The Black Student Association hosted their Fashion Show at Loyola on April 5. This event has been a classic for the BSA since 1998. This year’s theme was Afrotopia: Black to the Future.
The 25th annual show focused on Afrofuturism, taking a glimpse into the future of fashion. Students involved in the Black Students Association took the stage in arrays of different fashionable-futuristic pieces.
The fashion show is a very popular event on campus. Almost selling out each year, tickets for the event go on sale three weeks before the event takes place.
“The fashion show was an incredible experience. The confidence of the models was inspiring and they put on an amazing show. The crowd was electric with excitement during every scene,” audience member Bridgid McCarthy ‘24 said.
Students loved the inspiration the models gave during the show. This event encourages and celebrates diversity. It focuses on people of color.
“It was empowering this year, I could feel how proud the models were of all the work they put in as they walked on the stage. I also feel that the cultural aspect that was incorporated to the Fashion show added to the empowerment,” Hannah York ‘24 said.
The cultural aspect of the Fashion Show shows how much effort is really put in and how inspiring the show actually is. Ebony Shields ‘26, one of the of the models, explains how she found her people through the fashion show.
“My experience within the fashion show was amazing. I think it gave me all that I wanted and wished for. I wanted to meet more students on campus, especially students of color and be a part of something larger than myself and this really gave me the experience to do that,” Shields said.
Before the final scene of the fashion show, the Loyolapalooza artist was announced for the first time to the Loyola community. Loyolapalooza is a concert held at the end of spring semester, and it is very popular tradition every year. The artist this year is Fitz and the Tantrums.
“I think the reactions were mostly positive and I am really happy with how the announcement video came out. I am super excited for this Palooza and I think it will be a lot of fun!” Juliana Merlino ‘24 said, Director of Events and Traditions for the Student Government Association.
There was a lot of planning that went on behind the scenes of choosing this artist.
“When choosing the artist, I started off by looking at the responses from the survey SGA sent out to the student body at the beginning of the year. I narrowed down the responses and there were a lot for pop/a want for a band,” Merlino said.
Students had good reactions but some have never heard of this specific artist. Taylor Galemba ‘27 expresses how she didn’t know the artist.
“I was excited for my first palooza here but I was kinda upset that I didn’t know the artist. I’m sure it will still be a fun experience overall.” Galemba said.
Loyolapalooza will take place on Sunday April 28, 2024 on the quad. His event is free of charge and will include other fun activities such as carnival rides , games and food.
To learn more about Palooza about the BSA Fashion Show, follow them on instagram.
