UCA’s Ebony Models strutted their stuff across the Ida Waldran stage in Old Main on Feb. 9 for their Valentine’s Day-themed fashion show.
La’Diamond Maker, president of Ebony Models and senior theater major, said, “Thank you to the models. Every practice they come in, especially my OG models … they always bring energy. And I promise y’all, Ebony Models feels like a family.”
Maker said the group practices at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at room 210 in the Farris Center.
“Ebony Models is a diverse modeling group here on campus striving to create a creative outlet for self-proclaimed artists, models, or whoever,” senior public relations major Jeromy Hunt, an emcee for the event, said.
The models said the club gives them confidence and friends.
“I think I have gained confidence,” UCA art graduate Paige Mikkal said. “I really love fashion, and I actually am kind of shy, so I wanted to do something to open myself up a little bit and express my creative fashion side.”
Sydney Harris, a sophomore exercise science major who joined Ebony Models in 2022, said, “I’ve gained a lot of family from the organization, a lot of friends.”
“This is one of our best shows since I’ve been on the board,” Harris, treasurer for Ebony Models, said. “This has been a really smooth show.”
Harris said, “There’s not too many Black organizations, especially not a Black modeling organization. Now that I’m on the exec board, we’re trying to rebrand and get members of all diversities. It’s the diversity and the family. When you come in, it’s instant family.”
Sophomore psychology major Oumoukalsoum Lo said the show was “phenomenal. It was better than the last one.”
Lo said she joined because the club “felt like a community.”
“It feels like family,” she said.
Lo said while performing, she felt “out of my comfort zone, but in a good way.”
Pointing to her little sister, Lo said, “I heard her screaming, so it gave me more confidence.”
Senior cybersecurity major James Rideout III, historian for Ebony Models, said he’s been a part of the club for two years and wants people to know “it builds confidence.”
He said the group’s adviser, Associate Dean of the Office of Diversity and Community Angela Jackson, invited him to join.
“When I first got here, I didn’t know what was going on, and she reached out to me via email and told me about the organization. Ever since then, I’ve been a part of it, and it changed my life, gave me a lot of confidence, helped me grow and connect with a lot of people, helped me be more expressive with myself,” he said.
“The whole show was great. I’m proud of everybody,” he said. “It was real creative, and you get a little acting, a little drama in there, too. You’re not just modeling, you get a side of theater in there.”
Sophomore graphic design major Devyn Summons said it was her first show with the group, and she joined because her friend invited her.
“She wanted to do it for her senior year, and I’ve always wanted to join them sometime because it seems like a really fun community, and it’s like fashion and dressing up, so why not?” she said.
“I’d say I gained some friends. I gained a friend or two and gained knowledge, like more information about this group and how we work together. It’s kind of like a family, too,” Summons said.
The models said they source their outfits from different places depending on the theme.
Summons said she likes to shop at T.J. Maxx and Target, and Harris said sometimes members get sponsors for their outfits.
“We go to thrift stores and get things, also we’ll get little things and have models try on to see what they get a feel of,” Harris said.
Mikkal said, “Personally, I find my pieces at vintage stores, sometimes online. I just personally collect my own clothing because I’m an artist.”
Lo said she got her pieces for the show from her family.
“These are my cousin’s shoes. This is my brother’s hoodie. I already had these pants, so it just worked out,” she said.
The club posts about upcoming events on Instagram @ucaebonymodels. For more information about the club, contact [email protected].
