To the untrained eye, the backstage area at the annual Summer Sizzle Global Glamour Runway Show was a colourful scene of apparent chaos as models and designers rushed to prepare for the big night.
But in the end, the event came off without a hitch.
“It’s rigorous, but fun,” said Reyna Wright, a United States-based model who flew to the Virgin Islands for her first-ever Summer Sizzle.
The Saturday show at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex headlined an event lineup that also included a welcome party last Thursday at Loose Mongoose in Trellis Bay and the “When Art Meets Fashion” party on Friday at Prime in Road Town.
But Summer Sizzle wasn’t all fun and games. Leading up to the show, the models worked through days of rehearsals, model coaching, and fittings.
Juliana Georges, production and marketing assistant to event organiser Terry Donovan, said the preparations were stressful, but she enjoyed seeing “other local people with so much passion for a creative industry.”
Opening
The Saturday show opened with Mrs. BVI Globe Arliene Penn — who works as government’s communications director by day — performing her original song “Self Love.”
Then the microphone passed to this year’s celebrity host: Joy-Ann Reid, an MSNBC political analyst and author who hosts the US television show “The ReidOut.”
Over the course of the night, more than 40 models showcased the work of 15 designers from here and abroad — ranging from resortwear to swimwear to eveningwear.
Andrea Wilson, a Virgin Islands designer who featured a swimwear line, stressed the importance of individuality and said she tries to set her work apart by using original prints.
Menswear designer Andrew Nowell highlighted the role of creativity in fashion design.
“Follow your heart,” he said in an interview. “Don’t be like everybody else. Be an individual. Push past your boundaries.”
Goody Ajoku, who has been modelling since 2018, said fashion is “iconic” and constantly changing.
“Fashion is not just wearing clothes,” the Nigerian model told the Beacon. “Fashion is how you feel, how you relate with people without even saying a word.”
Other participating models came from this territory.
Three-time Summer Sizzle model Amelia Adamson offered advice for anyone who wants to get involved in modelling — but especially for curvy women.
“Any shape, any size, any height, any colour — it doesn’t matter — should pursue modelling if that’s what they really want to do,” she told the Beacon. “There’s always a gap in the industry that needs to be filled.”
‘Body positivity’
Ms. Adamson also highlighted the need for models to be relatable and expressed her support for the growing movement of “body positivity” in Summer Sizzle.
The night ended with Mr. Donovan, the event founder, thanking attendees and encouraging them to finish their evening at the after-party hosted by Moonstone Nightclub.