UJ Fashions in collaboration with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. held a campus-wide fashion show in the Memorial Student Center Thursday, March 20, titled, “Beauty Isn’t Pain.”
Uniquka Johnson, of UJ Fashions, and Mary Garnett, Lady of the Dove 2007-2008, collaborated to host the part seminar, part fashion event for Women’s Empowerment and Domestic Violence Awareness.
Johnson said the event was held to create awareness and to draw attention to the need for an organization like The Peace Project- a former campus organization that offered counseling, medical attention, mental, physical and spiritual support to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
The project was terminated in fall of 2007 due to inadequate funding.
According to Johnson, since its termination seven students have been sexually assaulted or victims of domestic violence.
“The point of the Beauty Isn’t Pain seminar is to bring back an important program like The Peace Project,” said Johnson. “As a student of this university I felt the need to take a stand and help other students realize the seriousness of this life threatening issue.”
UJ Fashions began the fashion show portion of the event by displaying Johnson’s latest collection of dresses, Prissy Picasso.
The next designers to rip the runway were Sir James and Divinci, displaying the urban line Hater Pruff Fashion and their collection, Stop the Hater collection.
UJ Fashions displayed a Beauty Isn’t Pain collection, where the female models walked the catwalk in custom designs with their hands tied and mouths duck taped to demonstrate the feel of having their freedom taken away by a man.
Dr. Clement Glenn, associate vice president of Student Affairs, spoke to students about disputes between men and women that lead to domestic violence.
“Men react to what they see and women react to what they feel and that will breed misunderstanding,” Glenn said.
As part of the event program, Ivory Townsel gave a dramatic interpretation and Bre.Diva read a poem, “Enough is Enough.”
Police Chief Algray Pettus and TJ Pierre were guest speakers at the event. Prairie View poet Outspoken performed the poem “Broken Silence.”
“This event was about female empowerment and awareness of real-life issues,” said Garnett. “These things don’t just happen in the movies.”