MizzouThon hosted its first-ever fashion show to showcase the strength of Miracle Kids, children who have spent time at the MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and the Columbia community on April 22 in Stotler Lounge.
The show, which incorporated the theme “Strut Your Strength,” highlighted individuality and the way any experience can be transformed into something positive. Audience members included both MU students and family members, and the models themselves were a diverse range of students and Miracle Kids.
The event began by showing a video of MizzouThon’s Main Event, a 13.1-hour dance marathon to raise money to contribute to a $1 million pledge to the MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Following this, models walked onstage wearing shirts made at the Main Event that each represented one of the 31 Miracle Kids.
Nina Weatherly, special events director for MizzouThon, explained that the idea for this event was originally a gala. A fashion show was chosen instead, as the idea was more accessible, and the event came together to highlight the Columbia community. The Mizzou Store, Muse Clothing, Absolute Vintage and The Bridge all donated lines of clothing to the show.
The Mizzou Store line was modeled by notable MU students such as Tori Schafer and Sean Earl. Schafer and Earl are active members of the MU community and were voted Homecoming queen and king this school year. The event displayed a unified sense of support for MizzouThon’s cause by bringing together these prominent figures and shops from the community.
Two speakers took the stage at the event to show their support for MizzouThon and share stories. The first was Jordan Reeves, an 11-year-old girl with an energetic sense of humor whose left arm happens to stop just above the elbow. Reeves was joined by her mother on stage to discuss Born Just Right, an organization she founded to help kids with disabilities by giving them a chance to “create their own solutions,” or “superpowers.” This organization works to provide kids with opportunities in design and STEM.
Reeves used the show’s intermission as time to discuss her design: a prosthetic arm in the shape of a unicorn horn that shoots glitter. Reeves’ organization and design exemplify one of the core values of MizzouThon: Every kid deserves the right to be a kid. Though Reeves has an extensive list of accomplishments, from showing her work on the Rachael Ray Show to TEDx, her organization is still housed locally in Columbia.
The other speaker was Tyler Ingram, who spoke about the way he transformed his experience with an abusive relationship into a feeling of motivation. He created the clothing line Explore Hamble, which was also featured on the runway. Explore Hamble donates 15 percent of its profits to True North, an organization that provides support for victims of domestic violence.
MizzouThon plans to continue hosting this event each year and hopes to eventually expand it into a gala, Weatherly said.
_Edited by Alexandra Sharp | asharp@themaneater.com_
