Can a fashion show be a crowd-pleaser and, at the same time, carry a subtle lesson? Members of the FMU Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority tried to accomplish just that at the 2010 Talent/Fashion show in the Chapman Auditorium, Dec.1.
For the first time, the members of AKA sorority organized an event meant to encompass the beauty of innate talent and allow student participants to parade as runway models.
Graduating senior and member of the AKA sorority Erica deJesus participated in the show and expressed that it was an exciting and a successful turnout.
“It was entertaining,” deJesus said. “The audience enjoyed the show and we kept it going. It was just regular school students doing a fashion show and it was a way to promote self-esteem among students. Any ordinary person can be a model; you don’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t require that you have to be a certain type or a certain size. I was nervous the whole time, but I felt good up there.”
The flamboyance of the show remained consistent throughout the evening as did the cheering from the crowd. No one was prepared as to what was about to take place until the hosts announced it to them.
Seniors Taylor McLeod-Gleaton and Ronald Gailliard were the hosts for the show. They maintained the high levels of excitement of the crowd by communicating through constant jokes; they brought peals of laughter from the auditorium that was packed with people.
“I really liked the idea of the show,” Gailliard said. “It was like the best of both worlds because we had the fashion show, and then we had the talent show where participants would exhibit their talent. I had a good time and everybody did their part to do their best. Looking at the outcome … I would definitely do it again.”
Guest singer and member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Kiswana Salters rendered a vocal performance that had the crowd cheering even while she was singing. The models showcased several themes of dresses; they ranged all the way from the ’70s to the present day. One of the themes was a display of “Decades” where for instance, the music of the ’80s played and the models paraded dressed up in clothing from the era. Several audience members said that they enjoyed this part of the show because they could relate in some way to that time of the year, either because they were born during that year or because they could identify with the style of clothing.
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority member and Ivy Leaf Reporter Brittany Stephens, a senior marketing major, was also a model in the show. She said that she was exhilarated to be a part of the event.
“The turnout and the overall outcome was more than I expected,” Stephens said. “I absolutely loved being in the show.”
Delta Sigma Theta sorority member and senior elementary education major Shayla Williams said that she was more than happy to be present at the show. She also said that she supports all of the Greek organizations by attending their events.
“I loved all of the production that went into the show,” Williams said. “I think they put together a very colorful event. The “Decades” was my favorite part of the show because the music was nostalgic; I grew up with a lot of that music and the style of clothing was the kind I used to wear. You know, I had a windbreaker suit – pink and purple with polka dots and a hood – I was the “coolest” kid in the block. Yes, I was “fly” in the ’80s and the ’90s. I really enjoyed everything about the show.”
Williams went on to explain the purpose behind the event.
“The show was a colorful collaboration of style, movement, laughter, fun and music,” Williams said. “In the end, though, it was about confidence. Well, it is all about that. As long as you have confidence in yourself, you can sing, you can dance, you can be a model, and you can do anything you want in life. The show was beautiful; it encouraged students to have confidence in themselves.”