Fete Lifestyle Magazine May 2024 - Women's Issue | Page 20

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On the Street

BLOSSOM Fashion Show Raises Funds & Awareness for Domestic Violence

MAY 13TH, 2024

21c Museum

CHICAGO, IL

WINGS presented BLOSSOM, a sold-out, fashion show on at 21c Museum Hotel in Chicago. Produced by Zzazz Productions, the runway featured the Spring ’24 collection by couture designer Elda de la Rosa to 150 attendees.

BLOSSOM’s host Nigel Barker, internationally renowned photographer and judge on the hit TV show America’s Next Top Model, shared publicly for the first time that he is a domestic violence survivor.

Preceding the show, guests were welcomed by members of the Chicago Hounds Rugby Team and entertained by the Elaine Dame Quartet.

WINGS honored Chicago’s own, Candace Jordan for her many contributions to WINGS and other community organizations.

Walking the runway were domestic violence survivors including Melissa DuPrey, critically acclaimed solo artist and actress, and special guest Domenica Lida Biondolillo, former Ms. Chicago 2023.

All proceeds from BLOSSOM are being used to expand counseling and supportive services for domestic violence survivors.

One in three women and one in four men are affected by domestic violence in their lifetime, according to the CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention.

Nigel Barker reflected on these stats and the event sharing, "The BLOSSOM fashion show was the perfect place for brave and courageous survivors of domestic violence to step out and show the world they are no longer afraid, but rather, they are all they need to be.”

To learn more about the domestic violence and WINGS solutions, visit wingsprogram.com.

The mission of WINGS Program, Inc. is to provide housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to end domestic violence. As the largest provider of domestic violence services in Illinois, WINGS offers a continuum of resources across Metropolitan Chicago.

Photo Credit Alex Callejo