You won! Now what the hell do you do?

Photo: Getty Images

Maybe you want to double-check that reality show application you've been secretly poking away at.

Or at least do your homework and first read this long (long) New York magazine story about what exactly happens to the winners of Bravo's big meritocracy contests -- Project Runway and Top Chef in particular -- when the winner is crowned and sent home without the cameras. Short answer: Not much.

The problem is that reality-show success is no substitute for real-world experience. "There is something a little bit cruel about all the attention," says Ted Allen, the dignified cooking guru of Bravo's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and a recurring judge on Top Chef. "Because during the season you're in one of the shows, you are famous for a while, and you get to enjoy all the fun of that. But you're not someone who has any sort of expertise that's going to keep you on television. There's no certain road map for translating that kind of ephemeral success into a life of yachts and bling."

If you've ever wondered why your favorite contestant ended up on some hideously awful reheated cable show, the answer is that the devil is often in the details of their original contract. And that a little bit of celebrity, as we all know, can make you do stupid things.

If that's not enough to fix your Bravo jones until the next season of Runway starts, you can also wait impatiently for the September issue of Out, coming to a newsstand or bookstore near you in the next couple weeks. Features editor Bill Keith masterminded a photoshoot with five favorite alums -- all in various states of undress. Plus, Tim Gunn reveals his least favorite contestant -- probably not at all who you're expecting -- and the most shocking moment in Runway history.

In the meantime, here, have some hot nearly naked pics of Marc Jacobs, also from the upcoming issue.

Comments

[el madartista]

omg Marc Jacobs.