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| Models stroll the runway during the 2nd Annual 'Flowers that Feed: Floral Fashions Feeding Families' art and fashion show at the Coolidge Family Farm in New Gloucester on May 13. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
The evening kicked off with a "Sip & Shop" art and fashion expo prior to the runway show, with Ali Hart Music playing all evening. Champagne was flowing and local artists sold their wares contributing to the charitable cause helping families in need. There was a cash bar from The Roaming Speakeasy as well as baked goods from the Chatterbox Bakery.
The fashion show kicked off with an opening dance with "blooming" veil imagery by the Rhythm Rebels Dance Company in collaboration with Sisters Phoenix, wearing designs hand-sewn by New Hampshire designer and dancer Lily Moonstorm. Additionally, there were special performances by Sudanese native, Afrobeat and hip-hop dancer, Veeva Banga and flow artist and Fusion dancer Liza May, performing between designers' fashion lines.
The show consisted of a couple repeat designers from last year's show, revealing their new lines, as well as designers from NYFW, Gulf Coast Fashion Week, and more, with Port City Models showcasing their designs, slaying the runway.
The amazing lineup included designers from Maine and across the nation including Trenity Designs (St Louis, Missouri); Built by Stacy (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); D by Design (Mandeville, Louisiana); Style Your Curves (Tampa, Florida); Ashley Arlene Designs (Lisbon Falls); ArtbyBen (Portland); Caesar the Designer (Houston, Texas); and Re-Loved Fashions (Augusta).
Celebrity emcee Melissa Malone-Soutuyo kept the energy high throughout the show. Special guests traveled from across the country for this event, including Danielle Mullins, Miss Earth USA 2023, from Kentucky, and Laura Cliff, Founder of the Still She Rose Wellness Initiative and Ambassador Program. Talent scouts were present, casting models for New York Fashion Week, as well as local fashion pioneer, Caron Bryan, the CEO and Founder of Port City Models & Talent, who attended as an event sponsor.
The Co-Producers of this amazing event are friends Whitley Nabintu Marshall and Misty Coolidge, united in their passions for preventing and fighting hunger.
Having survived multiple near-death experiences with two full-body recoveries, facing food insecurity, and a brief period of homelessness, all before her 21st birthday, Whitley Nabintu Marshall turns passion into purpose as an award-winning artist, dancer, model, activist, entrepreneur and reigning International Mrs. USA. Facing insecurity herself, then later working for 7 years at the same teen shelters she once received services from, Whitley understands firsthand the need to fight hunger and the importance of the services the Good Shepherd Food Bank offers.
She aims to expand beauty standards as a model, coach, and the Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Artlovelifestyle Magazine. She seeks to provide opportunities and elevate underrepresented voices in print and on the runway, producing fashion events, and hosting message-based photoshoots and cover contests focused on the markers of true beauty: compassion, strength, resilience, diversity, and authenticity while emphasizing inclusion of all shapes, sizes, shades, genders, ages, cultures, and backgrounds. This was evident through the models she cast for the Flowers That Feed art and runway show.
As a part of her Mind•Body•Compassion Coaching, this year she will release her 90-Day-Transformation guided journal and Compassionate Leadership training. Whitley co-founded organizations including Green Initiatives and World Roots Culture Exchange, spearheading the Compassionate Leadership Project, and served as co-director the Barefoot Truth Dance Company for over eight years, recently founding the Rhythm Rebels Dance Company. Whitley was recognized in the NYC Journal's “Top 30 Women Leaders to Watch in 2022,” as well as the Entrepreneurs Herald's "Top 30 Inspiring Women to Look Out for in 2023." Through coaching, workshops, and leadership, she inspires people to embrace their unique beauty and work towards being the best versions of themselves, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Misty Coolidge is the owner of Coolidge Family Farm in New Gloucester and the reigning Mrs. Worldwide. She's a wife, mom of three, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and her mission for the past 20+ years has been fighting hunger in the communities she's lived in. When she and her family moved to New Gloucester, she found a 'home' at the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn where she volunteers on a regular basis, hosts her famous "Running of the Brides 5K for Hunger,” packs backpacks for kids, hosts fundraisers such as this one at her wedding venues. She's currently traveling the USA, working with the national Feeding America organization, volunteering at food banks across the country and world, hoping to tackle all 50 states by the end of 2023.
Coolidge recently published her children's book, "We All Stir the Pot to End Hunger," now available on Amazon. Being almost equally addicted to fashion, this show tied both of her passions together.
The two plan to continue this annual charity event each year, hoping to use their platforms and influence to bring awareness to the importance of the services the Good Shepherd Food Bank offers, and increase their annual contributions and impact within the community. <
Celebrity emcee Melissa Malone-Soutuyo kept the energy high throughout the show. Special guests traveled from across the country for this event, including Danielle Mullins, Miss Earth USA 2023, from Kentucky, and Laura Cliff, Founder of the Still She Rose Wellness Initiative and Ambassador Program. Talent scouts were present, casting models for New York Fashion Week, as well as local fashion pioneer, Caron Bryan, the CEO and Founder of Port City Models & Talent, who attended as an event sponsor.
The Co-Producers of this amazing event are friends Whitley Nabintu Marshall and Misty Coolidge, united in their passions for preventing and fighting hunger.
Having survived multiple near-death experiences with two full-body recoveries, facing food insecurity, and a brief period of homelessness, all before her 21st birthday, Whitley Nabintu Marshall turns passion into purpose as an award-winning artist, dancer, model, activist, entrepreneur and reigning International Mrs. USA. Facing insecurity herself, then later working for 7 years at the same teen shelters she once received services from, Whitley understands firsthand the need to fight hunger and the importance of the services the Good Shepherd Food Bank offers.
She aims to expand beauty standards as a model, coach, and the Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Artlovelifestyle Magazine. She seeks to provide opportunities and elevate underrepresented voices in print and on the runway, producing fashion events, and hosting message-based photoshoots and cover contests focused on the markers of true beauty: compassion, strength, resilience, diversity, and authenticity while emphasizing inclusion of all shapes, sizes, shades, genders, ages, cultures, and backgrounds. This was evident through the models she cast for the Flowers That Feed art and runway show.
As a part of her Mind•Body•Compassion Coaching, this year she will release her 90-Day-Transformation guided journal and Compassionate Leadership training. Whitley co-founded organizations including Green Initiatives and World Roots Culture Exchange, spearheading the Compassionate Leadership Project, and served as co-director the Barefoot Truth Dance Company for over eight years, recently founding the Rhythm Rebels Dance Company. Whitley was recognized in the NYC Journal's “Top 30 Women Leaders to Watch in 2022,” as well as the Entrepreneurs Herald's "Top 30 Inspiring Women to Look Out for in 2023." Through coaching, workshops, and leadership, she inspires people to embrace their unique beauty and work towards being the best versions of themselves, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Misty Coolidge is the owner of Coolidge Family Farm in New Gloucester and the reigning Mrs. Worldwide. She's a wife, mom of three, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and her mission for the past 20+ years has been fighting hunger in the communities she's lived in. When she and her family moved to New Gloucester, she found a 'home' at the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn where she volunteers on a regular basis, hosts her famous "Running of the Brides 5K for Hunger,” packs backpacks for kids, hosts fundraisers such as this one at her wedding venues. She's currently traveling the USA, working with the national Feeding America organization, volunteering at food banks across the country and world, hoping to tackle all 50 states by the end of 2023.
Coolidge recently published her children's book, "We All Stir the Pot to End Hunger," now available on Amazon. Being almost equally addicted to fashion, this show tied both of her passions together.
The two plan to continue this annual charity event each year, hoping to use their platforms and influence to bring awareness to the importance of the services the Good Shepherd Food Bank offers, and increase their annual contributions and impact within the community. <
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