Social Grace And Sexy Style
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Hosts 42nd Annual Scholarship Benefit Fashion Show
By Hamil R. Harris // Photos By Jordan Woods
The runway was sizzling as the Prince George’s County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. hosted its 42 Annual Scholarship Benefit Fashion Show that brought more than one-thousand people to Greenbelt for an afternoon of style and fashion for a good cause.
The theme of the March 18 event was “Couture 1913: Timeless Threades,” and while female and male models were on stage modeling garments from Lord &Taylor, Miller’s Furs and a number of designers from Schar Peerzada to Andrew Nowell, there were many guests showing off fashion forward style, too. Here were hot looks on and off the stage as guests dined on herb salmon & breast of hen with stuffing, green beans and wild rice.
The event was a great opportunity for a number of political candidates including Prince George’s County States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks and Maryland State Senator Anthony Muse (both running for County Executive) and County Councilmember Karen Toles who says she always comes to the fashion show even though she’s “a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc.”
The models and politicians were not the only people in the spotlight. Twenty-five talented Prince George’s County high school students received a total of $75,000 in scholarships and in a twist they too were dressed to the nines and walking the runway as well a special group of child models. Most of the students had very high GPAs and have been accepted to many colleges and universities.
“It is about educating our students and understanding the value that they have as our future,” said Greta Wiggins-Lewis, President of the Prince George’s County Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. “We are talking about economic development, in terms of allowing some of the local businesses to be able to showcase their particular designs and allowing women to come together to just be ourselves.”
Miriam L. Brewer, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, said “The fashion show is the backdrop of all of the scholarships we are award. The 25 scholarships that we are awarding this year takes us over the $1 million dollar mark,” and Sinthea Myrick Kelly, Chair of the Fashion Show Committee, said the alumnae chapter started was charted in 1974 and the fashion show has been taking place for the last 42 years.
Radio and TV personality Guy Lambert was the host of the event, music was provided by jazz pianist Marcus Johnson, but the real stars of the program were the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta, who not only came prepared to give but their wardrobes rival those modeling outfits on the runway. In fact, many of the models were members of the historic sorority.
The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded by 22 college women on the campus of Howard University January 13, 1913 and in March of that same year the African American women participated in the Women’s Suffrage March that would lead to the passage of the 19th Amendment and women getting the right to vote six years later.
Women across the county have been celebrating the 100th anniversary of the passage of that amendment and in looking across a banquet venue at a beautiful sea of college educated African American women it was clear that these women of color have made a powerful investment in education and they want that legacy to continue.
