KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Fashion shows are full of glitz and glamour and that was true of the Natalie M Fashion Show on Sunday. The models were high school students raising money for their schools.
Natalie Nearenberg started the fashion show seven years ago. She is a retired school teacher who holds education near and dear to her heart. She melded her passion for fashion and education to create the show which unites hundreds of high school students from across the metro.
“This is a way the teachers and students can supplement whatever projects they have in their particular schools,” Nearenberg said. “We do it to make certain that girls are empowered and get a good education.”
The models sell tickets to the show to raise at least $100 each. Then, they donate that money to their school in any way they choose. One student decided to donate the money in the name of fashion.
“The fashion department because it doesn’t get a lot of attention because of everything usually goes to the sports center and stuff like that,” said Waneka Brown, student at Ray-Pec High School.
The models also get to wear cutting edge fashions from top designers. They get community service hours and have the opportunity to win a free prom dress. This year, more than 600 models raise more than $67,000 at a fashion show that makes sure what’s on the inside counts as much as what’s on the outside.
“You can’t take things for granted because you never know what’s going to happen,” Brown said. “You never know if you’re going to get another opportunity like this.”
That’s why so many young women decided to talk the runway, strutting their stuff for the good of their schools.
