Fashion show allows special needs families to shine

Posted by Bengtsson on September 14th, 2015

The array of outfits at the fifth-annual HOPE Inc. fashion show ranged from athletic wear to full-length dresses, but the one thing each participant wore was a smile.

More than 70 burgeoning fashion plates, ranging in ages from 4 to 38, modeled their finest and worked the stage at Horizon Middle School on Saturday afternoon.

"It allows the kids to feel as beautiful as we see them," said Adair Grommesh, executive director for HOPE, a Moorhead-based nonprofit that assists families and individuals with special needs.

"It's fun," said Juanita Garcia, who has been in a couple of the other HOPE fashion shows.

Sporting her favorite color in a blue dress with a matching flower in her hair, Garcia smiled as she rolled across the stage in her motorized chair.

"I like to go shopping for clothes and dresses and see all of my friends," the 19-year-old said.

Each model is given a gift card to use at any store they want.

For 14-year-old Camerynn Peterson of Sauk Rapids, Minn., that meant a trip to Party City so she could dress up like her favorite My Little Pony character, the baby blue and multi-colored Rainbow Dash. She also had her hair colored for the event.

Her 7-year-old sister Emma Stalberg also got into dressing up, wearing a stormtrooper skirt and accompanying her sibling on stage, at one point climbing into Camerynn's chair while they cheered on other models.

"It's a huge confidence booster," said Camerynn's dad Brian Moore. "She also loves showing off and being the center of attention."

Allison Restemayer, 14, picked out a black and white dress for her first fashion show. The Sheyenne High School student said she had a fun time.

"Oh yeah, I'd do it again," she said.

"It gives her social opportunities and helps with confidence and inclusion," said her mom, Jennifer Restemayer.

When asked for his thoughts, Joe Keller smiled and said his first fashion show was, "alright."

The 16-year-old was showing off his Deacon pride, wearing a red shirt, black tie and fedora. While it wasn't even 4 p.m. yet, the Shanley sophomore was dressed for the night and ready to head to Shanley's homecoming dance.

"Maybe I'll take the hat off," he said.

Grommesh's son Garrett couldn't be at the fashion show, as he is currently recovering in a Twin Cities hospital, but he sent along a picture of himself in a new plaid shirt to participate in the event.

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