Supermodel Coco Rocha spills the tea on the new season of Project Runway Canada

Since she was scouted at an Irish dance competition in Richmond, BC, at 14, Coco Rocha has spent the past two decades sashaying down runways as a model for brands like Versace, Balenciaga and Dior. (Who could forget her iconic career-launching Irish jig down Jean Paul Gaultier’s runway in 2007?) While she resides, quite comfortably, in New York, Canadian mega model Coco Rocha spent this summer in Toronto shooting the reboot of Project Runway Canada at TMU’s fashion school and will be capital-S Serving as host and judge along with Jeanne Beker and designer Spencer Badu while Brother Vellies designer Aurora James serves as a mentor.

The last time we saw a Canadian version of the hugely popular competition show was way back in 2009, with definitely-not-Canadian supermodel Iman hosting. Now, premiering November 14 on Crave, a fresh crop of 12 aspiring designers will battle it out for a $100,000 prize. We caught up with Coco Rocha to talk about Canadian fashion, salty judges and the tyranny of catchphrases.

How did you feel when they asked you to host? The last time I had an ongoing role on a TV show was about 12 years ago on The Face, and it really burned me. I didn’t enjoy it. I’ve been approached several times since, but the projects never felt right. But I was pumped when I got this call. I loved Iman, but that wasn’t really a Canadian team supporting the Canadian fashion industry. This was a no-brainer. I’ve always wanted to do a show in Canada—it was a faster yes than all those other nos ever were. It was something I’d been waiting for.

Who was your first call when you found out you got the gig? My hair and makeup artist and Canadian bestie, Veronica Chu. We’ve worked together a lot, and I was like: “Let’s get the team back together!” We were shooting over the summer, and I was going to bring my three kids, so the next calls were to my family—my mom and my dad and his wife all live in Toronto now—to tell them they were going to get to see their grandchildren a lot more. It was great.

What are your favourite things to do in Toronto? I grew up in BC, so I never really got to have that fabulous adult life in Toronto—I’m very much a tourist. But this summer I got to experience the city through my kids. Literally on day one we went to the CN Tower, second day the aquarium, then the train museum. I was doing everything I would have done if I’d lived here when I was younger.

Related: Twenty photos that prove Coco Rocha’s baby has a more glamorous life than you

You were a guest judge on Project Runway Canada back in 2009. What do you remember most about that experience? That was the first time I met Iman, and I remember being so in awe of her. I also met her daughter, and I remember this little girl talking about her dog and her dad and how Daddy didn’t like the dog looking a certain way. I was like, “This is so surreal—she’s talking about David Bowie.”

You’re good friends with Christian Siriano, the designer in the role of mentor on American Project Runway. What advice did he give you about taking on the host/judge role? He didn’t give me advice, but I really watched how he did it. With TV, you’d think all you have to do is enter rooms and say things, but the gestures, the exaggerations, the comical behaviour—all that really comes into play. It’s not for the faint of heart. Christian always adds a little humour, an element that’s often lost in fashion.

Speaking of comedy, viewers really loved how hilariously salty Law Roach was on the recent season of America’s Project Runway. Between Law Roach, Tim Gunn and Michael Kors, where are you on the mean-but-kind-of-funny scale of cast members? Law Roach—woo, he’s spicy! I love spicy, but I would say I’m most like Michael Kors. He had humour, and he said what he believed, but he wasn’t aggressive.

Tim Gunn was famous for his “Make it work” catchphrase. What’s yours? I really wanted a catchphrase, and I was like, It will come to me, and it will be amazing! But I don’t think it happened. At one point, I thought, Maybe I’ll say something in French. I might do an Instagram call-out asking people what my catchphrase should be next season.

So if there’s another season you’ll be back? I’d love to come back. Often, models just have the opportunity to do one cover shoot or one campaign, then whoever is in charge finds another girl. I’ve always wanted to be recognized as an ongoing part of a brand. I would hate for Project Runway Canada to just be one and done.

What was your favourite thing about working on PRC? My favourite thing—and also the most frustrating thing—was how kind everybody was. I’ve been a guest on a lot of TV shows, and diva attitudes can really get in the way. But here everyone was so kind and respectful that I was actually a little worried—you want a little drama between your designers! Sometimes I was like, “Guys, you realize you’re competing with each other, right?” But, as the host, I didn’t really see what goes on behind the scenes in the design studio, so when I saw the trailer, I was relieved that they do get spicy and they weren’t being so Canadian.

We also want drama between the judges! Who did you butt heads with the most? Great question. I met Spencer for the first time at our press day. We each had our own opinions about things, and it was like, How are you saying that and I’m saying this?! Then we realized it was about the way we said things to each other—a disagreement didn’t mean the opinion of the person next to you was worthless. We’re a team, and we want to make sure we still come off as a team. We learned that by episode two. We did good.

So, no tea. Okay, fine. What was your least favourite thing overall? I hate that you don’t have time to really explain yourself to the designers. You have seconds to run through something that you would talk about for hours in real life. Viewers can watch and say, That’s so unfair. But if only they knew they’re getting seconds of a five-week-long shoot.

What do you think viewers are going to be most surprised by? That we even have this level of talent in Canada. I mean that, truly. Some of the challenges came out so well. I have this Spidey sense where I get very smiley. I will, no joke, buy a house based on that smile. It’s a genuine feeling I get, and that smile popped up several times while filming. I was surprised by how incredible some of the designs were.

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You’re pretty busy already with a successful international career. What intrigued you about being on a Canadian reality show? I think everyone’s motive was very much to shine a light on Canada. We have the talent here—let me show you! We found people from all over Canada, not just from the big cities. There’s so much talk now where people say, I’m all about made-in-Canada, yet they go on Amazon and buy something made somewhere else. I’m not saying you can’t buy things from another country, but recognize that you have great talent in fashion and beauty right on your doorstep. Most Canadian designers will tell you it’s really hard to create a career in a country where everyone says they’ll support you, but in reality, it’s just talk.

Did you wear Canadian designers on the show? I did in some episodes. I wanted to wear Canadian in all of them, but it was actually hard to find Canadian designers willing to dress me. Usually in the fashion world, you reach out and say, I’m looking for a dress for a publicity moment, and they’ll send it your way. But maybe because Canada doesn’t have enough money in their businesses, it wasn’t working for a variety of reasons. And then I would call my old Canadian designer friends, and they’d say, Coco, I’ve sold my line. I’m not around anymore. There wasn’t enough support. So I hope this show makes people go wild and crazy for Canadian fashion.

Please tell me there are going to be Canadian-themed design challenges. I don’t know how much I’m allowed to give away, but yes, there are Canadian-themed challenges, and you won’t have to wait long to see one.

Okay, most important question for last. Will you be doing any Irish dancing? No, I have a doctor’s note that says no more Irish dancing for me! This girl doesn’t Irish dance anymore, unless it’s just a little tappity-tap-tap. Maybe next season.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.