We’re ten episodes into the 13th season of the Lifetime series Project Runway, the field has been narrowed to six—and Hawaiian designer Kini Zamora is still alive. Zamora has become a fan favorite on the show, known for his innovative designs and affable personality. He’s also a respected competitor—other contestants regularly praise his skill at stitching and the speed at which he’s able to work. 

ICTMN readers still fondly remember the run to the finals that Patricia Michaels, Taos Pueblo, made two seasons ago. This time around, the Project Runway gods smiled upon two designers with Native roots: Zamora and Korina Emmerich, Puyallup, who is still in the mix as well.

RELATED:Patricia Michaels Will Return to Project Runway for All Stars Season

The latest episode of Project Runway airs tonight at 9 PM Eastern on Lifetime. Zamora (follow him @designerkini on Twitter) shared his thoughts on his momorable experience with ICTMN.

Congratulations on making it to the final six of the show! Going into it, what were your expectations—did you think you’d get this far? Did you think you had a shot to win, and why?

Well, going in to competition I expected it to be a lot easier—which was wrong! But I felt really confident and ready to take on the challenges. I just took every challenge one at a time and kept pushing forward. At this point in the competition I am even hungrier to make it to the end! I think I do have a shot to win Project Runway Season 13 as much as anyone else. We are all such talented and different designers so it’s anyone’s game at this point, and up to the judges who they want to see at Fashion Week.

Designers gone wild, from top left: Korina Emmerich, Sean Kelly, Emily Payne, and Kini Zamora. Source: instagram.com/designerkini

What does it mean to to you be a Hawaiian, with Native Hawaiian heritage, on this nationally-televised show? What can the rest of the country learn from, or appreciate about, the Hawaiian culture you love?

Im so proud to be the first Hawaiian from Hawaii on project runway. I think people will see the local spirit and aloha we all have here! And I want to show the world how a Hawaiian person is. I feel like I’m representing my culture and my hometown very well! We have a strong aloha spirit always willing to give and help people even if its a competition.

What’s been the highlight of your Project Runway run to date?

The highlight of so far for me was my first win with the Rainway Avant Garde challenge. Because not only was it my first win, I was able to stretch my boundaries and go all out for this challenge and judges saw how over the top I can go. Even though I had to share the win I was happy it was with sean his dress was awesome as well.

What was your biggest scare? Did you have a moment where you thought, “This is it, I’m done”?

Yes, the Mary Kay Makeover challenge—I felt like I didn’t buy the right fabric and I didn’t have the right design. But I got through it and was on top! I was super excited and so Happy it was my first win finally! And it was for something I truly loved and was excited for. 

Kini Zamora’s Umbrella Dress from episode 8. Source: Instagram.com/designerkini

Back to that umbrella dress, without a doubt one of the most memorable creations on the show this season—it had a look that was anything but Hawaiian. Do you feel that as “the Hawaiian guy” on the show you need to show that you’re not about Hawaiian shirts and muumuus? In such a mainstream show, is having Hawaiian or Indigenous roots both a blessing and a curse?

I feel like I want to show the world that a Hawaiian guy from Hawaii can have the same creative mind like the NYC based designers. I feel like I have an advantage because we are so far from NYC and we have a fresh take on things.

You followed up the Rainway co-win by winning the American Girl challenge outright. This seemed like a bizarre challenge—when they told you you’d be working with dolls, what was your reaction?

I loved it! I always use to dress up my little nieces in high fashion looks so I thought, “This will be a breeze.” A lot of the other designers never did children’s before; only Emily and I had done children’s before, so I feel like I had a slight advantage.

In the last two episodes, it seems the judges might have gone either way with you and Korina—you’re separating yourselves from the pack and a Kini-Korina final is a real possibility. Our readers would love to see a Hawaiian and a Puyallup Tribal member in that last episode. Do you have any thoughts on that scenario?

Well I think Korina is a very strong designer and, as we all know, she has a strong personality. But that would be awesome to see two Native Americans having an opportunity to show at NYC Fashion Week, and to possibly be the winner of Project Runway.