She Won TV Show!

Astoria resident Kim Myles will soon be seen on HGTV in her own show after having been crowned the winner of the second season of “Design Star.”
Originally from Bakersfield, California, Myles moved to Astoria 12 years ago. For the last 10 years, she had been working as a hairdresser, describing hair as being her first love. Myles is also a self-taught designer, frequently redesigning her own apartment and doing rooms for friends.
“I’m a huge HGTV fan,” she said. “I had watched season one of Design Star. I became completely obsessed with the show.”
“Design Star” brings together 11 designers who compete in various challenges in hopes of being named the winner; the prize being their own television show on HGTV.
After the first season of “Design Star” concluded, Myles began checking their website to find out when they would be looking for more contestants. As soon as she saw the posting she sent in her five-minute-long audition tape.
“I thought ‘they are looking for me and they just don’t know it yet,’” she said.
In February of 2007, Myles found out that she had been selected as one of the 11 contestants and went to Las Vegas for filming in March.
Myles said that she had two favorite challenges throughout the competition, the first of which is the blank room challenge. The designers were each given identical blank rooms that had been made in an empty warehouse and about $399 to buy materials. The catch was that they could only use items found in a 99 cents store. The second challenge that stood out for Myles was the final one, where she and the other finalist were each given a luxury hotel suite in Hawaii to redesign.
The highlight of the experience for Myles was when she found out she had made it to the final two. She said it blew her mind and made her feel lucky, blessed and proud.
“I was really the underdog but I just never gave up and I knew that I could do it,” Myles said.
On September 16, after “a summer of waiting,” it was announced on the final episode that Myles had been selected as the winner of “Design Star.” Although during the early stages of the competition a panel of three judges decided who won each challenge, the final winner was voted on by America.
“Obviously I’m thrilled,” Myles said. “This is the outcome that you want when you send in that five-minute tape.”
Myles is now in Los Angeles working on her upcoming HGTV show. As soon as she was declared the winner, Myles was presented with a concept for the show. It will involve room makeovers, although Myles said the clients will be very much involved in the process.
“I could not have come up with a better concept had I written it myself. It’s definitely going to be a show that I’m right at home (with),” she said. She continued, “I think that it will be super fun. They have been so open to collaborating with me about my ideas about the show.”
As of right now, Myles said that the show is scheduled to premiere on March 16.
For more information on Myles and to keep updated about her upcoming show, visit www.hgtv.com or www.kimmyles.com.