By Kennedi Bryant
Smoke drifted through the air, shrouding the stage. Then, with a single toss of her hand, Zyaire Wingate, a sophomore psychology major, emerged—commanding the moment before the music started. The audience, breath hitched, scrambled to steady their phones, instinctively anticipating the moment ahead was worth documenting.
As the stage lights tinted the stage gold, she turned toward the crowd, draped in a white, sculptural dress, with striking red braids grazing her shoulders. A mesh fan structure extended behind her, trailing with every stride.
Surrounded by two Black choirs with their voices swelling in harmony, she moved in sync with their melodic rendition of “Father I Stretch My Hands” by Pastor T.L. Barret and The Youth for Christ Choir. Then, the air shifted and the room stilled.
This was just one of the many moments in Models of The Mecca’s (MOTM) Immortale Class VIII Showcase on Feb. 8. Held during Black History Month, the show honored the history of modeling culture at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), along with traditional HBCU aesthetics and other forms of self-expression.
For sophomore business management major and stylist Ziyonah Adams, joining MOTM was more than just an opportunity. It was a chance to honor the legacy of HBCU modeling while pushing creative boundaries.
“I took a lot of inspiration from past classes and a lot of the stories our heads passed down to us,” she said. “But I also drew from the culture that I felt when coming into Models of The Mecca, along with my artistic background. I combined all of that to create looks that felt both personal and true to the legacy.”
The show didn’t come together overnight. Behind every stride and transition was a team of stylists who meticulously curated each look and production leaders who ensured the show translated beyond the stage.
The responsibility also fell on the videography and lighting teams, to craft an experience that was about more than garments—capturing the movement, energy and artistry of each model’s presence.
“I am trying to encapsulate their walk,” said Joshua Crawford Barry, a junior TV and film major who joined the MOTM team this year. “When you see them on the runway, you’ll understand. They’ve put so much time into this and I want to do them justice.”
To achieve that, Barry and his team employed a dynamic approach, cutting between three different camera angles while photographers worked strategically to capture every stride, dip and dramatic turn for their social media page. They curate an evolving portfolio to cement the organization’s reputation and attract future audiences.
“None of us are stationary,” Barry said. “We’re constantly moving, back and forth, following the models. It’s about motion—capturing the essence of their performance in a way that lasts.”
For many, this showcase was an introduction to HBCU modeling culture—a tradition that runs deep, shaped by decades of innovation, pageantry and self-expression.
What began as small campus fashion clubs and pageants transformed into a style of HBCU modeling.
Ka’Darius McNair, the head of collaborations, said at its core, the purpose of the organization is to promote inclusivity in all aspects of fashion through creativity, community and passion by fostering a deep love for others and oneself. This year marks 13 years of pursuing this mission since MOTM’s founding in January 2018.
Adam said what set Immortale Class VIII apart wasn’t just its tribute to tradition, but its bold redefinition of what HBCU modeling could be.
“This show is very different because when people think of classic HBCUs, they automatically go to streetwear,” Adams said. “But at Howard, there’s such a unique selection of fashion, and I feel like this show really represented that. We showcased so many different styles today, far beyond the cliché of what people expect from HBCU fashion.”
From tailored suits to silk-structured skirts and lace gowns crowned with grandeur hats, the showcase highlighted the range and sophistication of HBCU fashion.
“I hope the audience was very inspired,” Adams said. “And when I say that, I don’t just mean in a simple way, I want people to leave feeling moved, like they’ve witnessed something transformative.”
As the showcase unfolded, with every model’s entrance, murmurs of anticipation rippled through the room, building to a crescendo of cheers with the strike of a pose.
Even during intermission, the high energy didn’t fade. The crowd, still buzzing, danced and complimented each other on their outfits. Some wore belts worn as ties, sunglasses inside and one-of-one pieces crafted specifically for the event. The air was thick with the scent of colognes and perfumes.
Audience member and freshman English major Robert Abram enjoyed the show’s cast and inclusivity.
“The representation was everything—celebrating being Black, showing queer moments on stage, and the inclusion of different body types. It’s something you don’t often see in modeling, and it really blew me away to see it represented in front of all these people,” Abram said.
As the models stepped into the spotlight, they raised their hands in the signature upside-down index and thumb pose—the hand symbol of Models of the Mecca.
For Jasmine Colon, a junior marketing major and featured model in the showcase, this journey was transformative.