "They'll get so focused that they won't eat," she said in an interview with The A.V. Club. "That's not good for them or us or anyone. We just do rotations so that everyone eats at different times within the same hour block."

Add in being followed around by a camera for 18 hours a day, and that's when the real fun begins. Diana Eng, who competed on the show's 2005-2006 season, told New York magazine she was often awakened by the camera crew standing over her. "One morning they scared me so bad I jumped and screamed. They said that wasn't good, so I had to pretend to wake up again."