Hiv Positive Designer Creates Emmys Gown For Heather Tom

A designer who was forced to quit U.S. reality TV hit PROJECT RUNWAY to attend to his HIV-positive health problems has received a huge career boost - actress HEATHER TOM has asked him to create the gown she'll wear to the Daytime Emmy Awards.

Jack Mackenroth touched the hearts of Project Runway viewers when he had to tearfully step down as a contestant on the fourth season of the fashion show for medical reasons.

But what he did on the programme was enough to impress the Bold + The Beautiful's Tom, who asked Mackenroth to create a couture gown for her to wear to the 35th Emmys on 20 June (08).

Tom, who is nominated for a Best Actress prize, will then auction off the dress Mackenroth, who has been HIV positive for 17 years, has designed for her to Benefit AIDS charities and to promote National HIV Testing Day.

A spokesman for Tom says, "Heather wanted to do something special to celebrate her 12th nomination and met with Mackenroth to have him design a one-of-a-kind gown for her Emmy moment.

"The pair also decided to help their many friends with HIV, and auction the dress off to benefit three HIV/AIDS charities - amfAR, National Association of People with AIDS, and San Antonio AIDS Foundation."

Tom says, "We both wanted to make this more than just an evening gown - we wanted to make a statement."

People will be able to go to the ClothesOfOurBack.org website to bid for Mackenroth's gown immediately after the Emmys.