To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. — Isaiah 61:3
A couple of weeks ago, I experienced what I believe to be one of the greatest fashion shows of all time — the Beauty for Ashes Fashion Show at Bethany Church of Lindenwold, New Jersey.
It was stellar, everything was done in the spirit of excellence…and I have to say, I was actually quite surprised. I’ve been to church fashion show events before, but never have I ever been to a show where the production — lights, fashions, and pure talent — equaled that of an NYFW performance.
Beyond the glitz and the glamour, what struck me most was the message behind it — beauty for ashes. The show featured ‘models’ from all walks of life, most being from the church. It was fun seeing familiar faces slaying the runway, representing beauty in all styles, shapes, and sizes. As a society, and particularly in the world of fashion, there is a stereotypic standard of beauty — tall and thin. While yes, tall and thin is beautiful, it’s not the only form that beauty comes in. In fact, I would argue that there is no standard when it comes to beauty, and what makes things beautiful is the unique gifts that we have in being different. The Beauty for Ashes was about recognizing these differences and celebrating them. Trading our insecurities and perceived flaws, and seeing them for beauty.
This is what made the night so special. I can’t wait to attend next year, and who knows, maybe walk the runway myself?
Click the arrows below to scroll through some of my favorite looks from the night, and let me know in the comments below which were your favorites!
The night was mc’d by the always styling, Dezzie — Radio host and Motivational Speaker.
