Jack Mackenroth
Encyclopedia
Jack Mackenroth is an American
swimmer, model
, and fashion designer who competed in the fourth season
of American reality show Project Runway
. Mackenroth was the first openly HIV-positive contestant in the show's history.
Although he was a late bloomer and had trouble fitting in by the time he reached high school, he began to express himself through sewing. "I was a total club kid. I hung out with all the alternative kids at school, and we all made our own clothes and cut our own hair," he says. "I always had a knack for it and I wanted to look cool, but I didn’t have the money, so I would just alter items I already had. At the time, it really irritated my mother, but look at me now!"
Mackenroth was pre-med at the University of California, Berkeley
for the first two years, following in the footsteps of his mom who was a nurse at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center, but later graduated with a double degree in Fine Arts and Sociology
after he figured he could actually make a living in the fashion industry.
. Mackenroth won the challenge and his winning design was then worn by Barber during an appearance on The Today Show
.
To keep the same level of competition, he was replaced on the show with Chris March, the last designer eliminated. While there was talk of Mackenroth returning for season 5, he opted to focus on his career instead of making a second appearance on reality television.
to study Fashion Design
at Parsons School of Design
. After Parsons, Jack opened a menswear store on Bleecker Street in New York City
's West Village called "Jack" where he showcased new designers alongside upscale brands such as Gaultier
Junior, Diesel and John Richmond
. In 1997, Mackenroth went to work for Tommy Hilfiger
and then designed for Levis Slates brand. From 2003-2007, he was the Design Director at Weatherproof Active Wear.
"I am most proud of the fact that I was open about my positive HIV status on the show and exemplified that a person can manage HIV and live a successful life," Mackenroth says. "Every time a person with HIV is open about his or her status it helps everyone who is living with the disease.... I am a living testament to what you can accomplish by letting go of shame and being your own advocate." After his departure from the show, Mackenroth received many letters and e-mails thanking him for his openness and honesty and for being a great role model
.
and AIDS
education campaign called Living Positive By Design. The Living Positive By Design campaign seeks "to address the stigma still associated with the disease and [highlight] the importance for people living with HIV to have a positive outlook on life while effectively managing their disease." 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.
For the launch event, Mackenroth designed a signature scarf, which symbolizes encouraging those living with HIV to maintain a positive outlook on life while managing their disease.
, DNR, Men's Fitness
, Men's Journal
, Genre
, Blue
(Australia) and several others.
In 2008, Mackenroth also had a cameo appearance in the Sex and the City movie as "Hot Guy #17."
level. He has three All-American titles to his name and set a national record in the summer of 2006 in the breaststroke
leg of the 4x50 meter medley relay. The same summer he finished 12th in the 50 meter breaststroke at the Masters World Championships in Stanford, California
. He is currently training for the Outgames in Copenhagen
, Denmark
, in 2009.
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.
His mother watched his relay team set the national record at the 2006 Gay Games.
s of multi-colored stars on his elbows, a large green celtic design across his lower back, large designs on his inner right and left forearms, a crown between his shoulder blades, and a small lizard tattoo on his inner left ankle.
in his sleep and that he can wiggle each of his ears individually.
gay
. After Project Runway
, he briefly dated Dale Levitski
who competed on Season 3
of Top Chef
(Top Chef: Miami)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimmer, model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, and fashion designer who competed in the fourth season
Project Runway (season 4)
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...
of American reality show Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
. Mackenroth was the first openly HIV-positive contestant in the show's history.
Early life
His sister, Sarah Kietzer, relates that when Mackenroth was a little kid he rode his bike into a boat parked on the side of the road requiring twelve stitches.Although he was a late bloomer and had trouble fitting in by the time he reached high school, he began to express himself through sewing. "I was a total club kid. I hung out with all the alternative kids at school, and we all made our own clothes and cut our own hair," he says. "I always had a knack for it and I wanted to look cool, but I didn’t have the money, so I would just alter items I already had. At the time, it really irritated my mother, but look at me now!"
Mackenroth was pre-med at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
for the first two years, following in the footsteps of his mom who was a nurse at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center, but later graduated with a double degree in Fine Arts and Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
after he figured he could actually make a living in the fashion industry.
Overview
After a promising start including a win in a menswear competition, Mackenroth abruptly decided withdraw from the show during episode 5 due to a serious MRSA staph infection completely unrelated to his HIV.Early win
Mackenroth was solidly in the middle of the competition from the very start and never appeared in the "bottom three." 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 BarberTiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....
. Mackenroth won the challenge and his winning design was then worn by Barber during an appearance on The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
.
Withdrawal from competition
After only four challenges, Mackenroth made the dramatic decision to withdraw after a contagious staph infection. After weighing the options and considering the risks that the infection would pose on himself as well as the rest of the cast and crew, he decided it would be best for everyone if he left. Even so, it was a very difficult decision to make. "I was crying for about four hours as I discussed it with Tim and production. It sucked!" After leaving the show, Mackenroth spent five days in the hospital recovering from the infection where he received an IV antibiotic twice dailyTo keep the same level of competition, he was replaced on the show with Chris March, the last designer eliminated. While there was talk of Mackenroth returning for season 5, he opted to focus on his career instead of making a second appearance on reality television.
Design career
In 1991, Mackenroth moved to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to study Fashion Design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
at Parsons School of Design
Parsons The New School for Design
Parsons The New School For Design, known colloquially as Parsons, is the art and design college of The New School university. It is located in New York City's Greenwich Village, and has produced artists and designers such as Marc Jacobs, Dean and Dan Caten, Norman Rockwell, Donna Karan, Jane...
. After Parsons, Jack opened a menswear store on Bleecker Street in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's West Village called "Jack" where he showcased new designers alongside upscale brands such as Gaultier
Gaultier
Gaultier can refer to:*Grégory Gaultier , French squash player*Bon Gaultier, British writer*Denis Gaultier , French lutenist and composer*Ennemond Gaultier , French lutenist and composer...
Junior, Diesel and John Richmond
John Richmond (fashion designer)
John Richmond is an English fashion designer based in Milan, he was born in Manchester in 1960 and moved to London, then eventually to Italy to pursue his dreams....
. In 1997, Mackenroth went to work for Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger
Thomas Jacob "Tommy" Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger.-Early life:...
and then designed for Levis Slates brand. From 2003-2007, he was the Design Director at Weatherproof Active Wear.
"Condom couture"
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. The project was especially challenging because Mackenroth is allergic to latex.HIV activism
Mackenroth has been very open about his positive HIV status. Since his diagnosis on August 18, 1990, he has tried to combat the stigma of HIV by living honestly and being a role model through professional and athletic achievements."I am most proud of the fact that I was open about my positive HIV status on the show and exemplified that a person can manage HIV and live a successful life," Mackenroth says. "Every time a person with HIV is open about his or her status it helps everyone who is living with the disease.... I am a living testament to what you can accomplish by letting go of shame and being your own advocate." After his departure from the show, Mackenroth received many letters and e-mails thanking him for his openness and honesty and for being a great role model
Role model
The term role model generally means any "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others".The term first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students...
.
Living Positive by Design
In 2008, Mackenroth partnered with Merck & Co., Inc. to launch a national HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
education campaign called Living Positive By Design. The Living Positive By Design campaign seeks "to address the stigma still associated with the disease and [highlight] the importance for people living with HIV to have a positive outlook on life while effectively managing their disease." Living Positive By Design events have been held in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
at the 2008 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA), Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the Gay Men's Health Crisis
Gay Men's Health Crisis
The Gay Men's Health Crisis is a New York City-based non-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based AIDS service organization that has led the United States in the fight against AIDS.-1980s:...
(GMHC) Fashion Forward 2008 fundraiser.
For the launch event, Mackenroth designed a signature scarf, which symbolizes encouraging those living with HIV to maintain a positive outlook on life while managing their disease.
Modeling
As a fitness and fashion model through the 1990s, Mackenroth appeared in such magazines as PaperPaper (magazine)
Paper magazine is a New York City–based independent magazine covering and discovering cultural movements with a focus on fashion, design, pop-culture, nightlife, music, art and film. The magazine covers trends, new creative talent, urban American lifestyle as well as international lifestyles and...
, DNR, Men's Fitness
Men's Fitness
Men's Fitness is a men's magazine published by American Media, Inc and founded in the United States in 1987. The premier issue featured Michael Pare from the television series The Greatest American Hero....
, Men's Journal
Men's Journal
Men's Journal is an American men's lifestyle magazine focused on outdoor recreation and comprising editorials on the outdoors, environmental issues, health and fitness, style and fashion, and "gear". It is owned by Jann Wenner of Wenner Media....
, Genre
Genre (magazine)
Genre magazine was a New York city-based monthly periodical written for gay men. It was owned by gay press publisher Window Media.-History:...
, Blue
Blue (magazine)
Blue is a gay men's magazine from Australia that features photo spreads of artistically composed nude and semi-nude photos of men by top photographers from around the world. It also contains a variety of interviews and articles on art, films, music, culture, and travel...
(Australia) and several others.
In 2008, Mackenroth also had a cameo appearance in the Sex and the City movie as "Hot Guy #17."
Swimming
Mackenroth was a competitive swimmer in elementary and high school and continued competing after college at the MastersMasters swimming
Masters swimming is a special class of competitive swimming for swimmers 25 years or older...
level. He has three All-American titles to his name and set a national record in the summer of 2006 in the breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
leg of the 4x50 meter medley relay. The same summer he finished 12th in the 50 meter breaststroke at the Masters World Championships in Stanford, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He is currently training for the Outgames in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, in 2009.
Gay Games
Mackenroth first competed in the Gay GamesGay Games
The Gay Games is the world's largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes, artists, musicians, and others. It welcomes participants of every sexual orientation and every skill level...
in 1990 in Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, without a team but won a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the 50-meter breaststroke. He has won at least one gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in every one of the international competitions since.
His mother watched his relay team set the national record at the 2006 Gay Games.
Appearance
Mackenroth has tattooTattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
s of multi-colored stars on his elbows, a large green celtic design across his lower back, large designs on his inner right and left forearms, a crown between his shoulder blades, and a small lizard tattoo on his inner left ankle.
Quirks
During an interview with a men's style website, Mackenroth admitted that he grinds his teethBruxism
Bruxism is characterized by the grinding of the teeth and typically includes the clenching of the jaw. It is an oral parafunctional activity that occurs in most humans at some time in their lives. In most people, bruxism is mild enough not to be a health problem...
in his sleep and that he can wiggle each of his ears individually.
Dating
Mackenroth is openlyComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
. After Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
, he briefly dated Dale Levitski
Dale Levitski
Dale Levitski is a self-taught Chicago chef who competed on Top Chef season 3 and was one of the runners-up to Hung Huynh along with Casey Thompson. Though Levitski did not win fan favorite, he was well liked by fans and later competed on Top Chef season 8 among the All-Stars...
who competed on Season 3
Top Chef (season 3)
Top Chef: Miami is the third season of American reality television series Top Chef and was filmed first in Miami, Florida, and concluded in Aspen, Colorado. The season premiered on Bravo on June 13, 2007 and ended on October 10, 2007. Padma Lakshmi returned with Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and new...
of Top Chef
Top Chef
Top Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...
(Top Chef: Miami)