Fashion is for everyone: FIU Pride Centers GenderChill Fashion Show

Andrés Rivera | Staff Writer

The Pride Center and guests showcased their styling skills in an inclusive fashion show on FIU’s Modesto Maidique campus.

The model used the Deuxieme Maisons hanging gardens as a backdrop to create a mystical atmosphere in the image.

Indee Williams, program coordinator for the Pride Center, reflects on past fashion shows and how they helped the program.

“Last year we held our first annual GenderChill, a gender equity fashion show which was an LGBTQIA+-centric fashion show focused on breaking the binary and pushing for body inclusivity,” said Williams.

The hosts acknowledged that students may have a hard time coming out of their shells and showing off their unique styles.

The first step is the hardest, but once you get in front of an audience, and you get a taste of what it’s like to be your brave authentic self, you’ll see that others will love you just as much as you love yourself. , says Williams.

Ashley Santoro, an FIU student and major in marine biology, shares why she came to the shoot and how she explored new ways to express herself.

I decided to drop out because I was getting into fashion in general. It was definitely something I wanted to explore to learn more about art, explore myself, expand my taste and how I wanted to express myself, said Santoro.

[Fashion] it is very important for people to find themselves and understand their identity and feelings as well.

With events like these, the Pride Center aims to provide a safe space for students trying to find a community of like-minded people and express their feelings the way they want.

This is a great opportunity to join a community of loving support if [someone] didn’t have it at first, said Santoro.