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Santino Quinto RiceAmerican fashion designer and TV presenter
Date of Birth: 20.08.1974
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Santino Quinto Rice
Santino Quinto Rice is an American fashion designer and television personality. He gained recognition after appearing in the second season of the reality show "Project Runway," where he placed third. Additionally, he served as a judge on the unique show "RuPaul's Drag Race," where biological men transformed into drag queens, and as a host on the fashion-focused program "On the Road with Austin and Santino."
Early Life and Education
Santino Rice was born on August 20, 1974, in St. Charles, Missouri, and grew up there. Both of his parents had diverse backgrounds, resulting in Santino having African American, Italian, Jewish, and Native American roots. In his senior years, Rice received a scholarship to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), a private specialized college located in Los Angeles. After completing college, Rice quickly found work in the film industry, including episodic roles, voice acting, and costume design.
Project Runway
In 2005, Santino Rice participated in the second season of the television program "Project Runway" on Bravo. The show featured aspiring designers competing against each other, with fashion industry experts serving as judges. Rice's work received mixed reviews throughout the season. He won two episodes, including one where designers created red carpet dresses for Nicky Hilton. His designs were also featured in the top three on two other occasions. However, he received low scores in four challenges. Ultimately, Rice made it to the end of the season and became one of the three finalists selected to showcase their designs at Olympus Fashion Week in New York City. He ultimately placed third, with Chloe Dao and Daniel Vosovic taking the top two spots.
Post-"Project Runway" Career
Rice gained notoriety for his charismatic yet sometimes abrasive persona, often being referred to as the "villain" of the show. He became known for his humorous remarks, including imitations of Tim Gunn, the designers' mentor. Following "Project Runway," Rice was invited to be a judge for the Miss Universe 2006 pageant and was asked by MTV host SuChin Pak to create a dress for the MTV Movie Awards ceremony. In the following year, he made a guest appearance on the show "America's Most Smartest Model," where he shared his insight on design.
In 2008, Rice designed a new packaging for Camel cigarettes and worked with several elite private clients while also establishing his own clothing company. More recently, Rice has appeared as a judge on the reality competition show "RuPaul's Drag Race" since 2009. Additionally, he co-hosted the Lifetime series "On the Road with Austin and Santino" alongside fellow "Project Runway" alum Austin Scarlett. The show involved the duo traveling to small American towns and creating stunning dresses for women preparing for weddings or other celebrations. Rice also had a cameo role as a homeless person in the independent thriller film "L.A. Zombie," which premiered in 2010.
Currently, Rice resides and works in Hollywood. In the press, there have been hints about his bisexuality, but he has stated that he cannot simply be labeled as gay because he is attracted to both men and beautiful women. His fear of the negative stigma associated with homosexuality during his teenage years has led to difficulties in his sexual self-identification.
