The Everybody, Every-Body Fashion Show, organized by the Social Psychology of Clothing and Appearance class, will make its runway debut on Thursday at Youngstown State University.
The fashion show will take place in the Chestnut Room in Kilcawley Center from 6 to 8 p.m. It is designed to raise awareness of eating disorders and body image issues.
Morgan Baker, a junior majoring in fashion merchandising, is involved with the show.
“The show really is all about promoting body awareness and that everyone is beautiful just the way they are,” Baker said. “It is also to promote being healthy and being comfortable in your own skin.”
Baker said all of the models in the show are YSU students.
“All kinds of body types will be in the show,” Baker said. “That way, we are promoting that you don’t have to be a size zero to be beautiful.”
Erin Crist, a junior majoring in fashion design, said those involved want people to realize that being a twig isn’t a prerequisite for modeling.
“No matter what body type you have, we just want everyone to know they are beautiful just the way they are,” Crist said.
Steven Weeden, a senior majoring in fashion merchandising, said it is important to raise awareness of body image issues.
“We really just want to bring awareness to help people raise their confidence and self-esteem as well,” Weeden said. “By seeing how beautiful the models are in their own skin, they can realize they are also beautiful and can gain the confidence they need.”
The Everybody, Every-Body Fashion Show will feature many different styles from e.j. hannah and 850 Blues. The show will also feature designs that YSU students have created.
“I have big visions, but I’m not always sure how to get those visions to life,” Crist said. “I tried hard to create that piece and let my creativity come to life.”
Crist said that her all-time favorite designer is YSU alumna Nanette Lepore.
“She is a huge inspiration to me,” Crist said. “She puts colors together that most people would not usually think of. Mixing prints and designs makes the designs unique and all her own.”
Priscilla Gitimu, an assistant professor of human ecology, said the show will tell the community about the beauty of various body types.
“Runway shows have always had a specific body type,” Gitimu said. “But when every body type is represented in one place, it is passing on a message that no matter what size you are, … you are beautiful in your own skin.”
Gitimu said those involved with the fashion show want to target high school students.
“We decided to work in conjunction with local high school guidance counselors and send fliers to post in the hallways,” Gitimu said. “We want to target that age group in particular because bullying has been frequent in those groups.”
The Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center will also have a table at the fashion show, informing attendants about eating disorders and their causes.
Gitimu said the class plans to collaborate with the Rec Center in the future to have more events to educate the campus about eating disorders.
She said the class will also take donations at the door to benefit the National Eating Disorders Association.
