Runway judges cull models from crowd

Tapping their feet to the upbeat music and chatting as they waited for their pictures to be taken, a few dozen students stood in a line wrapped around the Frist multipurpose room. Meanwhile, three students took their place at center stage — an expanse of carpet in the center of the room.

One girl began timidly; the other two sashayed with confidence from the start. But soon, they had all mastered the runway strut.

Their strides were buoyant, but chances are that only one of the three girls will get to walk the walk at the third annual Service in Style fashion show, to be held April 15 on the Frist lawn.

Only 20 women and 15 men will be selected to model in the show from the more than 70 students who auditioned.

Fashion show planners didn't say whether strut-worthiness would play into their selection decisions, but they made clear that diversity would be their leading criterion.

"[We're looking for] people who will reflect the student body," said Kira Mesdag '07, who is among those organizing the fashion show.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to Operation Smile, an organization that funds surgeries for children with severe facial deformities such as cleft lip.

Last year's show raised more than $10,000. Artilie Wright '06, one of this year's four student co-chairs, said the show's goal is to raise at least $7,500, which would fund 10 corrective surgeries.

For the first time since its inception in 2002, the fashion show will showcase student talent behind the stage as well as on the runway. This year's models will sport the threads of student fashion designers — including Rosemary Ku '05, Sarah Karam '07 and Jocelyn Miller '08 — alongside familiar labels, Mesdag said.

Other changes will give this year's event a more professional — or commercialized — feel. Local companies can purchase advertising space along the runway, and organizers will sell t-shirts and wristbands to the audience.

Wright said she hopes the ads and products will help "make students more aware of the cause."

At the auditions this weekend, students said the chance to support a worthy charity motivated them to audition.

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"I just thought, why not? It is a good cause," said Timothy Koo '06, who tried out on Sunday.

Anthony Turner '05, who also auditioned, said he wanted to ham it up for the audience while doing a good deed for Operation Smile.

"This is for charity. I just hope to be able to bring something that is more enjoyable to the crowd, something the crowd can appreciate," he said.

Other students touted their theatrical presence on the catwalk as a crowd-pleasing boon to the event's bottom line. "When I am energized, the crowd gets energized," Lauren Meehan '08 said.