Models flaunt game faces

Almost three years ago, Kelli Lemon’s creation, the STRUT
fashion show, debuted at VCU.

Since then, the STRUT fashion show has become a well-known
and anticipated extravaganza on the VCU events calendar.
Lemon, who is the show’s assistant director, is proud of how
STRUT has grown.

“I’m confident that when I leave, STRUT will still be here,”
Lemon said.

Not only is STRUT here to stay, but this year, it became an
official student organization at VCU.

Catrina Gunter is president of the STRUT organization and
director for this year’s show.

“The theme this year is ‘The Five Fashion Capitals.’ I hope
the show is not just over the top and theatrical, but accurately
depicts the essence of the five capitals,” Gunter said, referring
to London, Milan, New York, Paris and Tokyo.

With head stylist Tiffany Williams, a former model, Gunter
and Williams hope to give an over-the-top fashion show sure
to impress.

“I’m bringing my knowledge of the fashion world – what the
models need, how hair and makeup should look – to help create a
fashion show nothing like VCU has ever seen,” Williams said.

Tuesday night, the STRUT committee held its first model
workshop, which aimed to give hopeful models an idea of what
would be required of them for the actual STRUT auditions in
February.

Senior Rachel Warren serves as the models’ choreographer.
Warren, a three-time STRUT alumna, led the workshop Tuesday
night.

“This workshop is not about being judgmental or to remember
faces. It’s about looking at the models in the raw, helping them
with not just their walk, but facial expression and posing,” Warren
said. “I love STRUT because everyone at VCU is represented.
No ethnicity is left out. White, black, Asian, Indian – everyone
comes out to strut,” Warren said.

And everyone did. More than 150 students showed up for the
informational meeting, and on Tuesday, more than 100 models
showed up for the workshop. The committee anticipates a great
turnout for auditions in February.

“While we could get professional models from the area, it’s
important that we represent the VCU student population,” Gunter
said. “We’ve always made it a point that students perform, whether
it be dancing, singing or modeling in STRUT.”

—

On Feb. 4 and
5, STRUT will
hold auditions
for “The Five
Fashion Capitals”
in the Commons
Ballrooms at the
University Student
Commons at 7 p.m.
More information
can be found at the
Commons Help
Desk, or e-mail
Leah Rullman, head
of public relations,
at rullmanlk@vcu.
edu.