SOARING DOWN THE RUNWAY AT HER UNIVERSE FASHION SHOW

This past week, I got the chance to model at a fashion show at Comic-Con in San Diego. In case you didn’t know, Comic-Con is for fans of comics, Marvel, Star Wars, Disney, and everything Pop Culture. It’s where MY people are!

And, my favorite people are not only fangirls and guys, they are also fans of Her Universe, a fashion and lifestyle brand that sells at Hot Topic, Box Lunch, Disney, and Torrid. Most of my coolest clothes come from Her Universe.

Let me tell you some things about Ashley Eckstein, the founder of Her Universe. She voices Ahsoka in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She is married to David Eckstein, my favorite Angels baseball player. She is the one started Her Universe and oversees all of the designs. She believes that every girl can be awesome! She created a community where fangirls can be themselves in a cool way. There used to be not many fashion options for girls and women who liked comics or Star Wars. Ashley has been working to change that. Now fangirls can be into not only princesses but also heroes. And, guys can like both, too! Ashley is now designing for guys under the name Our Universe.

I was very excited last Fall when Ashley asked me if I wanted to be a model in the Her Universe Fashion Show. I couldn’t believe it! I had been to the fashion show before and it is the very best event at Comic-Con! The show is basically a fashion design contest, and 24 contestants compete for a chance to design outfits for Hot Topic. But, in part of the show, Ashley also shows her newest Her Universe designs – and I was going to get to be a model…for HER UNIVERSE!!! I could hardly wait! I worked hard in PT to make sure I could walk the runway without a limp or sway. It was fun working toward that goal.

One of the best parts of the show was getting to meet people backstage. All of the models were fans just like me. Everyone was so nice and supportive. I got to have my make-up and hair done by Espionage Cosmetics. The make-up artists were all awesome and let me choose what kinds of colors I liked best. I also got to choose my own glasses from Zenni Optical to wear.

When we practiced walking the runway, I was a little nervous, but very excited. We got help from Andrew MacLaine, who won the first Her Universe Fashion Show. He said to have fun with it and made everyone feel comfortable. He was a little bit of a goofball – I liked that a lot! All of the models and designers were very encouraging of each other!

The day of the show, I got interviewed backstage by Katie Linendoll. She asked me how I trained in PT to be in a fashion show and talked about how I advocate for rare disease. That was so cool!

Then it was time to walk! When I hit the runway, I thought, “This is it! I can do it!” The music was upbeat, the crowd was ready, the cameras were rolling…it was my moment! I was wearing the new Dumbo-inspired dress from The Dress Shop at Disney Parks. The collar said, “Don’t just fly…soar.” Walking down the runway I felt I was soaring!

I will always remember the feeling I had that day. I felt empowered, and I hope that other fangirls (and fanboys) will feel empowered wearing Her Universe designs, too. Thank you to Ashley Eckstein for letting me be a part of this awesome community of fans!

p.s. One more thing happened…Jodi Whitaker, the newest Doctor in Doctor Who also surprised everyone and walked the runway – I was so happy, I cried!

(Mark Edwards Photography)