I can't go without mentioning some of my favorite looks of the night. We rushed in and out of looks all while changing out of shoes and different accessories. I have so much appreciation for runway models because I now understand all that goes into it. I felt so accomplished because this isn't normal for me. It felt so exhilarating to get through that first walk of the night without stumbling or looking stiff. Slaght was waiting for me, and we headed to the runway, climbed two steps, and I walked over and hit my first pose of the night. "Mama Jeannie," as we affectionately started calling her, checked me for last looks, and I lined up with the rest of the models from my group. I put on my first look of the night, and two of my closest friends, Regina and Lindsay, met me backstage to give me some final encouraging words. Plus, I love how he wasn't awkward about disability and just allowed himself to have fun with it.īefore I knew it, it was time for the show to start. I chose to make up my own technique and walk with my fingertips slightly grazing his so I could still strut down the runway with a slight hip motion and an arm swing. One of the escorts, David Slaght, a New York-based fitness and boxing coach, was waiting at the runway for us to practice if we so desired. I love a good tactile situation because it helps blind individuals know where we are in a space. She also taped paint sticks on the runway to indicate to us where to start and stop. Smith was really good at incorporating accessibility into the show as she gave us the option to either walk with our canes, a guide dog, or an escort. I respect her for that.įerguson gathered us into small groups and took us to explore and familiarize ourselves with the runway. I love how she didn't baby any of us or go easy on us because of our disabilities. Ferguson has a heart of gold, and you can tell she really believes in Smith's mission. While waiting for our makeup to be done, we were introduced to Jeannie Ferguson, a no-nonsense runway coach who kept all the models in line. Blind individuals looking to dip their toes into the world of modeling are welcome, as well as volunteers, sponsors, designers, and allies. Keep scrolling for a recap of my experience modeling for an all-blind fashion show, and reach out to the Not My Eyes team through their website if you'd like to get involved. The showcase always promises to be a night to remember - and the April event was no different. This allowed her to build a platform that empowers other blind individuals, which is how the Not My Eyes Fashion Showcase was created. In 2021, she won the Kurvacious Boutique contest and became the first blind model to be the face of the brand. She didn't end up winning, but one of the judges saw something special in her and encouraged her to pursue modeling. Smith is a powerhouse with a mission to create more inclusive spaces for blind individuals within the fashion industry.Ī blind, plus-size model herself, Smith's career on the runway began in 2017, when she entered a contest hosted by Ashley Stewart. I initially wasn't sure I wanted to participate in the show, but after speaking to the founder of the Not My Eyes fashion showcase, Annalee Smith, I was immediately sold. I got an Instagram message from a blind, plus-size fashion influencer named Brittney Ellis, who was excited to let me know about an all-blind runway show happening in New York City in April 2023. But all this success aside, I still had yet to make my runway debut.įast forward to December 2022. I want to make the process easier for other blind people. I was also inspired to work on my own physical collection for my brand NYI - all our designs are based off textures, because that's how I identify my clothing as a blind woman. Soon after, I began to get requests from the fashion industry to do accessibility consulting for both products and brand websites. Back in 2020, I started a fashion podcast called "Fashionably Tardy," to bridge the gap between people with disabilities and the fashion industry. Now, I'm proud to be creating those opportunities. It's not that I thought a blind person wasn't capable of being a model I just realized very quickly that no one was giving the community those types of opportunities. I did not even think modeling was a possibility for a young blind woman.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |