Transgender and Full-Figured Models Cast For Major Fashion Show

Donna Karan sure knows how to put on a show. This season for DKNY, Karan cast non-models alongside professionals for what was perhaps the most diverse fashion show in the history of New York Fashion Week.

The show began with a short film featuring models and non-models alike talking about life in New York and what first brought them to the city. Transgender artist/dj/writer Julianna Huxtable was among those featured in the video, sending a rush of excitement through the audience when she first appeared on the screen. But following the film, two typically tall, thin, and model-like professional models took to the runway, and the excitement generated by Huxtable quickly subsided.

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Then, just as editors were settling in for what seemed to be yet another ordinary fashion show, out came rapper Angel Haze, the first of nearly two dozen non-models who would walk in the show, followed shortly by Huxtable herself. Immediately the mood shifted yet again with both women receiving cheers and applause from the crowd as they stalked the runway like a couple of pros.

Perhaps the greatest eruption of applause, though, came when curvaceous blonde Melissa Burns hit the runway. Wearing a black jersey dress and a black-and-white striped shearling coat, Burns walked with more attitude and swagger than any of the professional models who preceded her and received plenty of hoots and hollers for her efforts. Artist Ducati, was also met with cheers and applause as she took to the runway in a striped coat and wide leg black pants.

The show also featured androgynous professional model Andrej Pejic, who has been known to describe herself as “living in between genders” and has previously modeled both menswear and women's wear.According to Donna Karan the decision to cast such a diverse group of models was meant to celebrate “the city, the people, and the uniqueness of the style that walks the streets of New York.” Hopefully this interest in uniqueness and diversity will continue to grow and develop over the coming seasons, not just at DKNY but across the fashion industry.

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