The Meekatharra community was recently treated to a fashion show like no other when thirty young models strutted their way down a red dirt catwalk for the Barndi Mayu ‘Good Kid’ Fashion Show.
More than 120 community members came out to watch the fashion show, and cheer on the young models, who literally stepped out of their comfort zone to build their confidence, promote their culture, and have fun along the way.
The event was a year in the making, and was very much a community-led initiative, supported by our Youth Focus Meeka team.
“The fashion show was about promoting community collaboration, and having something fun and positive to look forward to at the end of a hard year,” said Timika King, Youth Focus Meekatharra’s Youth Engagement Officer.
In the lead up to the event, community members pitched together to make jewellery and clothing, and on the day, helped out in many ways from shovelling local earth to make the red dirt catwalk, to styling the models’ hair and makeup, and making sure there was food for all the community after the show.
The fashion show was a great way for the young people to learn new skills, build their confidence, and connect with community. And it wasn’t just the young people who stepped up, with our Youth Focus Meekatharra team also taking on new challenges.
While there many nerves beforehand, everyone did an exceptional job.
Australia’s Next Top Model, Noongar woman Shannon Maguire, inspired the models. Shannon not only spent time with the young people in the months before the event sharing modelling tips during impromptu catwalks, but also provided clothes from her Kirrikin Collection for the fashion show, as well as lots of encouragement on the day.
A huge shout-out to the Youth Focus Meeka team for all their work in organising the fashion show. Timika did an outstanding job bringing everything together, Astrid learnt to sew and got to know the community better in the process, and Service Manager Paulette even took to the runway to support the young people.