Model: Mariam Photographer: Tommy Amato Runway 7 Fashion. New York

Beautifully Diverse Fashion is a brand that allows models to express themselves creatively, through their choice of clothing and accessories. Their choices create a bond between the model and designer, not like an employee with their employer but a bond as a friend. A friend that matters, and who is valued for who they are by their friends, in this case the designer is the models’ friend. The importance of this relationship is what makes our brand unique, but what matter the most is that no matter what industry we work in, we should always treat people equally and fairly. Especially in the fashion industry, treat our models as if they matter, because they do matter, without them there is no us, the us refers to the ‘brand’. A brand should include everyone on the team, regardless of their age, disability, color, gender, religion, and ethnicity. All team members are valued members who contribute to reaching a desired goal, which is showcasing the collection.

Model: Brandon Photographer: Tommy Amato Runway 7 Fashion. New York

The importance of inclusion on runways should be highlighted, yes I like to have fun with people but I also know when to be serious at the same time. We were selected for New York Fashion Week by Runway 7 Fashion because of social change, social change that included accepting people for who they are, regardless of appearance. We were regarded as a cultural fashion show that showcased people ages eighteen to thirty-seven, but our team including photographers varies to up to age sixty-four. The types of people we have on our team are only from different backgrounds, but they vary from occupation to experiences such as, retired truck drivers, domestic violence victims (such as Mariam who was selected as favorite look for Runway 7 Fashion), divorcees, single mothers, mothers who coach soccer, professional models such as Victoria Henley, and Anthony Knight, professional dancers, and people who have never walked runway before. No one had met each other before but thanks to the way of connecting with people virtually since the pandemic, it seemed like they had known each for many years. 

Models: Massiel (left) & Lani May (right) Photographer: Donell X2ArtPhoto Kyle Woodland Show. Philadelphia

We say Beautifully Diverse because we mean it, not just in age, background or occupation but heritage and travels. People flew from all over the USA and other parts of the world including myself, from Australia, people flew from Ghana, Wisconsin, Canada, Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey and that was just for our New York Show. For our Philadelphia Black History Month Fashion Show models and photographers drove from different places such as, Connecticut, and model Massiel Frias put us on Connecticuts’ Radio Station,  ‘Internet Hollywood’. At Beautifully Diverse Fashion we don’t set a limit on what people are able to do and achieve.

Headshot:

Frances Helena

Photographer: Alejandra Bautista Duarte

Cover Photo:

Models: Emilly, Heidilyn, Brandon & Safina

Photographer: Mike Bissel

Runway 7 Fashion. New York

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Frances Helena has spent her whole life travelling, whether it’s with family, friends or alone, she has lived in many exotic places which has enhanced her way of adapting to different environments, cultures and people. This has allowed her to understand better how people live their day to day lives, how people view the world and themselves and how other cultures function. This is how her fashion brand evolved, having this knowledge and understanding of other people has lead her to understand that people have different ways of communicating with other people and that is what makes them unique. Frances has also been featured globally across virtual podcasts, interviews, humanitarian causes, magazines and now in fashion shows in different languages. When she isn’t creating designs, she writes leading her to be an international best seller, she’s a fashion and travel influencer, travel photographer and is always keeping busy.