Jack Attack: Catching up with Jack Mackenroth

Most of us were introduced to Jack Mackenroth from his turn on the fourth season of Project Runway and famous departure due to infection. Since leaving the show, he’s been charging full speed ahead – excelling in multiple arenas that are as diverse as they come. Jack simultaneously balances designing, blogging, modeling, advocating and competitive swimming. It makes one wonder if Mackenroth is familiar with terms like, “vacation,” or “relaxing.” A quick Google search pulls up thousands of entries documenting his various projects; speaking engagements, interviews, modeling, and more mixed in with a good helping of fanfare from Project Runway fanatics. I recently got to catch up with Mackenroth, and chat about life after Heidi Klum and what’s next up for the advocate/designer. Be prepared to be impressed, Jack’s one busy man.

It’s been about a year and a half now since we saw you on Project Runway. Bring us up to date on what you have been up to since?

WOW.  It’s been crazy. I can barely remember the whirlwind. Besides a ton of appearances and speaking engagements–here’s the laundry list: I was in an episode of Law and Order SVU as a corpse.(super fun) I had a cameo in the Sex and the City movie. (love SJP) I was in a video for the band Telling on Trixie. I did a Saturn commercial in which I made my own outfit inspired by the car. I’ve been on the covers of HIVplus, POZ, David, Gloss, Envy, Lavender magazine, Ambiente Magazine, HX and others. I made a dress for Heather Tom for the daytime Emmy’s and walked the red carpet with her. I went on the TODAY show with Tiki Barber. I’ve designed t-shirts for 3 different companies. I covered this past New York Fashion week and got to interview amazing designers and models for LOGO’s PopLab (the gay channel here in the US).

So you certainly have gained the most visibility from your stint on Project Runway. What was the most surprising thing that’s come of being on such a popular show?

There have been so many opportunities since the show. I’ve had the opportunity to get involved in HIV education through my campaign Living Positive by Design, which is a partnership with Merck. We’ve been working to battle the stigma that still exists, 25 years later. I regularly receive emails from people all over the world, and although I’m not a doctor, I do my best to direct people to resources to help them best manage being HIV positive. I think it’s important for people to get on a treatment regimen that is tolerable, so they stay on treatment and to have an undetectable viral load, the ultimate goal of treatment. I think what’s surprising is the outpouring of positive feedback I received from being open about my HIV status. Knowing what I was getting into when I told the producers before taping, I really felt that the world needed to see how I live.

I think I could have made a good go at being in the final 3 if I had not left the show early, but I really believe that everything happens for a reason.  Christian is an amazing talent and I knew he was going to win early on. I’m so proud of all he has accomplished.

Of course everyone wants to know what Heidi and the judges are like. Give us some dish!

Heidi is just like you see on TV, gorgeous and kind, although she has a kind of goofy, quirky side. Maybe it’s her German roots. Maybe Seal is giving her a little special somethin’.

Nina is the one that gets the bad rap. Everyone thinks she is mean but in real life she is probably the warmest one. Whenever I have seen her since the show she always gives me a big hug. I adore her.

Michael is witty as hell but he was obviously there to do a job. I think he was the best judge technically because he knows all about construction but I don’t even think he knows our names.

Tim is a delight. He is everything you would expect him to be. And off camera he’s hilarious. He loses a tiny bit of his prim and proper persona and he can dish with the best of us.

Christian Siriano ended up winning your season even though you had emerged as an early favorite. Do you ever look back and say, “I should have found a way to stay, that could have been me?”

Truthfully, yes. If I would have stayed I think I could have made a good go at the final 3 but everything happens for a reason. Christian is an amazing talent and I knew he was going to win early on. I’m so proud of all he has accomplished. My life is headed more into the TV realm and I don’t think that would of happened of I had won. So in a way it was a lucky accident.

Siriano recently said the Project Runway gave him a forum, but it probably isn’t the best outlet if you want to be taken seriously as a designer, do you agree?

Well I have talked to him about that–we are still very close–and there is a bit of an illusion created that you can win a reality TV show and become the next big fashion designer. It’s not realistic, especially in this economy. To really launch a line on a massive scale takes hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. Christian is a bit of a fluke because he makes such great TV as well. There is rarely such a huge payoff for such a little bit of time spent working in the industry. To guarantee longevity in fashion design it’s probably best to go about it the old fashioned way (pun intended). You go to design school and practice your skills and start working for another designer and learning the business. Then you branch out on your own if you want to eventually.

Looking back, what was the experience like?

It was surreal and amazing. We were in this bizarre fashion vacuum with no external distractions. No phones, no TV no music or reading material. We couldn’t even talk to the production staff. We were only allowed to talk to each other. However it was conducive to some amazing friendships. I am still tight with Kevin, Kit, Sweet P, and Christian. Project Runway was like fashion camp on crack. I don’t think the public even understood a modicum of how insanely difficult it really was.

So tell us more about who you still talk to from the show?

I see Kevin Christiana every week and I talk to Kit and Christian all the time. Both Kevin and Jillian Lewis came to my recent birthday party. I am still in contact with Victorya and Sweet P as well. Generally our season’s cast got along really well. Currently, I am working on developing a reality TV show with Kevin Christiana.

Do you mind sharing some details about your upcoming show with Kevin Christiana? What can viewers look forward to seeing?

I will be developing a design TV show with Monument TV and Film and Project Runway alum Kevin Christiana.  We have been pitching various reincarnations of the show and are finally inking a deal, so that is very exciting!  The show is a reality show, but not competition-based.  I am a big fan of the shows that involve talent, like Project Runway, American Idol and Top Chef.

Even though you obviously did your time on a reality show, does it ever seem like the whole genre getting a little tired?

You know I thought that too when we were pitching our design show–which is a reality show–though not competition based. But there still seems to be a huge viewership for these types of programs and they are very cost effective to make. You don’t have to pay the talent (we weren’t given a penny) and there is very little production cost. I am a big fan of the shows that involve talent, like Runway or American Idol or Top Chef. When it becomes trashy voyeurism I tend to lose interest. Shows like the Bachelor or I Love New York or that awful one with Brett Michaels are just train wrecks.  Even Bravo is pushing it with the whole Real Housewives series. I think the people that go on those shows aren’t in on the joke that everyone is laughing at them, not with them.

So I must ask; do the perks of reality stardom do wonders for your dating life?

HAHAHAHA!!!!  Quite the opposite, I think people who have seen me on TV have a preconceived notion about me so they don’t talk to me. Maybe they are intimidated-though they shouldn’t be. I thought that I would have guys banging down my door but it’s nothing but crickets. It takes a strong personality to be Jack Mackenroth’s boyfriend. That’s why I know when I find him it will just click. Like a camera shutter. Smile and pose.

What was the biggest lesson you learned from being on the show?

The biggest lesson I have learned from being on the show is that you need to be kind, be yourself and for me that meant being out as an HIV positive person and being a role model. I’ve been blogging about my experiences on the show that you can read about on www.jackmackenroth.com.

Have you been doing much designing since you left the show?

Not as much as I would like, but there are only so many hours in a day. I am working on a group fashion show with Kit (pistol) Scarbo, Kevin Christiana and Sweet P from my season of Project Runway which will be held in Miami in May. Other than that I am just doing commissions and specialty design projects. I just don’t have time (or the financial backers) to do a full line right now.

You’re very vocal about being HIV positive, when did you decide to take the step from someone who’s not ashamed to become an advocate and a face for people living with HIV/AIDS?

Being on the show has allowed me a lot of opportunities, but I think that the most important thing I have done is my HIV advocacy work. I knew I would be looked to as a role model because there are so few people who are public about their HIV status and I was happy to take on that responsibility. I think I was edited pretty true to life on the show.  I am an HIV positive man who takes care of myself and pursues all my goals and dreams without thinking twice.

How have you leveraged your popularity from the show to get you to where you are today?
As far as leveraging my popularity, I think it all boils down to hard work. I make the most of every opportunity and I am involved in a lot of different fields. I pursue every lead that I can accommodate into my schedule and I try to remain optimistic. It’s a lot of work but it can be very rewarding. With a lot of projects I agree to, I never know what endeavor is actually going to come to fruition. I just have to hope I make wise choices and keep my name and face out there.

Right now you’re involved with two HIV-related initiatives, Living Positive by Design and then the radio show POZ I AM. It is clear that you’re trying to get out a message to people who are living with HIV/AIDS and also help battle the stigma associated with the disease. Tell us more about your advocacy work?

I am very passionate about my HIV education campaign in partnership with Merck called Living Positive by Design (www.LivingPositiveByDesign.com), which aims to combat the stigma associated with HIV by engaging people in thoughtful conversation about the disease.  I hope to fight the stigma of HIV by increasing visibility and speaking openly about living with HIV for more than 20 years.  I’ve been touring all over the country with the program for the last year. We also speak directly to HIV-positive individuals about partnering with a doctor and getting on a tolerable treatment regimen.  The ultimate goal of any HIV-positive individual is to maintain an undetectable viral load.  We need to advocate for our own healthcare, and the stigma and fear keep people from being honest with their doctors, families and partners.  That needs to stop.

I have also been co-hosting the internet radio show POZ I AM every Wednesday at 2 pm EST. Listeners can log onto blogtalkradio.com/poziam and hear the live stream.  We recently interviewed diminutive drag diva Ongina from RuPaul’s Drag Race. She is fabulous. POZ I AM is a great show and source of information for the HIV community.

In your busy schedule, how do you have time to fit in competitive swimming?

It’s important to me to keep in great shape, so I force myself to make time for it.  Swimming has always been a passion of mine and I have been competing since I was six.  I work out a lot because it maintains my health and my sanity.  Right now I am swimming about 5 times a week for 2 hours a day and then I also lift weights at the gym.  I have been in the last 5 Gay Games and I am currently training for the Outgames at the end of July.  The competition is very serious but we also have a lot of fun.  Who doesn’t love hot men in Speedos?  When I am physically powerful I feel mentally powerful as well.  I can only be my best self.  I certainly don’t mean to glamorize HIV by sending a message that says “look at me! I’m a model and I have HIV.  It’s a cake walk!”  That’s absolutely not the case.  I hope I am sending the message that in many cases HIV is manageable with the right medications and I am ONE example of someone living a happy, successful life with HIV.

And finally, what can we expect next from you?

My Living Positive By Design campaign is touring the country, and we are planning events in San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia before the year is over.  Information on our upcoming events can be found at www.LivingPositiveByDesign.com.  I also just signed on as the East Coast Correspondent for Fashion News Live (www.myFNL.com), so I will be covering all things fashion in New York.  I am swimming almost every day as well. There are rumblings here and there about being a guest judge on some upcoming shows but that is only chatter at the moment.

All of that is keeping me really busy right now. I want to do more designing but right now I just don’t have the time.  Hopefully the TV show will take off and I can develop a brand based on what we design on the show.  Beyond that, I would love to be married and living in New York with my dog (which I don’t have yet).  You can always find out more about what I am doing at jackmackenroth.com.

About the Author: Jen Gage

Hi! I love following celebrity gossip, fashion trends, events, and then keeping everyone I know up to date. I'm always keeping an eye out for the next big thing.

Jen Gage has written 15 articles for us.