When I was a senior in college, a local designer in Flagstaff, AZ, asked me to walk as a model in her fashion show for her design debut at the Shoes & Such boutique, which I’m thrilled to find out is still going strong for 21 years now! This was my first time being asked to “walk a runway,” which was definitely unique because the show was held in the historic Weatherford Hotel down the street.
It was a really cool experience, getting fitted for my two looks weeks before the show, then getting my hair and makeup done professionally for the first time pre-show, and being able to represent this talented designer in her debut show. When I told my mom about the opportunity, she booked a road trip up north from Scottsdale and a stay at a nearby motel for the night. Before the show, we got dinner together in downtown Flagstaff.