“Girls are really into the fashion now and we said and we didn’t want to be the typical show where all the girls have to be skinny and they have to look a certain way,” said Sisters of Hope co-founder and executive director Rainie Howard.
“We wanted all shapes and sizes – as long as they can smile, be confident and hold their head up they are right for our show.”
This weekend girl empowerment group Sisters of Hope returns to the runway with its annual fashion show at the Missouri History Museum. Year three has proven to be bigger and better than ever. Fifty girls –plenty of whom participated in Sisters of Hope’s first full fledge fashion camp – will model in an experience that culminates with a two day fashion extravaganza this Friday and Sunday.
Members of Sisters of Hope – who range in age from 5-18 – will showcase their own personal creations as well as strut the catwalk in styles designed by Lillian Jones’ Laha Clothing and Ola Halmaweth’s Ola Styles.
“They are going to be modest, creative, colorful and unique. It’s going to be exciting to see all of the looks,” Howard said. “Our girls are so excited about the opportunity to design an outfit and showcase it on the runway. People who come are going to see bright colorful tutus, leggings, dressings, jumpsuits –and trendy but unique looks in their own styles.”
This weekend will also feature a performance by inspirational rap artist THI’SL and the Sunday show will be hosted by Hot 104.1 FM midday host Mz. Janee.
But as they rip the runway and highlight the hottest styles and trends, Howard says the best accessory the girls will display is confidence.
In a refreshing irony, the highlight of the Pink and Purple Fashion show is inner beauty that the participants will showcase.
“Pink represents female confidence and the purple represents value and royalty,” Howard said about the meaning behind the show’s theme.
Both were an integral element of the fashion camp’s lesson plan.
They had sessions that illustrated why outer beauty is not as important as inner beauty. They talked about what makes the girls unique and special.
“We discussed the psychology of Fashion,” Howard said. “What you choose to wear says a lot about who you think you are.”
“Fashion is what gets the girls attention, I remember myself wanting to be a model.” Howard said. “I think those little girls see these shows and think they can never do it. But here’s this organization telling them be who you are and to value yourself.”
Howard’s childhood experience was one of the motivations behind her starting Sisters of Hope alongside her sister Kristee Ruffin.
“I remember my tough years – seventh grade – when I dealt with bullying to the point where I didn’t want to go to school,” Howard said. “I remember feeling depressed and didn’t like how I look and didn’t like who I was afraid to go to school. Before I started Sisters of Hope I kept thinking ‘I feel sorry for this younger generation.’ It’s just sad how you see these girls they are so innocent and they go into middle school and they become new people and in high school they don’t know who they are – they are trying to fit in.”
It was a feeling that wouldn’t leave the pit of her stomach. She received confirmation while in attendance of a Joyce Meyer Ministries women’s conference.
“I felt like I really want to help these girls get through it and give them a platform of something fun to do – that was why I started Sisters of Hope,” Howard said.
“I never found anything for me that I wanted to do – it’s like if you’re not a cheerleader or a dancer then it’s like what do you do? Just seeing that need and me wanting to help girls who were in my position was what made me want to start this organization.”
He made a commitment that every month she wanted to do something with the girls and the response has been overwhelming. In just a few short years, Sisters of Hope as grown to serve more than 100 girls each year. And the bright lights, glitz and glamour of the fashion show pale in comparison to the camaraderie and sisterhood that develops in the process of pulling the experience together.
“The fashion show is a fun, entertaining positive event where girls can shine express themselves, feel good and feel confident,” Howard said.
“But every year my aha moment is to see these girls who don’t know each other – girls who go to school in St. Peters and girls who go to school in St. Louis city to meet each other and become good friends from Sisters of Hope. The friendships and the sisterhood that develops are amazing. They really connect with each other – and themselves.”
Sisters of Hope’s 3rd Annual Pink and Purple Fashion show will take place on Friday, June 22 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 24 at 3 p.m. in the Lee Auditorium of The Missouri History Museum. For more information, call (314)314-827-5216 or visit www.SistersofHope.org.
