“Not too much with the hips!”
“Y’all should be feeding off each other’s energy!”
“Milk it!”
These are the phrases one might hear when walking past the hallway where the Models of the Mecca (MOTM) rehearse for their upcoming benefit fashion show.
Expanding beyond that of a traditional modeling organization, MOTM has established itself as the premier creative agency on campus. Creative directors, photographers, videographers, stylists, makeup artists, and graphic designers make up what they call “Behind the Runway,” creating the vision that the models then bring to life.
The elegant performances were a stark contrast to the corporate-like hallway where they held rehearsals.
For the past four weeks, both sides of the runway have been working in tandem to manifest their next vision: Pandemonium.
Calyn Coleman, a production assistant, explained the theme behind what will be their first annual fashion show. “What if there was a society that embraced the labels that were placed upon us? “What if there are only two types of people? Which side would you choose,” she started to paint a picture. “We have our first faction, which is called ‘Sector Six’– six is important for us because this is the sixth year of MOTM. Basically, [‘Sector Six’ is] like the dirty, raggedy, you know, coming from the trap, coming from the trenches. Then you have a mirroring side, ‘The Ethereals’, that are the high-class, wealthy, kind of loopy people.”
Much like the organization itself, there was more to the theme than what meets the eye. “You kind of dive deeper into the show and realize that, although both are very different in some stereotypical ways, they’re actually not that different at all,” Coleman explained. “It’s kind of highlighting the parallels between the Black community, even at Howard, when it comes to elitism. There’s people coming from different backgrounds and different experiences, and there’s a lot of tension that can come from that, even conflict at times. And you’ll probably see it when we do the storytelling in our show.”
This story of people from different sides of the tracks will be well told by an organization that notoriously inducts models of varying shapes and sizes, a stark contrast from the non-inclusive nature of the modeling industry.
Much of the rehearsals consisted of group formations alongside individual walks.
One model, Jayvyn Morthel, believes that MOTM’s diversity only builds the confidence of each member. “When they do take on the modeling world, whether an agency picks them up or not, they’re gonna have that confidence in themselves knowing that, because they were in this wonderful organization, they have this family that’s always gonna validate their beauty and their worthiness,” said Morthel.
But this family critiques as much as it validates. Each model channeled their best Naomi Campbell as they strutted to the end of the hall, only stopping to let women wearing hijabs exit the prayer room ironically situated behind them. As they reached the end of the runway, each model was met with collective sounds of praise or a pointed silence that signified there was room for improvement.
Jacob Bellevue, model and chair of the fashion show, believes that “those moments are definitely what keeps the integrity of the organization,” he said. “If we didn’t take time to give them direction, redirect them, and let them know what our standards and values are, then it would just end up looking like everyone else. We want to go against the grain.”
Both the models and the creative team participated in the critiques.
There was clearly a standard being upheld, especially by Stanton Hare, former president and the current head of modeling. As a member of the inaugural class of MOTM, Hare has been a part of the organization since its inception six years ago, and this show will be one of the events that mark his grand exit.
Therefore, he’s leaving no room for error. In between practice runs, the MOTM veteran could be found giving speeches to make his expectations known. “So when we are in the middle of running through a show, I need you to have all your attention on the runway,” he said. “Because, quite frankly, what I was trying to convince [the creative directors] was that you guys can perform and that you can give more emotion and not be dull. Because that’s how they were feeling. So let’s make sure you prove them wrong.”
While the coaches believe these moments are integral to the development of the models, the models’ feelings on the matter are a bit more mixed. “Sometimes it’s just like the most tedious, unnecessary thing ever. And other times it’s exactly what we need to boost ourselves,” Morthel says. “It’s a lot of factors that go into our general motivation after those kinds of talks. But I feel like, for the most part, they’re always constructive and they’re always coming from a good place. So, I try to always separate my ego.”
The high standards are understandable considering what’s riding on the show. Giving purpose to their performance, MOTM will donate a portion of the proceeds from the show to the Black Mental Health Alliance.
Bellevue believes that this cause aligns with the principles of the organization. “We were trying to find something that would benefit the Black community as well as still promoting what we represent as an organization,” he explained. “And [next] month is for mental health awareness. So we really were focusing on what the month would be and what organizations we can touch through this.”
You can support the Models of the Mecca, and the Black Mental Health Alliance, at the Pandemonium Fashion Show on April 21st in the Cramton Auditorium.
