Students learn confidence and style on the runway

For Albert Jones, walking down the runway at Odessa College in a suit and a pair of dress shoes was a unique experience.

Jones, a 22-year-old student at Odessa College, said he was nervous originally because he had never worn a full suit or pair of dress shoes before. Then he learned while modeling in the show the shoes he were being given to him by the store owner.

“It was touching,” said Jones, who is from Georgia. “People don’t normally give from where I come from.”

Jones, and about 34 other models, participated in Odessa College’s Office of Student Activities fifth annual “Praise and Fashion,” a fashion show celebrating Black History month.

Mary Henson, owner of Mary’s Fashion at 2509 N. Dixie Blvd., provided clothes for the event as well as emceeing the show.

The nearly hour-long show, followed by a soul food lunch, featured African-inspired attire in celebration of Black History month as well as contemporary fashion. Henson kicked off the show in style.

 “I am a queen,” Henson said as she strutted down the catwalk in the college’s Saulsbury Center wearing a light green gown with a large, matching hat.

After Henson sauntered off the stage, the music came on and the models took turns entertaining the audience of about 100 people with pirouettes and twirls. The models, who were mainly Odessa College faculty and students, wore a variety of about 100 outfits, including men’s and boys’ prom suits in a variety of colors, hats, and evening and casual wear.

“Freedom of expression, that’s what we’re here to talk about today,” said Event Coordinator Tramaine Rausaw, director of student life at Odessa College.

Rausaw said the turnout was one of the largest he had seen since the show began. He said the fashion show celebrated Black History month, but it included models of different ethnicities and ages, and Rausaw said he hopes to have other events to highlight the diversity among students on campus in the future.

“It’s important that we reach all of our student groups,” Rausaw said.

King Rushin, a 20-year-old student at Odessa College, said he too was grateful for the opportunity he had been given to model in the show.

“Life has been a challenge,” Rushin said, adding he has cerebral palsy.

Rushin said he thought it was good to show other children his disability did not prevent him from walking the runway in a fashion show.

“It was really a thrill,” Rushin said.

Andrew Mumphrey, a 20-year-old student at Odessa College, said he heard about the fashion show while working in the student activities office and thought it would be a good experience.

“At first I was a little nervous, but I started going with the flow,” Mumphrey said of his experience walking the runway.

Antonio Dye, a 25-year-old student at Odessa College, said he enjoyed modeling in the fashion show especially because it was in celebration of Black History month.

“I felt very special,” Dye said.

Iris Lang, a retired school teacher, said she has been coming to the event every year since her daughter Sherrie Lang started it five years ago. She said she enjoys attending the event each year and this year came to watch her younger sister, Lucille Ellison, walk the runway. She said some of the student participants have faced struggles in life, but she enjoyed seeing them happily walking in the show.

“Anybody can achieve anything,” Iris Lang said.

Ellison, who wore two outfits, said she enjoyed participating in the fashion show.

“I thought it was a joyful thing,” Ellison said.

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