Caroline Corsones, Staff Writer

When the first model emerged from behind the curtain, the intense look in her eye and the easy grace in her walk made me have a Tyra Banks moment. I thought to myself, “That girl is fierce!”

Juwan Bepo, a gifted first-year model in the fashion show, described her time on the runway: “My favorite part of the fashion show was definitely walking in front of the crowd for the first time. I was so nervous before I walked on, and hearing everybody cheering for me was a great feeling!”

The Black Cultural Arts Council of Notre Dame (BCAC) Fashion Show took place on Saturday, March 23, at the Century Center in South Bend. It included various designs from Urban Outfitters, Old Navy, Style Queue, Stupid Genius and Addition Co.  Featuring breathtaking clothing and marked by an ambiance that made the members of the audience feel as if we had stepped into New York City during fashion week, this show was surely a success.

The event was arguably better than any fashion show in NYC, because the fashion models did not some strange-sounding Russian names; they were members of the Notre Dame family.  It was so exciting to see my close friends “killing it” on the runway like top models when just the day before we had been gorging ourselves with froyo in North Dining Hall.

“Màs” means more in Spanish, and it was also the title of this year’s show.  This theme truly embodied the spirit of the event.  The MC explained at the beginning of the show that this year, we want more.  We want more fashion, more spirit and more soul—and the show undoubtedly lived up to its name.

The themes of this year’s fashion show included Studs and Studs, Throw Back Thursday, Out of This World and many others that wowed the audience.  Of all these, the Black Swan segment of the show was the definite crowd-pleaser.  With elegant music and the stunning designs, the only thing missing was Natalie Portman herself.

The show had much more important guests than Natalie Portman or Mila Kunis, however: Prospective students got to experience the true spirit and community of Notre Dame. Some even commented that the fashion show was their favorite activity of the weekend.  Notre Dame students showcased their energy, passion and friendship; it was an exemplary embodiment of the Notre Dame spirit.

The fashion show also celebrated the diversity here at Notre Dame. Students of different races and cultures came together to fulfill their passions and forge strong friendships along the way. Zoë Gyampoh, one of the many talented models, recounted her experience,

“My favorite part was just before it started,” she said. “We [were] all nervous out of our minds, and we [stood] in a circle with our costumes on to hold hands and pray. And then there’s a second of calm before the excitement sets in again.” She also described the dynamic people participating in the fashion show. “[The event organizers] aren’t looking for one type of person. They literally want everyone.”

All proceeds from the fashion show benefitted the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Award, which provides financial aid to college freshmen in need.

Caroline Corsones is a freshman English major with a minor in secondary education. Her one goal in life is to make “fetch” happen. Contact her at ccorsone@nd.edu.