'Project Runway' Results: Gordana Gehlhausen Elimination Interview

In last night's double elimination episode of 'Project Runway,' the last male finalist, Christopher Straub, was sent packing, as was the fourth place finisher, self-taught designer and boutique owner (and Yugoslavian native) Gordana Gehlhausen.

Gehlhausen, who owns two clothing boutiques, in South Carolina and San Diego, won one challenge during the season, spent a few weeks in the bottom three and several more in the top three or getting the trademark Heidi Klum "You're in" pass, but says she knew fairly early on in the season that the judges wouldn't be sending her to show in New York Fashion Week.

The day after her elimination from 'Project Runway's sixth season, Gehlhausen talked to AOL TV about the pretty dress she created in the finale, the weirdness of this season's judging efforts, her goals to inspire younger creative types and how she thinks 'Project Runway' could learn a thing or two from 'So You Think You Can Dance.'

Your dress for the final challenge was so pretty, which seemed to be the opinion of all the judges, too, and they really didn't like Althea's outfit -- so were you surprised that you went home instead of her?
No, I wasn't surprised. I knew, from the middle of the [season], that they didn't want me to be in the top three. I knew it, from the way the judges were talking to me. And so, I thought that if I could make it to the top six, I would be lucky. But I wanted to walk away with dignity and create something that I am totally proud of. I wanted to get the judges completely out of my head and just create, having thoughts of my family and thoughts of my friends, the things that inspire me.

So did you feel like the judging was fair, then? Especially since they seemed to overwhelmingly like the dress, except for one little comment about the zipper.
I know. And there was the contradiction, because they did like the dress and I think I would have been the winner of the challenge, but then they had said at the top of the show that there would be two eliminations, so you couldn't have me win the challenge and then be sent home, so I think they needed to find something [negative] to say about the dress to justify sending me home. In one way, it's sad, but on the other hand, I have always learned in life that success is the best revenge. Every time in life when someone told me, "No you can't," I have proven them wrong, so now I am more determined than ever to show my collection at Bryant Park some day.

In seasons past, the top four finalists did get to create a collection and go to Fashion Week ...
The saddest thing is that this is the first time they're not letting the top four create a collection and show at Bryant Park. I'm sad about that, because we're all struggling artists, we're all struggling designers, and to have a [collection] of any kind of quality, you need to have the money for fabrics and whatever other materials you are using. And 'Project Runway' gives [the finalists] $9,000 to do that, and if I had that money and I had that opportunity, I know I would have created something for people to never really forget.

Even though you felt the judges had decided they weren't going to put you in the top three sometime earlier in the season, are you happy you did the show, and got the exposure of being there through the final challenge?
Oh, yes. My main goal was to be there long enough to be an inspiration for people with my background, and that's why I repeated the fact of where I'm from. Because if I had had a show like this when I was 10 years old and I was lost and I was told there was no future for me, it would have given me wings to fly. And to see that someone who didn't even speak [English], who ran away from home, didn't go to design school and made it to the show -- and made it to the top four -- that was the main message for me.

There was a lot of criticism of the judging process this season. What is your overall take on the frequent guest judges and the fact that the judging process seemed kind of off this season?
Do you ever watch 'So You Think You Can Dance'? You know how the judges on that show always seem respectful when they're critiquing? It's constructive criticism. I wish they would adopt that on 'Project Runway,' because as it is now, it kind of makes the designers create from a place of fear. Even if you're not the one hearing the harsh comments from the judges, you see it happening to other people and it puts that thought in your mind. And that's not the best way to be creative, to have to create from a place of fear.

What's next for you?
This is kind of the first time in my life where I'm totally open to new possibilities. Before, my children were too small and I couldn't go anywhere, or I always had some other ties. This is the first time where I am open to whatever opportunities come my way.