Kansas City Fashion Week (S/S 2025)

I think it's valuable to mention this first: I don't consider myself a model. What I like to do mostly is work behind the scenes. Photography, coordination, dictating, you know, telling people what to do and what looks good. It's an interesting experience being the subject on the other side of the lens... I don't like it. BUT, I do like doing what hot girls do. And what hot girls do is what's necessary. I must try most things at least once and runway model is just up next on the list. In addition, I decided to document that process along the way because that's actually what I want to do at these events. Anywho, fashion...

Walking for Tia Thomas from The Academy of Patternmaking as my first foray into Kansas City Fashion Week was the best thing that could've happened. From beginning to end, <I> was consider when she was crafting my fashion week look. I loved the look so much, I really wanted to buy it!

Pamela Renee, CEO of The Academy, has a created nice studio for her students to imagine, grow and produce in. The environment was very professional and I wasn't treated like a robot or a doll ready to be clothed. I very much felt like a part of the Academy for a little while.

3.12.25

I actually auditioned back in college for KCFW and I was chosen for the roster but wasn't chosen by a designer. I don't think I was ready then because upon reflection, getting chosen means something different to me now than it did then. At 19, I was so stressed about making it that I thought about it too much for my liking. "Will they chose me? Will I get added to the show?" At 27, this KCFW experience has been fun and light. I largely attribute my positive experience to my growth into the person I am today. I try not to care too much about what people think of me and that definitely helps when you're being judged!  😅

With that being said, I feel like my experience with KCFW 2025 was well organized and quite professional. I could tell Layne and the rest of the staff responsible for casting, model communications and training worked hard.

3.14.25

I walked nights one & two. The people teaching and directing the models on the runway were extremely helpful on the nights I walked. They kept a very professional, safe environment and were friendly, but firm & decisive. 

3.12.24

I really don't have much to say because she slayed my makeup for the first night of the fashion show. At every step of the process, Rose was kind and understanding of the melanated situation that was occurring in front of her. FOUNDATION SHADE MATCHING! Ooop! Spooky right? Right. But this wasn't the case with Rose. It took some mixing of different types of foundation, but I was matched with my shade and then my look took off from there!  

Night #1, after all the hoopla of the morning make over, I ate a pizza. Yes I did! And although it was fire, I had created flaws in the perfect face Rose had created earlier in the day. After demolishing the half pepperoni, half cheese pizza with Tia, we needed someone(s) to save us from what we did to our makeup. POOF! Out of thin air, a top 3 (and not 3 😉) superstar duo appeared in front of us: Kennedy and Lex! Thank you! They were the most charismatic people I met throughout this process. 

3.13.25 - This will be brief. 

As I sit at a random vendor table at the Kansas City Fashion week venue and type this out, I have very much mellowed out on KCFW. As with most things I’ve tried exactly once, I‘m no longer anxious about it and feel like a pro 😇. SO, I’m eating a pizza and drinking a Snapple while watching TV of the British Baking variety. 

I’m excited to walk the show tonight, but not as excited as yesterday because I’m really ready to go back to normal life. Being hot is hard work that I often choose to abstain from. Why can’t I get my hair wet?! Why can’t I leave the building once I check in? I’m tired of this!

3.14.25 - Wasn't as brief as I thought.

 I have cuts on my legs from the sequins in my runway fit on Night #2... dope 🫠

"Desirability is a shield at your front and the knife in your back."

Everyone knows casting for a fashion week is a key part of the event planning, and it involves selecting models who will showcase the designers' collections on the runway. It is an exciting, yet extremely anxiety-inducing, process. "Am I desirable enough to wear your freshly made garment, my king/queen?" I say, in my head as I slap a number to my chest and walk towards the iPad on a tripod at the back of the room. I definitely think there is opportunity and glory in such a career, but I don't think that's where I will whip out my lawn chair. I'd much rather document what I think is fetch and not be consumed by the masses myself.

BYE!