Roberto De Villacis is glad he didn't take his friends' advice. Many told the 42-year-old designer that appearing on a reality show would be bad for his career.

``They would say, `You can't do that -- it's so embarrassing,' '' De Villacis said by phone from Bal Harbour, where he has an apartment. ``But I really came out of my shell, and I think this is the best of all the reality shows out there.''

The Ecuador native, who grew up in Fort Lauderdale and attended Pine Crest, will appear as a contestant Wednesday night on Launch My Line, Bravo's answer to Project Runway, which went over to Lifetime.

But it's nothing like the Tim Gunn-Heidi Klum-hosted show.

``My sister was always trying to get me on Project Runway,'' he says. ``But they're novices. I have 25 years' experience, designing big collections in Europe. It wouldn't be fair.''

The latest fashion competition series, hosted by twins Dean and Dan Caten of D-Squared, will give the winner his or her own label to be manufactured and distributed in the United States. If you fail at a challenge, the telltale exit line is ``Your line has been dropped.''

De Villacis, who has worked with Missoni, Alberta Ferretti and Karl Lagerfeld, has been there, done that with his own line, Trash Couture. But he's ready for a new challenge.

More tidbits from our chat:

Biggest challenge: ``On the first episode, the judges told me I had to create the brand name, signature look, logo and statement piece. I was just in shock; sometimes it takes a designer all their lives to do that.''

How he got along with the others: ``There's the whole psychological drama of it. The battle of egos isn't very easy. It was very tiring, exhausting. We became like a family. But like every family, there's always the cousin that you hate.''

How did you do? ``Being slightly self centered, I thought of course I'd be the best, but the level of talent was just incredible.''

Top celeb client: Carrie Underwood, ``a beautiful girl. Just amazing. A real angel.''

Influences? ``Americans? Halston, Geoffrey Beene, Ralph Lauren. European designers are a different world. Americans are more about business. Europeans are more about the art form. It's not about how much money you make, it's about the quality of work.''

Fave designer: ``Probably [Tunisia's] Azzedine Alaia. He's not a big brand name. He keeps a very small, tight company. He's never sold out but creates beautiful clothes.''

Advice for budding designers: ``This career is not as glamorous as it looks. You have to know how to sew and cut.''

-- MADELEINE MARR

• Launch My Line debuts at 11 p.m. Wednesday on Bravo. It moves to its 10 p.m. slot Dec. 16, taking Top Chef's place.