If you’re a fan of the reality TV show Project Runway, now showing on Discovery Travel & Living and Channel 5, you must be familiar with the vocal and confident Santino Rice from the show’s second season. This six-foot-five designer was recently in town to promote the show, and is unsurprisingly, as chatty as ever. We talk to Rice about God, music, and of course, fashion.

What is your current state of mind?
In great spirits, as this is the first time I’m in Singapore and I truly love the culture here.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Luckily, I’ve always known that I wanted to be a designer. I’m also inspired a lot by music as well, but no, I’ve never wanted to be a full-time musician.

What is your biggest achievement?
Being able to do what I want to do day to day. I’m the master of my own fate!

What inspires you?
God. Music. I feel like I’m a part of His creative subconscious…and have the psychic ability to know what’s going to happen to me next. You always want to outdo your last efforts. I want to be a conduit for a bigger message and achieve something from a higher place.

What personal trait do you appreciate the most in others?
Honesty. Loyalty.

Do you have a cause or do you support one?
If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything. Which is why I believe in the freedom of speech, especially in relation to issues like war.

Which living person do you admire most and would like to invite for dinner?
A lot actually. But I really admire Oprah Winfrey. She’s really an affectionate person who’s created an enterprise for herself and does good things with her money.

What are you reading?
A lot of things, but I sleep with fashion magazines.

How do you spend your Sunday mornings?
Going over my to-do list. I like to reflect by the end of each week what I’ve done and achieve. I read The New York Times. I go over my long-term goals.

What is your idea of hell?
Not being able to transcend a situation, whether it’s physical or inflicted on you by other people.

What is your guilty pleasure?
I like expensive toiletries and nice candles, things that I don’t necessarily need.

How do you recharge?
Reflecting on my to-do list.

What’s playing in your iPod/MP3/CD player?
Regina Spektor, ELO, Spank Rock.

What do you collect?
Records. Collectible books.

Where would you like to live?
LA, where I am.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
Probably the pants that I made for myself.

What accessory sets you apart?
I’m a man of many hats.

What about you that scares others?
My size before they know me.

If you had to play a character in a movie, which movie and which character?
Jimmy Stewart’s character in It’s a Wonderful Life.

What did you believe at 18 that you wish you still believed now?
That people will treat me in the same way that I treat myself. It’s unfortunate that that doesn’t happen very often.

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