Jonny Cota’s openness about his sexuality didn’t come over night
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The SKINGRAFT founder loves to design for his customers, and he gives off a bit of a darker edge with his personal fashion choices. Although, when you get to know some details about this Los Angeles resident, he seems just as relaxed as the next southern California surfer dude. The designer admits to loving Cher, lights up when he talks about his puppy, Olive, and previously revealed that if he was stuck on an island and could pick any food to live off of, his choice would be coconuts (per YouTube).
The designer is also a proud gay man and is very open about his sexuality. However, the level of openness he has with his sexuality today didn’t come overnight. “I had a really loving family, but I was raised very religious. Once you start realizing you’re gay and different and not seeing a place for you in the world if you don’t have examples of strong gay leaders around you,” Cota revealed in an interview with Instinct, adding that he was eventually able to see his differences as a source of power. “It just took me years of starting to appreciate my own power and realizing that my gayness was a total gift and I was unique, and it was leading me down a path of total creative lifestyle,” he added.
The Truth About Making The Cut Season 1 Winner Jonny Cota
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By Agnes Erickson/Dec. 1, 2021 9:22 am EST
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As it turns out, the two reality shows are actually pretty similar. Both feature fashion designers competing in a series of difficult design challenges for the number one spot, and both are very binge-worthy.
“Project Runway” has already produced some incredibly successful designers during the show’s 19 seasons on the air, including Season 4 winner Christian Siriano and Season 16 winner Kentaro Kameyama, the latter of whom was promoted to Design Chair while teaching at LA’s FCI Fashion School, US Weekly reported.
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Cota also made some ultra-serious attempts to make it as a designer before winning the show, although his start in fashion likely brought a few more laughs than focused frowns. Speaking to Euphoria, the “Making the Cut” winner discussed how he found his way into the world of fashion design, revealing, “I got my start as a circus performer and when I was in the circus, I was making costumes, which kind of led to a ready to wear collection when I moved to LA.”
Jonny Cota founded a fashion brand with his brother
During an interview with Euphoria, Cota shed light on his design process. “For every collection, I start by creating a mood board. Maybe I’m pulling from this far off cultural inspiration and a 70’s film, then mashing it up with rave culture silhouettes, combining them all together to create something new, but having all of these historical references throughout,” he revealed.
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Jonny Cota’s openness about his sexuality didn’t come over night
Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images
The SKINGRAFT founder loves to design for his customers, and he gives off a bit of a darker edge with his personal fashion choices. Although, when you get to know some details about this Los Angeles resident, he seems just as relaxed as the next southern California surfer dude. The designer admits to loving Cher, lights up when he talks about his puppy, Olive, and previously revealed that if he was stuck on an island and could pick any food to live off of, his choice would be coconuts (per YouTube).
The designer is also a proud gay man and is very open about his sexuality. However, the level of openness he has with his sexuality today didn’t come overnight. “I had a really loving family, but I was raised very religious. Once you start realizing you’re gay and different and not seeing a place for you in the world if you don’t have examples of strong gay leaders around you,” Cota revealed in an interview with Instinct, adding that he was eventually able to see his differences as a source of power. “It just took me years of starting to appreciate my own power and realizing that my gayness was a total gift and I was unique, and it was leading me down a path of total creative lifestyle,” he added.
The designer is also a proud gay man and is very open about his sexuality. However, the level of openness he has with his sexuality today didn’t come overnight.
“I had a really loving family, but I was raised very religious. Once you start realizing you’re gay and different and not seeing a place for you in the world if you don’t have examples of strong gay leaders around you,” Cota revealed in an interview with Instinct, adding that he was eventually able to see his differences as a source of power. “It just took me years of starting to appreciate my own power and realizing that my gayness was a total gift and I was unique, and it was leading me down a path of total creative lifestyle,” he added.
Heidi Klum has shown her support for Cota
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Cota also continues to support the show that earned him a million dollars. “Tonight is the pop-up shop challenge and the grand finale runway on @makingthecuttv Season 2. I can’t wait to see what the top 3 designers do to impress the judges tonight,” he previously wrote on Instagram.
