- Candice Christians’ “I Am Every Women Fashion Show” in Kuils River promotes empowerment and supports women overcoming trauma.
- The fashion show was exemplified by a diverse lineup celebrating confidence and creativity.
- The event emphasizes the importance of addressing trauma while inspiring positive transformation and community support.
Different shapes, different sizes, and different stories, but as they walked down the runway at the I Am Every Women Fashion Show in Van Riebeeck Hall in Kuils River on Saturday evening all gleamed with confidence.
“The concept behind the show is to help women step out of darkness and into their light,” said Candice Christians, owner and founder of You are Phenomenal, a women empowerment movement based in Kuils River, who hosted this “fashion show with a purpose.”
Christians said her organisation aims to “uplift, motivate, inspire, empower, and transform women’s lives.”
“This is something God laid on my heart to do for other women because I know what it is to look in the mirror and not know who you are anymore.”
Christians, a single mother who left an abusive marriage behind her, started I am Phenomenal in 2018.
In 2019, she hosted a fashion show, Beauty Beyond Imperfection, featuring models with disabilities or perceived imperfections.
“It was the first event of its kind in South Africa. It impacted how the beauty industry looked at beauty and imperfections.”
Into the light
Christians said around 80% of the models in Saturday’s show had experienced some sort of trauma.
“Since these women have joined to be part of this show, they have all formed a bond with each other. They have become a support system for one another and check in with one another if they’re not having a good day.”
In April they hosted a women’s breakfast, “Finding your light”. “We opened it to the public to join our models in a release ceremony. It was an opportunity for the women to let go of their past and embrace their future,” Christians said.
“Trauma is not something that is openly spoken about. It is a silent killer. Many people internalise their pain and hide it from their peers. If it is not dealt with or if you don’t have the tools you need to get through it, it can kill you.”
Saturday’s event started on a sombre note with a tribute to Melanie Bergstedt, who was supposed to model in the show but took her own life on 15 March.
Christians said.
Despite the sombre start the evening was a celebration of creativity and confidence. From leisurewear to evening gowns and wedding dresses to swimwear of seven local designers were showcased with pride.
Emcees Megan Edwards and Shiraz Reddy even got some audience members to strut their stuff on the runway while Karin Kortjé and Robin Pieters kept spirits high with their performances.
In her word of thanks Christians called her daughter to the stage whom she said had witnessed her going through many lows but also how she progressed.
Christians, a fitness trainer, model and motivational speaker, has many more plans for her non-profit company focused on empowerment and driven by passion. Watch this space.
