Hi! I'm Elara! I was recently given the opportunity to step into the world of modeling to showcase my other love, fashion, where I modeled for Willow Bean Studio at New York Fashion Week.
Dance is my absolute favorite thing to do—whether it's contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, tap, or ballet, I love to do all of it! It's my way of expressing myself and telling stories without saying a word. Dancing makes me feel alive and free, and I honestly can't imagine life without it.
Fashion is another passion of mine, and I absolutely love expressing myself through what I wear. My style can be unique and not always what you'd expect, but who doesn't love rocking a formal gown with sneakers, right? It's all about having fun and staying true to myself!
I love expressing myself through both dance and fashion, and I'm always looking for new ways to be creative and have fun. I'm super excited to see where dance and modeling take me next!
Tell us about your experience at New York Fashion Week.
My experience at New York Fashion Week was absolutely amazing and so much fun! It all started when Ms. Menina Fortunato found me on Instagram and introduced me to Ms. Jennie from Willow Bean Studio. Everything happened so quickly! After a chat with Ms. Jennie, she offered me the chance to walk for her at New York Fashion Week! I was beyond excited and immediately started preparing. Since I'd never walked the runway before, my mom helped me find a runway coach. I began training with Ms. Epiphany from Epiphany Pumps Runway Academy. We practiced in Ms. Fawnne's salon, Salon Noa, which had the perfect runway space between the chairs—and since Ms. Fawnne also does my hair, it was a total win-win! That's where I learned to perfect my walk, and I loved every minute of it!
The morning of the show was such a whirlwind, but I can also remember every little detail too, if that makes sense. After getting my hair and makeup done, we arrived backstage, and it felt like stepping into a whole new universe. Designers, models, and stylists were everywhere, and the energy was absolutely electric. I couldn't stop smiling, even though my stomach was doing somersaults with all the butterflies!
Finally, it was time to walk the runway. My heart was pounding like crazy, but I was so ready and beyond excited. When I stepped out, the lights were bright, and the music was loud—it was even better than I imagined! I felt like I was literally floating. I know models usually have that serious no-face face, but I couldn't help sneaking in a smile. It was honestly such an incredible experience, and I loved every single second of it!
When I got to the end of the runway and posed for the photographers, I couldn't help but think, "Whoa, I actually did it!" Walking at New York Fashion Week was one of the most exciting moments of my life!
Dance is my absolute favorite thing to do—whether it's contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, tap, or ballet, I love to do all of it! It's my way of expressing myself and telling stories without saying a word. Dancing makes me feel alive and free, and I honestly can't imagine life without it.
Fashion is another passion of mine, and I absolutely love expressing myself through what I wear. My style can be unique and not always what you'd expect, but who doesn't love rocking a formal gown with sneakers, right? It's all about having fun and staying true to myself!
I love expressing myself through both dance and fashion, and I'm always looking for new ways to be creative and have fun. I'm super excited to see where dance and modeling take me next!
Tell us about your experience at New York Fashion Week.
My experience at New York Fashion Week was absolutely amazing and so much fun! It all started when Ms. Menina Fortunato found me on Instagram and introduced me to Ms. Jennie from Willow Bean Studio. Everything happened so quickly! After a chat with Ms. Jennie, she offered me the chance to walk for her at New York Fashion Week! I was beyond excited and immediately started preparing. Since I'd never walked the runway before, my mom helped me find a runway coach. I began training with Ms. Epiphany from Epiphany Pumps Runway Academy. We practiced in Ms. Fawnne's salon, Salon Noa, which had the perfect runway space between the chairs—and since Ms. Fawnne also does my hair, it was a total win-win! That's where I learned to perfect my walk, and I loved every minute of it!
The morning of the show was such a whirlwind, but I can also remember every little detail too, if that makes sense. After getting my hair and makeup done, we arrived backstage, and it felt like stepping into a whole new universe. Designers, models, and stylists were everywhere, and the energy was absolutely electric. I couldn't stop smiling, even though my stomach was doing somersaults with all the butterflies!
Finally, it was time to walk the runway. My heart was pounding like crazy, but I was so ready and beyond excited. When I stepped out, the lights were bright, and the music was loud—it was even better than I imagined! I felt like I was literally floating. I know models usually have that serious no-face face, but I couldn't help sneaking in a smile. It was honestly such an incredible experience, and I loved every single second of it!
When I got to the end of the runway and posed for the photographers, I couldn't help but think, "Whoa, I actually did it!" Walking at New York Fashion Week was one of the most exciting moments of my life!
