Biggest Benefit Show ever to hit the SHS runway in March

Models pose in a previous show.

The annual Benefit Fashion Show, to take place on Saturday, March 4, will include 199 students modeling clothes from various boutiques and local stores, making the fundraiser the biggest show to date.

This year, the student-organized fashion show will donate its proceeds to the Special Olympics.

Senior Jackie Han, a Benefit commissioner, said. “Usually we donate to a place like St. Jude's or a children's fund, but this charity is specifically for special needs kids, so it's more local.”

Han and the other four commissioners, seniors Ellicia Chiu, Yuna Kim, Hannah Leonard and Spring Ma, have assigned all the models to the 11 themes. They are bringing back themes from previous years that were not in last year’s show, such as Bollywood, Bromance and Rock and Roll.

With the greater number of participants this year, the commissioners are working closely with the theme heads, who help distribute the workload by organizing fittings, choosing outfits and collecting money for T-shirts for the models.

The theme heads have contacted their models to confirm their partners and to sign a contract about the show, stating that the models will be available for fitting and the show, and will pay the T-shirt fee. In a few weeks, the theme heads will start having them pick out their clothes at a fitting.

So far, five stores have confirmed, but Leonard is confident that most of the stores they contacted will sponsor the show because most have been involved in the past and had good experiences.

This will the commissioners’ final year participating in the show. In her experience, Han said, the show’s been a great opportunity for commissioners to branch out and talk to the different stores and establishments in person.

“For the models and theme heads, it’s a way to tie fashion and community together, so you're having fun with friends while helping the community,” Han said.

As the show date is nearing, many of the models like junior Adriane Tran are getting excited to participate in the fittings and show.

“I joined because I thought the experience would be fun, and, even better, it’s for a good cause,” Tran said.

As the models walk, the commissioners will be anchoring the entire show, announcing the brands and donations. Although Kim was disappointed that she wouldn’t be walking, she is nonetheless excited to be a part of making such a large event happen.

“Even though organizing such a big event can be stressful because everyone has such high expectations for us, I know it's going to pay off well once the show actually starts happening,” Kim said.