LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Community organizers and one of Louisville’s malls are teaming up to host a night of fashion and glamour, all for a good cause. This Sunday, Mall St. Matthews will host the Dillard’s After Dark Charity Fall Fashion Show.

The fashion show is the brainchild of community organizers Fonz Brown and Ethan McKenzie. Proceed from ticket sales will go to the Home of the Innocents. 

The event will take place Sunday night at Mall St. Matthews outside of the Dillard’s store. The show will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at Dillard’s. 

Over 40 models with varying degrees of experience are taking part, one of which is Louisville native Kea Middleton. Middleton didn’t discover modeling until she turned 30, but quickly she realized it was the world for her.

Fast forward five years later, and she’s helping others discover their passion through coaching. 

Kea Middleton has been a Dillard's model for five years and now coaches them as well. (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

The models she will walk the runway with just so happen to look like her. 

“We are going to be in there showing who we are, showing our culture, showing the positive sides of things that happen in this city, so I am just grateful to be a part of the journey,” Middleton said. 

Models are of all age groups, skin tones and body types—a representation of every kind of person who might shop at a department store. The show will also feature the works of local designer brand Wolf Pax Clothing. 

“I love runway, I don’t care if it’s a small runway, big runway, two people at the show, everybody at the show, I love runway because it gives me a chance to showcase who I am, my style, my personality, and like I said still be celebrated for it,” Middleton said. 

Middleton hopes an inclusive show like this will help to change the perception of the Black community. 

“So when modeling has now been devised into inclusion and diversity, when we are now included, we get to show who we are and it’s a little different, right? It’s a little different because we come in all skin colors, all shapes, and sizes and that needs to be celebrated no matter what color you are,” Middleton said. 

Model organizer Lakisha Patterson said everyone is ready and excited to hit the runway in style. 

“You don’t have to be model perfect, you don’t have to have model experience. All I needed everyone to come with was a little bit of confidence in themselves,” Patterson said. 

That confidence sets this group apart. It’s something Middleton hopes this show will help others find in themselves as well.

“You wanna feel like a king or a queen get on the runway in some nice clothes and a nice pair of shoes, guarantee crown,” Middleton said.