Korto Says She's "Annoyed" Over Project Runway Elimination. Catch Our Exclusive Interview Here! - Stylehive

Most of us cannot even imagine what it must be like to be in the final two, knowing full well that one person is about to realize her dream while the other will have fallen short. It's just the scenario that played out on last night's Project Runway finale, where the last five minutes saw Leanne and Korto waiting to hear Heidi say just one name. Korto's disappointment was palpable as her face fell at the announcement- it couldn't have been more of a departure from the elation she exhibited during the runway show. I spoke to Korto about her reaction, her thoughts on Leanne's work, and her future plans. Read on to find out what she had to say, and click the SLIDESHOW to see her collection on the runway at Bryant Park.

Stylehive: So what was your initial reaction to the results?
Korto: I was a little annoyed, a little peeved...definitely disappointed. I thought I was going to win, and when you hear someone else's name called...you could just see my whole face drop€¦oh god, are you kidding me? I guess that was my destiny, to be 2nd€¦but life goes on, there will be other things for me, bigger things, better things.

Stylehive: What was going through your mind when you decided to start two new dresses?
Korto: I was a little bit annoyed because I thought they were going to like my wedding dress, but they hated it...because of all the work I put into my wedding dress€¦that means that I had to make something else that looked like the equivalent amount of work€¦.I had simple pieces and some that were intricate€¦so taking the wedding dress out I was going to have to make something that was really going to make a difference. That€™s why I ended up making the extra dress to balance it out€¦it was hard, it was tough, but I had to do it, I had to make sure I had a collection I could be proud of.

Stylehive: What was it like showing at Bryant Park? You looked like you were having a great time.
Korto: It was amazing. Once everything was done, and my models were out there, and my music was on.. you know, I'm a dancer, so I was dancing, having a great time€¦my family was out there€¦after that point, honestly, I wanted to win, I felt like a winner right there. That was the moment I wished for all along€¦to get to Bryant Park, and I was finally there.

Stylehive: What did you think about the judges' remarks?
Korto: I thought they were fair in their critique€¦the only thing with me that they mentioned, that they wanted to see more prints and colors€¦.i thought my collection was colorful enough for me, personally€¦honestly, I didn€™t really care what the judges though€¦I was proud of it...I wasn't going to let anything they said dampen it. All it all it was a good critique, and I thought I was going to win.

Stylehive: What did you think of Leanne's collection
Korto: I thought her collection was beautiful€¦I think her stuff is more like pieces of art. Personally for me I don€™t think they€™re very wearable on a lot of different women, like unless you wear models' sizes or a size 6...I couldn€™t wear it. I love her pieces, I think they€™re gorgeous but I think she€™s definitely going to have go back and figure out a way to make them more ready to wear. I love leanne and I love the work that she does, I wish her all the best, there€™s no jealousy in that win, I thought she was very deserving of it. I wish her all the best.

Stylehive: What was your favorite challenge?
Korto: Definitely it would have to be the drag queen and the musical genre. I really loved the seatbelt challenge.. I loved the outfit, not so much the challenge.

Stylehive: And your least favorite?
Korto: It would definitely have to be the second challenge, where the models got to pick the fabric, that was the worst! To this day I can't even watch that episode....if a marathon is on I'll cut it off and go back to it after that episode, I just don't want to relive it! But other than that, they were great, there€™s so many things that you guys don€™t get to see.

Stylehive: What are you going to take away from your experience on the show?
Korto: It really makes you know yourself as a designer, know your strengths and weaknesses. I learned a whole lot of new things, new techniques that I picked up. Being on the show meant having to do things quickly. It really gives you a thick skin, you know, there are going to be people who are talking about you right now on blogs, there are people who love and who hate me, and it just really makes you appreciate who you are, and your family. My family loves me and they protect me, I have a really strong, strong base around me, I just stay grounded€¦make sure my feet are on the ground and not get caught up in this celebrity-ism. I treat people how I want to be treated, with respect. From other people's experiences on this show I've learned that you cannot take anything back on television so really watch what you say and what you do so there's nothing you're ashamed of when it airs.

Stylehive: What's next for you?
Korto: Everything. Right now I don't have any immediate plans for anything specific. I€™m definitely hoping to show in February for Fashion Week and I€™m working on other ways, trying to get my line out€¦hopefully I€™ll get a call from someone who wants to buy Korto, someone who believes in my collection and believes in the work that I do and the vision that I have for women and clothing. I have a website, KortoMomolu.com, people can check in on there and see what's coming up for me in the near future. February of next year I've been invited by the president of my country (Liberia) to show there, be a part of a women's conference, and she's going to wear one of my designs, so that's a great honor, and it means I get to return home because of the show, so I'm excited about that.

Stylehive: Anything else you'd like to add?
Korto: Just thanks to all the fans, they're so supportive of me and helped me get where I am now, and just for people who are like me, whether they're immigrants or moms, wives, just women who are out there doing so much for other people, just do something you're passionate about, just go for it, and keep doing it. Never in a million years did I think I'd be sitting here doing Project Runway, the sky's the limit for me, and for everyone else.