In honor of Black History Month, this year’s theme for the fashion show put on by the University of New Mexico’s Powerful Movement of Educated Sisters is “Back to Black.” All funds from the fashion show will go towards PMES’s Prom Scholarship, which helps a local female high school student have the prom of her dreams.
PMES seeks to unify and support black women through scholarship and community involvement. This includes a solid network of women who share the same passion towards education, professionalism and promoting academic and personal growth.
For PMES, one way to do this is to give back to Albuquerque’s community.
“The scholarship is given to a young lady attending a local high school, that exemplifies herself as positive role model to young black women as well as her overall community,” said Miracle Luster, president of PMES and UNM pre-med biology/Africana Studies major. “The scholarship aides in paying for her dress, ticket, dinner, etcetera.”
At the show, local black individuals will be highlighted as they walk across the stage. According to Luster, all PMES events strive to showcase black individuals and movements across the globe that have aided in making black culture what it is today.
“(This event is) one of the last events being put on for Black History Month, and it means a lot to community, so every year I feel so honored to be a part of it,” Luster said. ”Also, this event means a lot to me being that I was one of the past recipients of the prom scholarship. I hold everything about this organization near and dear to my heart.”
According to Sabrina Fannin, vice president of PMES and English / Women Studies major, the show will also benefit local entertainment acts by giving them publicity and feature clothing designers who wish to sell merchandise after the show.
Fannin said that while the show is always stressful, it is also rewarding.
“This show is our last big event before prom, and it’s always so amazing to see the numbers at the end of the night, after all of the hard work, sweat, possible tears and anxiety,” Fannin said. “(It’s also amazing) to then see that your organization can make at least one girl’s senior prom night spectacular.”
The show starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are on pre-sale for $5 with a student ID, day of tickets will be $10. Tickets can be purchased from any member of PMES as well as in the African American student services. For the rest of the community, pre-sale tickets are $7.
Luisa Pennington is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted by email at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @_lpennington_.
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