STAR MODELS 5TH ANNIVERSARY FASHION SHOW
Camera flashes and bright smiles greet me as I enter Star Models 5th Anniversary Fashion Show. The setting is The Greek Room at Macys Center City, an elegant venue perfect for this event. The room is brimming with proud family members of the young models, eagerly awaiting the start of the show. One of the host’s for the day, Rita J. from Mo*Kai*ec Productions, is taking comments from family members on how this youth development program has affected the lives of these young ladies modeling for us today. The thanks and gratitude was clearly written all over people’s faces, but the pride and happiness in the voices of parents, aunts, uncles siblings, and cousins was a joy to hear. Truly a joyous day.
It’s showtime! The chattering voices and raucous laughter die down as the program director, Henrietta Hadley, takes the podium. After a brief introduction the music is cranked up and the first young model walks the floor. She is wearing a cute little black and white shorts set, and even though her eyes are darting about nervously, her smile and her step is right on point! The show was off to a great start as a booming applause echoed around the room. Eleven more young ladies strutted across the room in an array of spring fashion. Beautiful pinks, vibrant yellows, and soft baby blues sprinkled the collection. Some girls were timid and a little shy, while others were bold and brazen, but all of them were beautiful. To see their faces light up when the enthusiastic applause enveloped them was amazing!
After the first round of fashion, Henrietta introduced a special guest, Valerie Ward Miss Black Pennsylvania. Ms. Ward, looking elegantly gorgeous, gave a brief bio on each model. As their bio was read, the ladies came out in pairs to walk the floor in stunning spring dresses. Wonderful sun dresses in pretty floral prints, baby-doll dresses in lovely pastels, and long, loose, flowing dresses in sizzling bright greens and yellows made up the collection. Most of the girls were over their nervous jitters, so it was all big smiles and some adorable posing. They looked like it was a sunny day in the park.
The next portion of the program was a tribute to Michael Jackson. One of the older models, 14 or 15 yrs old, and a young gentlemen did a dance routine to the music of Michael Jackson. Very entertaining! After this was the main portion of the program, each model walked the floor in a garment of her own making. I must say, some of these young ladies have an impeccable eye for fashion. I saw some very nice silhouettes, a lot of movement in the dresses, and the color palettes were gorgeous. This was the moment for these girls to shine, modeling their own designs for their family and friends. The smiles were blinding! The show concluded with each model receiving an award from Star Models for excellence and achievement. In addition, scholarships for a summer program at Moore College were awarded to four of the young ladies. Overall, I would say the event was a smashing success.
This show today would not have been possible were it not for the founder of Star Models, Henrietta Hadley. She started by just playing “Top Model” with some of the girls at the local recreation center after school. She donated just a couple hours a week to these young girls, which grew into a youth development program. She named her program Star Models and works with girls between the ages of 8-16 who are interested in the fashion industry. The program covers topics like building self-esteem, individuality, social graces, career awareness and preparation, etc. It also includes such activities such as weekly group exercises, weekly team building challenges, talent show, career fair, fashion show, and more. With the help of people like Rita J. and Kimberlyn Bannerman from Beauty By Divination, Henrietta has built this program up to what it is today. That is a great accomplishment she should receive an award! These young lives are being shaped and molded everyday by their environment and the people in their life. It is nice to know that there are people who care enough to take the time to put together a program like this. I look forward to the 6th Anniversary Fashion Show.
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