Tower City Turns Out Crowd and Celebrity Judges for Darlafoxx Runway Model Challenge

CLEVELAND - Tower City's Skylight Park was aflutter with excitement and style on Sunday as it hosted the much-anticipated DarlaFoxx Runway Model Challenge. This event wasn't just another fashion show; it was a vibrant celebration of young talent, diversity, and community engagement, drawing a who's who from the national and international fashion scene. Girls aged 3 to 19 dazzled on the runway, each showcasing their unique fashion sense, under the watchful eyes of a panel of celebrity judges.

Among the judges were Ster-Fry Hall, renowned for his roles in film and music video production; Tricia McCune, the culinary entrepreneur behind CLEFoodies; Olivia DePiore, an international model advocating for inclusivity on global fashion stages; Nikki Brown, Mrs. Northern Ohio and philanthropist through her Project Model For a Day initiative; and Jackie Bertolette, a figure synonymous with Ohio's fashion landscape through her work with Haute Ohio magazine and Ohio Fashion Week.

Jackie Bertolette, reflecting on the collaboration with DarlaFoxx and her involvement in the fashion industry, shared, "Darla and I have worked together for many years in the fashion industry in Cleveland, and I started out doing the runway coaching for her, and over the years I ended up in the head judging seat." Her passion for the local fashion scene was evident as she expressed her admiration for Cleveland's unique blend of edginess and reserve. "I love how fashion forward yet reserved we can be. We have a huge fashion industry here and people are unaware of it., so It's amazing to be in Cleveland right now," Jackie added.

The fashion show served as a platform for aspiring models to shine and for DarlaFoxx to showcase her latest collection of dresses and tuxedos. The event, emceed by Cleveland 13's Matt Greminger (Gremi of ‘Cleve-It To Us’), highlighted the community's efforts, particularly those of Tower City, in fostering an environment where free expression and inclusivity flourish.

The judges' diverse backgrounds and achievements added a layer of inspiration to the event. From Olivia DePiore's groundbreaking work in challenging norms in fashion to Nikki Brown's empowering mission with Project Model For a Day, each judge brought their unique perspective to the panel, enriching the experience for participants and attendees alike.

Situated in Tower City, right off of Public Square, DarlaFoxx has become a destination for those seeking designer dresses and formalwear, thanks to its transformation of the former Brooks Brothers space into a fashionista's paradise.