KWS ELITE FASHION SHOW - TRISTATE EDITION

4809 Germantown Avenue,Philadelphia PA 19144

10 December, 2022

Description

Model with Autism proud to represent in Philly Fashion Week The KWS Elite Fashion Show (supported by Philly Fashion Week) Who am I, and what is my mission for this show?? My mission is to bring awareness to topics that I feel are very important, but often overlooked. I am a Model and Social Influencer with autism who has a vision of doing more than just modeling in the fashion industry. Not a lot of people can tell, but I have autism spectrum disorder. I learned a lot in the fashion and entertainment industry and in the world that not a lot of people are very informed about the disorder and some do not even care. The indifference really appalls me and I want to make a difference to raise awareness about mental health. Since I started modeling just a little over a year ago, I have been featured on ABC Channel 6 News, National campaigns, billboards, I have done major shows such as New York Fashion Week, Philly Fashion Week, and I have gotten selected to model in Paris on a European Model Showcase. During this time, I also have built a platform where I launched my own Youtube show and already have a luxury clothing brand made by a company called Danirhi Clothing based out of Miami. While pursuing the goals in the industry, I realized that there is a lot of stress that can affect lots of models’ mental health. I also realized that dealing with stress on top of having mental health issues and being in a fast-paced environment where nobody cares about how you feel, can be very emotionally damaging to some models. Lots of models ironically already struggle with self-esteem and have some mental health issues, because this industry brings lots of stress and pressure and has virtually no sympathy for how anyone feels, it can be very overwhelming for anyone to deal with. While modeling, I learned that a former Miss USA winner, Cheslie Kryst committed suicide. People said that she told others, “she had depression”. Others thought she was such an accomplished model that it was just a little phase in her life that she was going through, and she would get over it. When I read more about her life, I realized that the one thing we had in common was we both suffered from depression. What I want to do is provide awareness for people about the importance of mental health in the fashion industry as well as provide to the people the awareness of the financial resources that the fashion industry needs to elevate and be able to include more people. I have two (2) very important goals that NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED! Many people may not have any idea in some cases of mental health problems that models may already deal with, then have to continually deal with the intense pressure within the industry. Even the little things such as “not having money to be able to afford a photo shoot” or “updating pictures for their modeling portfolio”. Designers also have it tough too, even though they are very talented. Their designs are incredible; however the designers often lack the financial resources to be able to afford participating in doing shows. I worked for a PR company that recruited designers for big New York Fashion Week shows that were CFDA approved and it was called Soundpace International. The biggest problem I had with recruiting designers was that they didn’t have the money to do the shows. This is why I am letting the designers showcase their designs for free and therefore people will be able to see all the creative talent that we are missing out on. While recruiting designers for these shows, I also participated in the shows as a runway model. It was during this time, when I actually realized the designers who were in the show were not as qualified, experienced, or even as good as the designers who could not afford to do the show. I kept thinking, if the fashion industry was getting more help in financial assistance, then the designers who were actually better would be able to do the show, and enhance the quality of the show. As a resolution, those designers would not have to miss out on the opportunity due to lack of funds. In the case of the Philadelphia Fashion Industry, the Industry is against? the State of PA in getting funding for the fashion arts programs. There is over a billion dollars in funding, but yet the State does not have enough to fund the Creative Arts? This is why I am teaming up with the Moore College of Arts, Head Director, Daniel Velasco to raise awareness for this important cause. As my mission add-on, I am teaming up with Michael’s Giving Hand, which is a nonprofit organization that raises money to support mental health awareness. I am also working with The Greatest Philadelphia Performing Arts Enrichment Program, which is a nonprofit organization that develops solutions for the youth and young adults in the arts industry as a performing subsector program for this show as well. I have brought all of these important organizations together to fight for 2 important causes. Right now, we all need to come together and unify to help out the greater good. This is the City of Brotherly Love, so it is about time we start acting like it and come together. In real time, I work with high fashion designers that have showcased their designs in New York Fashion Week, and Philly Fashion Week, and internationally. I also work with 52 models currently and 47 of them have done high fashion runway modeling in high level shows, such as New York Fashion Week and Philly Fashion Week. I also have some good directors that have directed New York Fashion Week and Philly Fashion Week shows. The show is also being supported by Philly Fashion Week. The current Membership Chair of Fashion Group International Philadelphia, Bonnie Harmon is also one of the directors for my show as well. I am looking to get this out to the press and media outlets to get this published and reported on the news to gain exposure about my event and to “possibly” gain sponsors to help me subsidize this high fashion important event.When is the planned date of the show? The projected date of the show is December10, 2022 on a Saturday and I am looking to have the show start at 8 p.m. Est.Why Press and Media coverage is important? In closing, in order for some people to understand the importance of these issues they need to be able to see it happening on the big screen. Things make so much of a difference when a good cause is advertised on television. When the story of my modeling journey with autism was aired on television, I actually had celebrities reaching out to me spreading my story; they said “how much of an inspiration I was and that they would also share the story to other organizations that help models with autism”. This also inspired and educated parents on the facts of autism, mental health, and that autism is actually a spectrum. Just because having autism is on the lower functioning side, it does not mean that you cannot progress to the higher functioning side. Parents told me that my story actually educated them and gave them hope. In having autism, there were some people who wanted to model. Furthermore, some of those who have autism have come forward and said “now they have the courage to model despite having autism and mental disorders”. Now some are actually signed to modeling agencies! All of this positive change happened in just 2 weeks of my story being aired on television. In order for people in communities to be aware of important issues, you need to fight for it continuously and not take “no” for an answer. I had to fight just to make it this far in my journey of life with autism and I plan on fighting and to do my best to gain some type of media attention to support this cause. I am bringing different organizations together to unify the community to fight for this cause. Some people are dying from mental health issues despite how successful they are, because there is no awareness. Talented people in the fashion and arts programs are not able to showcase their talent due to lack of funds because there is no awareness. Some people do not understand the pressure that models go through in the industry while already having mental health issues due to there being NO AWARENESS! Awareness is CRUCIAL! Nevertheless, for the awareness, I am looking forward to having some type of press to be able to come to the event, take footage, and for some of my team members and I to briefly explain the mission of this show.OPENING ACT- THE NUTCRACKERSugar Plum Fairy, Valarie Iosue DESIGNERS:SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION(S):MEDIA:CAT WALK ON THE AVENUE OF THE ARTS Signup Inquire with eventbrite organizer below.