University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Rowing Unis Luxurious Compared to Project Runway’s Recent Design Failures
5/14/2019 10:07:00 AM | Women's Rowing
As an up-and-coming fashion model, Kate Lavrentios had hoped that the most unattractive, fashion-backward outfits were behind her when she hung up her rowing uniform (uni) for the last time in May of 2018.
Kate, a former rowing student-athlete at the University of Connecticut and Season 17 Project Runway model, had been required to sport the infamously hideous rowing uni during competitions for the duration of her four year collegiate career. A quick Google search for "is the rowing uniform ugly?" reveals over 1.5 million results, most answering "yes" in one way or another. A couple of choice descriptions include, "the most unflattering garment known to wo/man" and "it's a hideous lycra affair that shouldn't really be worn by anyone over the age of, let's face it, about six months."
Kate reminisces, "I've worn a lot of questionable clothing in my day, including the heinous purple UGGS I rocked continuously in '07. Yet nothing quite compares though to the disgusting, unflattering uniform that is a rowing uni."
Little did she know, the worst was yet to come.
Some fashion experts argue that the outfits Kate was subjected to wear on her Project Runway debut were even more insulting than the rowing uni itself. Imagine finally accomplishing one of your loftiest goals and receiving media buzz in the process-- but the buzz is about how "tragic" your outfits are. Outfits on which you had no input whatsoever.
All fashion judgements aside, Kate's self-esteem and confidence have improved an extraordinary amount thanks to her experience as a UConn student-athlete. Jennifer Sanford, UConn women's rowing 22-year head coach, reflects on Kate's four years with a smile.
"As an undergraduate, I witnessed Kate having insecurities about her life purpose, her future," said Sanford. "She probably holds the record for the amount of times she wanted to completely change her major and not really knowing which degree she wanted to pursue. One thing that remained constant was her desire to inspire others through her work."
Despite the fashion tragedies in Kate's young-adult life, she remembers her time as a student-athlete quite positively.
"Becoming a member of UConn Rowing certainly gave me the determination and drive to pursue such a challenging profession. The modeling industry is 99% no's. The only thing you can do is give your best effort and do everything you can to be the best model you can be-- which likens to being a good rower.
"You need to push yourself beyond what you think is possible and consistently remind yourself to have patience and determination."
Kate credits much of her interest in a modeling career to inspiration she got from the "Be Body Positive" movement, which helped a lot with becoming a better rowing athlete as well. In the beginning of her career as a collegiate rower, Kate was apprehensive about strength training and feared becoming larger than her already dubbed "full-figured" build at 5 foot 11 inches.
The former rowing student-athlete recalls overcoming her fearful approach to training with a confident smile.
"Accepting my body for what it was and not what a 'traditional athletic' body should be helped release insecurities surrounding not only myself but also my sport," Kate said. "I was a part of something larger that helped mend the way I viewed myself and helped me go about living my life the way I wanted to."
And with this insight, Coach Sanford agrees.
"I give Kate so much credit for taking the risk of pursuing her passion, and she is now indirectly impacting the lives of so many women who may have issues related to body image and/or self-confidence," Sanford said. "I can't wait to see what is up next for Kate as I'm sure the exposure on Project Runway has opened many doors for her."
With headlines like "'Project Runway' Model Kate Deserves So Much Better," Kate's modeling prognosis seems favorable. Daniel Montgomery, a senior editor for entertainment news website "Gold Derby," writes, "At the very least, she deserves a raise, a bonus, and hazard pay for what some of these designers have made her wear this season."
You can't always assume what kind of background or experience anyone has, or the struggles they have overcome to reach their current status. At the very least, Kate continues to be highly endorsed by her former teammates and coaches at UConn. Even though she has vowed to never wear a rowing uni again.
