Students break into world of modeling

Sophomore McKenna Penley grew up 20 minutes away from the IU campus in Nashville, Ind. She sat in the audience of every Retails Studies Organization fashion show throughout high school and her freshman year of college. This year, she will be taking to the catwalk.

She has never walked a runway before nor had any experience modeling, but on Feb. 22 she tried out for the RSO Fashion Show and landed a spot.

“I’m not a fashion major. I’m not interested in that way, but I’m interested in actually wearing really interesting, cool outfits,” she said.

Penley does not only stand out with the clothes she wears.

Penley is a Biology and Spanish major, whereas most of the other models have some connection to IU’s Apparel Merchandising program.

“I’m always willing to try something kind of crazy,” Penley said. “I like to stand out a little bit.”

Penley has been practicing for the fashion show every Tuesday night for the past three weeks.

She has been critiqued on her walk and along with 27 other practicing models she has been told not to blow kisses, throw up a peace sign or flip her hair.

Now that Penley has gone through the process, she said she would pursue modeling professionally if she could.

“It really is an energy rush,” she said. “It’s like an energy drink, it gets you excited so I enjoy it a lot.”

When asked what is stopping her from pursuing modeling, Penley said she didn’t really know.

Nothing is really stopping her.

She said she has been thinking seriously about it a lot recently and might look into modeling in the summer part-time or on the weekends.

When Penley hits the runway, she said it is a confidence boost.

“Everyone’s looking at you, cheering for you and you’re wearing really awesome clothing so you just feel so confident,” she said.

Penley said it feels as though she is in her own little spotlight.

“It’s nice, especially if you are someone who usually doesn’t get to experience that, like if you’re not an acting major or someone who plays an instrument,” she said. “It’s nice to have that moment where you can do something and have everyone look at you.”

Junior Brandon Garr is a member of the model committee for the Fashion Design Certificate program that worked with RSO to put on the event.

Garr said he took the lead among the other members of the committee to teach the models how to walk and have attitude.

“I grew up watching ‘America’s Next Top Model’ and other fashion shows so I taught myself,” Garr said.

Garr said he wanted the models to have personality on the catwalk.

“I told the girls to pretend they were going to a special event where they look good,” Garr said. “Then if they imagine that on the runway, their personality would come out.”
Garr encouraged the models to do their research by watching fashion shows or “America’s Next Top Model” and other model shows.

Garr said the show will be very fast-paced, with a lot of hair and makeup and gorgeous clothes.

“This industry is hectic and crazy all the time, that’s why a lot of us are in it,” he said. “We like the excitement of seeing everything come together.”

Head of model coordination and junior Lauren Gelbard said Bloomington is definitely a place for fashion.

She said it’s great for Bloomington to have such a prominent Fashion Design Certificate program.

“This is what brought me here in the first place,” Gelbard said. “I’m from New York, I could have went to any fashion school in New York City and been involved in that, but I wanted to bring my style and my design somewhere else.”

Gelbard will be showcasing two of her own designs along with the other students in the Fashion Design Certificate program.

“IU’s program is so diverse,” Gelbard said. “There are people from different places bringing their different styles here.”

Students’ garments will include corsets, high-waisted skirts, blazers and evening gowns.

“The show’s going to be an overall chic experience and I’m really excited about it,” Gelbard said.