DESIREE HEDRICK, A STUDENT AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY, TOOK HOME THE 1ST PLACE BEST OF SHOW AWARD AND A $1000 PRIZE.
To celebrate the opening of the “Inspiring Beauty” exhibit, a memorable runway fashion show featured design students from local universities: Appalachian State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina State, and UNC-Greensboro. The students competed for cash prizes and were evaluated by fashion industry icons, including Zang Toi, Faye Clerk Moseley, and Victor and Sarah Lytvenenko of Raleigh Denim. Desiree Hedrick, a student at N.C. A&T, took home the 1st Place Best of Show award and a $1000 prize. Her winning entry, titled “Power Meets Beauty,” was a purple jumpsuit with a wire vest. During the event, former model Shayla Simpson explained, “We touched so many lives, it wasn’t just about the models being on stage and selling beautiful fashions across the country and entertaining people. Thousands of young people went to college because of Ebony Fashion Fair.” The exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Art showcases how Eunice Johnson shaped fashion as a whole, paved the way for African-Americans in the industry, and ultimately challenged the concept of beauty.
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