Jack Mackenroth

Last updated
Jack Mackenroth
Born (1969-04-29) April 29, 1969 (age 54)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Education University of California, Berkeley; Parsons School of Design, New York City
Occupation(s)Fashion designer, model, swimmer, HIV educator and activist

Jack Mackenroth (born April 29, 1969) is an American swimmer, model, and fashion designer who competed in the fourth season of American reality show Project Runway. [1]

Contents

Life

Mackenroth was pre-med at the University of California, Berkeley, following in the footsteps of his mother, who was a nurse at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center, but later graduated with a double degree in Fine Arts and Sociology. [2]

Career

Design

In 1991, Mackenroth moved to New York City to study Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design. [3] After Parsons, Jack opened a menswear store on Bleecker Street in New York City's West Village called "Jack". In 1997, Mackenroth went to work for Tommy Hilfiger and then designed for Levis Slates brand. [4] From 2003 to 2007, he was the design director at Weatherproof Active Wear. [1]

On October 15, 2008, Mackenroth unveiled a custom-designed wedding gown crafted entirely of condoms as a visual reminder of the importance of safer sex and correct, consistent condom use for San Francisco's Project Inform. [5] [6]

Modeling

As a fitness and fashion model through the 1990s, Mackenroth appeared in numerous magazines such as Paper,DNR, Men's Fitness, Men's Journal, Men's Health, Genre, Blue (Australia) and L'Uomo Vogue . [1] After Project Runway, he graced the covers of many magazines including reFresh, POZ, HIVplus, and Gloss . His fashion illustrations have also been featured in Nylon, Elle, and in ad campaigns for Tommy Hilfiger and Sushi Clothing.

In 2008, Mackenroth also he appeared as an extra in the Sex and the City movie as "Hot Guy #17." [7]

Swimming

Mackenroth was a competitive swimmer in elementary and high school and continued competing after college [8] at the Masters level. Jack has earned three All-American titles and in the summer of 2006, he set a national record for the breaststroke leg of the 4 x 50 meter relay at the Masters World Championships in Stanford, California. [9] [ citation needed ]

Mackenroth first competed in the Gay Games in 1990 in Vancouver, British Columbia, without a team but won a bronze medal in the 50-meter breaststroke. He has won at least one gold medal in every one of the international competitions since. [10]

His mother watched his relay team set the national record at the 2006 Gay Games. [8]

He competed in the 2009 Outgames, [11] held in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, [12] where he earned seven medals.[ citation needed ]

Project Runway

Early win

Mackenroth was solidly in the middle of the competition from the very start and never appeared in the "bottom three." [13] The third challenge, however, allowed him to showcase his talent in developing menswear. The challenge was to create a three-piece menswear outfit for guest judge Tiki Barber. Mackenroth won the challenge [14] and his winning design was then worn by Barber during an appearance on The Today Show. [15]

Withdrawal from competition

At the fifth challenge, Mackenroth decided to withdraw after a contagious staph infection. After leaving the show, Mackenroth spent five days in the hospital recovering from the infection (MRSA) [16] where he received an IV antibiotic twice daily. [17]

"Living Positive by Design"

In 2008, Mackenroth partnered with Merck & Co., Inc. to launch a national HIV and AIDS education campaign called Living Positive By Design. [18] Living Positive By Design events have been held in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the 2008 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA), Atlanta, Georgia and in New York City at the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) Fashion Forward 2008 fundraiser.

HIV

Mackenroth was the first spokesperson for the anti-stigma campaign HIV Equal. The hope being that people will finally stop using the term HIV in a derogatory manner and stop discriminating against people with HIV. He has also served as the media strategist at Housing Works - a non-profit in New York, which fights the dual crisis of homelessness and HIV/AIDS where he created the Prep Heroes Campaign prepheroes.org. He was a spokesman for the Merck Pharmaceuticals HIV Education Campaign, "Living Positive by Design" for four years.

In January 2016, he was named Wet Platinum Man of the Year for 2015.[ citation needed ]

Most recently he created the "HIV Shower Selfie Challenge" media campaign which went viral and achieved over 26 million impressions in one week using the hashtag #weareallclean. The campaign was translated into eight languages and covered in over one hundred media outlets.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt</span> Memorial quilt project honoring lives lost to AIDS-related causes

The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, often abbreviated to AIDS Memorial Quilt or AIDS Quilt, is a memorial to celebrate the lives of people who have died of AIDS-related causes. Weighing an estimated 54 tons, it is the largest piece of community folk art in the world as of 2020. It was conceived in 1985, during the early years of the AIDS pandemic, when social stigma prevented many AIDS victims from receiving funerals. It has been displayed on the Mall in Washington, D.C., several times. In 2020, it returned to the AIDS Memorial in San Francisco, and can also be seen virtually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Hilfiger</span> American fashion designer

Thomas Jacob Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and the founder of Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GMHC</span> New York City–based non-profit AIDS service organization

The GMHC is a New York City–based non-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based AIDS service organization whose mission statement is to "end the AIDS epidemic and uplift the lives of all affected." Founded in 1982, it is often billed as the "world's oldest AIDS service organization," as well as the "nation's oldest HIV/AIDS service organization."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bareback (sexual act)</span> Sexual penetration without the use of a condom

Bareback sex is physical sexual activity, especially sexual penetration, without the use of a condom. The topic primarily concerns anal sex between men without the use of a condom, and may be distinguished from unprotected sex because bareback sex denotes the deliberate act of forgoing condom use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Gunn</span> American author, academic, and television personality

Timothy MacKenzie Gunn is an American author, academic, and television personality. He served on the faculty of Parsons School of Design from 1982 to 2007 and was chair of fashion design at the school from August 2000 to March 2007, after which he joined Liz Claiborne as its chief creative officer. Over 16 seasons, Gunn has become well known as the on-air mentor to designers on the reality television program Project Runway. Gunn's popularity on Project Runway led to two spin-off shows; Bravo's Tim Gunn's Guide to Style and Lifetime's Under the Gunn, as well as five books. In addition to being an executive producer, Gunn has served as mentor for the teen designers on Project Runway: Junior. He also provides the voice of Baileywick, the castle steward in the Disney Junior television show Sofia the First and narrated the sitcom Mixology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Gendin</span> American AIDS activist

Stephen Gendin was an American AIDS activist in the late 1980s and the 1990s, whose advocacy is credited with having promoted changes in government policy that improved the lives of HIV positive people. He was involved with the ACT UP, ActUp/RI, Sex Panic!, the Community Prescription Service, POZ Magazine and the Radical Faeries. HIV positive himself, he dedicated the last fifteen years of his life to helping care for those also living with HIV/AIDS. He was a founder and the chief executive of the Community Prescription Service, an organization that distributes information designed to help people with HIV and AIDS as well as supplying medication via mail order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internal condom</span> Device for birth control and STI prevention

An internal condom is a barrier device that is used during sexual intercourse as a barrier contraceptive to reduce the probability of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is inserted in the vagina or anus before intercourse to reduce the risk of exposure to semen or other body fluids. The internal condom was invented by Danish MD Lasse Hessel in 1990 and approved by the FDA for sale in the US in 1993.

<i>Project Runway</i> season 4 Season of television series

Project Runway Season 4 was the fourth season of Project Runway, Bravo's reality competition for fashion designers. The season premiered November 14, 2007. Returning as judges were supermodel Heidi Klum; fashion designer Michael Kors; and Nina Garcia, Elle magazine fashion director. Tim Gunn, chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc., again acts as a mentor to the contestants.

HIV.gov, formerly known as AIDS.gov, is an internet portal for all United States federal domestic HIV and AIDS resources and information. On World AIDS Day, December 1, 2006, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched AIDS.gov. The site contains content and links that guide users to their desired information.

Sean O'Brien Strub is an American writer, activist, politician and entrepreneur. He is a pioneer expert in mass-marketed fundraising for LGBT equality.

Tommy Hilfiger B.V., formerly known as Tommy Hilfiger Corporation and Tommy Hilfiger Inc., is an American clothing brand, manufacturing apparel, footwear, accessories, fragrances and home furnishings. The company was founded in 1985, and the brand's merchandise is sold in department stores and over 2000 free-standing retail stores in 100 countries. In 2006, private equity firm Apax Partners acquired the company for approximately $1.6 billion. In March 2010, PVH Corp. bought the company. Daniel Grieder was appointed CEO in July 2014, while founder Tommy Hilfiger remains the company's principal designer, leading the design teams and overseeing the entire creative process. Global sales in retail through the brand were US$9.1 billion in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Campos (clothing brand)</span> Honduran-born fashion designer

Carlos Campos is a Honduran-born fashion designer who launched his eponymous fashion brand in New York in 2006. The label is associated with men's suits. However, it launched its first womenswear collection during New York Fashion Week in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AIDS Services of Austin</span> Non-profit service organization

AIDS Services of Austin (ASA) is a non-profit AIDS service organization that addresses HIV and AIDS in Central Texas. Founded in 1987, ASA is the region's oldest and largest community-based organization addressing the local AIDS crisis. Annually, they provide direct care services to over 1,500 people and HIV prevention education to over 10,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burnett Foundation Aotearoa</span>

The Burnett Foundation Aotearoa is New Zealand’s national HIV prevention and healthcare organisation. Its funding is derived from grants, donations and the Ministry of Health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mondo Guerra</span> American fashion designer (born 1978)

Armando Thomas "Mondo" Guerra is an American fashion designer who finished as runner-up on Season 8 of Project Runway, and later won the series' first season of Project Runway All Stars. After coming out as HIV positive on the show, Guerra has become a spokesperson for two national HIV campaigns — Merck's Project I Design and Subaru's Dining Out For Life. Guerra was also the first contestant on the show to come from Denver, Colorado.

Initial events and trends in the discussion of HIV and AIDS in mass media contributed to the stigma and discrimination against those affected with the disease. Later discussion, sometimes led by HIV+ individuals themselves, moved toward advocacy and education on disease prevention and management. The UNESCO report on Journalism Education says, "Well researched television content can create public awareness about HIV prevention, treatment, care and support can potentially influence the development and implementation of relevant policies."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Staley</span> American political activist

Peter Staley is an American political activist, known primarily for his work in HIV/AIDS activism. As an early and influential member of ACT UP, New York, he founded both the Treatment Action Group (TAG) and the educational website AIDSmeds.com. Staley is a primary figure in the Oscar-nominated documentary How to Survive a Plague.

Hector Xtravaganza was a member of the House of Xtravaganza and well-known figure in the NYC ballroom life, entertainer, fashion stylist, and public advocate for HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ organizations.

Richard Elovich is a social psychologist, writer, performance artist, and AIDS activist focusing on harm reduction and low-threshold approaches to drug treatment.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Project Runway : Season 4 : Bios : Jack". 2008-03-01. Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  2. ↑ "You Don't Know Jack!". HIV-Plus Magazine. 2008-01-01. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  3. ↑ "Just Add Water". POZ. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  4. ↑ "University to commemorate World AIDS Day". SIU News. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  5. ↑ "Condom Couture by Project Runway Alum". 2008-10-13. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  6. ↑ "J Mack Turns Condoms Into Couture". 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  7. ↑ "Token 'Project Runway' Hottie Doesn't Always Support Clothes-Wearing". New York . 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  8. 1 2 Forman, Ross (2008-01-22). "Jack Mackenroth excels in the pool and on reality TV". Archived from the original on 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  9. ↑ "XI FINA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS – STANFORD USA - AUG 4-17, 2006" (PDF). FINA. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  10. ↑ "Jack Mackenroth Interview : Project Runway Designer". 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  11. ↑ "Project Runway's Jack Mackenroth's Outgames Diary". www.out.com. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  12. ↑ "Jack Mackenroth's Gay Games Diary, Part 1". Outsports. 2010-05-03. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  13. ↑ "Stylenotes Q&A with Project Runway's Jack Mackenroth". 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  14. ↑ Hauslaib, David (2007-11-29). "Jack Mackenroth Owns Project Runway" . Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  15. ↑ "Jack Mackenroth Dresses Tiki". 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  16. ↑ Rocchio, Christopher (2008-05-19). "Jack Mackenroth decides against trying to return for 'Project Runway 5'" . Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  17. ↑ Towle, Andy (2007-12-13). "Jack Not Letting Project Runway "Shocker" Get Him Down" . Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  18. ↑ "Project Runway Alum Launches Anti-Stigma Campaign". HIV-Plus Magazine. 2008-09-18. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.