The second NSU Latex and Lace condom fashion show, hosted by the Office of Campus Life and Student Engagement, will take place in the UC spine on Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.
Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day and, according to graduate assistant for SEA Board Yabi Demissie, the event aims to spread awareness of HIV/AIDS and sex education among students in a fun and non-conventional way.
Shanygne Bitna, senior communications major and Thursday Night Live chair for SEA board, said that students and organizations will create themed outfits and styles primarily using condoms for the show. The Student Engagement Office will provide the materials and the organizations will provide the models and create the clothes.
Students can expect a variety of participating organizations such as the Indian Student Association and their Indian-themed clothes as well as games and activities and guest speakers who will talk about sex education and HIV/AIDS awareness.
“The Latex and Lace fashion show is a way to bring sex education and HIV/AIDS awareness to the NSU community in a fun and creative atmosphere. This way, students can learn more about health issues in the community and learn how to protect themselves without being afraid or uncomfortable with the topic,” Bitna said.
Demissie said that the idea came to fruition in 2014 when Danielle McCalla, now a graduate student and graduate assistant, proposed the concept for the show after being inspired by another university’s event. McCalla wrote up a proposal and was able to put on the fashion show that year with the assistance of SEA board.
“As an undergraduate student here, you live in the residence halls and you work with a lot of students. You have conversations with them and they’re not aware of what’s happening around them and how they’re putting themselves in danger sometimes. It kind of took a while for the student body to grasp the idea because it’s so unconventional, but it definitely grabbed their attention,” she said.
McCalla also said that, from what she remembers, all of the students participating and in the audience had a great time last year.
“The most fun part about it is getting to see the students’ faces because it’s not something they’re accustomed to seeing,” she said. “Their classmates or their peers in clothing made out of condoms is definitely exciting and interesting, but I don’t want the message of why we’re doing it to get lost. It’s all about bringing awareness on World AIDS Day in a fun and creative type of way.”
For more information or to sign up for the show, visit.nova.edu/latex.
