Project Runway’s Gretchen Jones: “I know in my heart I’m a good person”

*This post contains spoilers for last week’s finale of Project Runway*

I am still really angry over the Project Runway finale, and I’m still of the opinion that Gretchen is a horrible person, in addition to being a horrible designer. I’m still of the opinion that Project Runway has jumped the shark too, with Gretchen’s anointment as the winner being the final nail in whatever credibility Project Runway might have had (go here for my rant). Now, it is perfectly normal for the PR winner to give a high-profile exit-interview, as it were, once the winner has been announced. Gretchen gave her interview to People Magazine, and it pissed me off so much, I can barely see straight. Instead of basically taking the tact of “I stand by my collection, haters gonna hate” Gretchen seemed to go off in her usual passive-aggressive, narcissistic, C-U-Next Tuesday way. Because all that she’s learned from this experience is that if she acts like a nasty bitch, she’ll win a huge fashion competition:

Although two of the four judges argued against her collection on Thursday’s heated season finale of Project Runway, winner Gretchen Jones isn’t offended.

“At that point, I was just pretty elated that I even got to present on national TV,” she tells PEOPLE. “I feel proud that Michael Kors and Nina Garcia fought for me and could see my potential. They’re both huge industry leaders, and it means a lot to me.”

Kors and Garcia went head-to-head with host Heidi Klum and guest judge Jessica Simpson, both of whom fought hard for fan favorite Mondo Guerra, who presented a youthful, colorful runway show. “His collection was really true to Mondo,” Jones says. “It really showed his potential as a designer, and I’m proud of him for staying true to himself, because that is more important than anything else. He’s going to go far.”

Jones, an early favorite, was somewhat vilified as the season went on, and at times, saw her fellow designers turn against her. “I knew there was a risk . . . you can be portrayed however the producers care to do it. It’s TV – we all need an antagonist, an underdog, in order to fulfill our desire to watch.”

And even though the results of one group challenge prompted normally mellow mentor Tim Gunn to call Jones a “bully,” she takes the bad press in stride. “It hurt my feelings, but in a way it helped me to have more exposure, because I was talked about, whether you liked me or not,” she says. “I know in my heart I’m a good person.”

With the Season 8 win under her stylish belt, Jones plans to move to New York City soon to “move forward with the opportunity that will hopefully present itself,” she says. “I’d love to get a mentorship with someone the likes of Michael Kors, someone that can guide me into being the designer I want to be.”

The move will also allow her to leave a tough recent past behind, one that included an empty bank account and broken relationship.

“I’ve really embraced this transitional time. Having a true ‘phoenix rising from the ashes’ moment is not something many people get,” she says. “I don’t have anything holding me back, and in actuality, that is a luxury. It’ll make me a brighter version of myself, and that will translate into my future designs.”

[From People]

Let‘s go point by point: “I knew there was a risk . . . you can be portrayed however the producers care to do it. It’s TV – we all need an antagonist, an underdog, in order to fulfill our desire to watch.” No, honey. It wasn’t the editing, and you‘re not a fashion martyr. You’re a bad designer, you have no taste, and you’re a two-faced, unprofessional bitch.

Next: “It hurt my feelings… I know in my heart I’m a good person.” No, you’re not. Tim Gunn is an excellent judge of character, and when he calls you out on your bullsh-t, you’ve got issues.

Next, on Mondo’s collection: “It really showed his potential as a designer, and I’m proud of him for staying true to himself, because that is more important than anything else. He’s going to go far.” Why do her compliments always sound like they’re coming from the nastiest place? I read this as very sanctimonious and patronizing. Like she thinks that because she won, she can anoint him as being almost as good as her sh-t? Ugh.

Last: “Having a true ‘phoenix rising from the ashes’ moment is not something many people get…” Because in her mind, she’s Jesus. Ugh. God, I hate her.