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Newsday Project Prom winner debuts in Jillian Lewis dress

BY ANNE BRATSKEIR | Special to Newsday

June 27, 2008

After months of consultations, fittings and video shoots, Newsday's Project Prom winner, Amanda DeAngelis, 17, of Center Moriches, was finally ready for her close-up last night - all dolled up in the frothy turquoise frock selected for her by our readers, and designed by "Project Runway" finalist Jillian Lewis, a Selden native.

Arriving at the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium in Riverhead in a coach bus with 50 other promgoers from Center Moriches High School, Amanda summed up in a word how she felt: "Beautiful."

Best friend Carmen Arroyo, 19, also of Center Moriches, added, "She looks gorgeous. If she had a chance to wear this dress every day, she would. It fits her 20 times better than anything else she's ever had."

Fit was the issue for Amanda, who at 4-foot-ll describes herself as "vertically challenged," and says it's nearly impossible to buy anything off the rack. Lewis declared Amanda "vertically challenged no more. ... When I saw Amanda put it on at the final fitting, I was shocked at how beautiful and transformed she was."

But readying for the big night wasn't just a matter of slipping on the dress. Amanda's hair was done around noon in a side-swept rope braid, and dusted with sparkles by Ann-Marie Englert of Hollywood Boulevard in Mastic. "It was a design that matches the dress," said Engler, referring to the twisted halter back, "and it really suits her." At MAC Cosmetics at Smith Haven Mall, Amanda opted for natural colors with a hint of blue liner.

It was all frosting on the cake, because the girl was simply stunning. "I don't think this was a revolutionary design," said Lewis. "It was about Amanda; the color and the proportions, and keeping her in mind, was what made it so perfect for her."