Modesty fashion show draws interest from young ladies

Thirty high school girls ranging in age from 14–18 were on hand on Dec. 3, 2011, for the introductory session of True Radiance held in the Blessed John Paul II High School cafeteria. True Radiance is a modesty formation program whose mission is to prove that fashion can be both beautiful and modest.

“Judging by their enthusiastic response, this new modesty formation program promises to be a success for the youth of our diocese,” Deacon Stephen Nolte said. 
Deacon Nolte, Director of Family Life for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, conceived of the idea of focusing on the true meaning of femininity and growing in faith, virtues and style.

Female participants in the program will go through a series of meetings, fittings and have a retreat in preparation for a fashion show. During the meetings they listened to guest speakers, have their hair done by stylists, have professional fittings, prepare for the fashion show and undergo spiritual formation.

After the completion of the entire program, girls will receive certificate of completion and will be eligible to participate in the modest formation program on a leadership level in the future.

Participants will have the opportunity to participate either as a model or a crew member for a fashion show.

Deacon Nolte, together with Jaime Reyna, Director of Youth Ministry for the diocese, recruited Chelsea Nye, a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville with a degree in business. Nye, who also has an associates degree in fashion design, is coordinating the program and heads a team of like-minded individuals.

The official start of the program is a one-day retreat on Jan. 7 at the school cafeteria.   The retreat begins at 9 a.m. and runs through 6 p.m.  On that day a calendar with the dates of all other meetings will be provided to participants. 

The girls will meet monthly through the spring semester, and the program will conclude with the inaugural “True Radiance Fashion Show” on Thursday, May 3, at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. 

A similar program for high school boys is being developed as well and will be announced soon, Nolte said.

Registrations for True Radiance will continue until the day of the retreat and walk-ins will be welcome on that day. Due to the formational aspect of the program, registrations will not be accepted after the retreat.

There is a one-time $40 fee associated with the program. 

Information may be obtained at www.acenturyoftradition.org/TrueRadiance or by contacting Jaime Reyna at (361) 882-6191 or at [email protected].