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Saturday evening, style met the spotlight at the Calhoun Warehouse Open House. Beginner models took to the catwalk, strutting their stuff with professional guidance at the event.

Before the event started, attendees visited the Casa Bella-Luka lounge for hors d’oeuvres. Next, everyone gathered in the Haven building, decorated as a runway.

The event started with the model Victoria Elizabeth speaking about the fashion show event before introducing the Calhoun Warehouse owner, Brent Warr. Warr thanked guests for coming and the business owners that made the event possible. He also shared the history of the Warehouse building, stating, “The building was built in 1903, and it was a rail shipping warehouse before becoming a car dealership, realty company, and other things. It stayed empty for about 12 years. I bought it, and it was in really rough shape. I poured my heart and soul into it, and I’m a Bainbridge native. So, it was fun to come back and give something back to downtown.”

Afterward, Elizabeth returned to the stage and reiterated that “you must leave the South for opportunities. You have to go to New York, LA, California, but you don’t have to leave. You can go and explore these areas and bring that opportunity back. It’s all about where you come from and the pride you take in it, and that’s what tonight is about, Georgia Proud.” Next, the spotlight was on Ebony Christmas as she sang “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys.

For the main event, eleven models with different shapes, sizes, and backgrounds came from as far as Wakulla, Florida, to showcase their model pose and strut while wearing gowns, heels, and bodycon dresses from Misty-Floyd Beck, owner of Casa Bella-Luka, wardrobe. Elizabeth taught the models how to focus on maintaining good posture, having confident facial expressions, taking long strides with their feet in line, keeping arm movements natural, and practicing turns and poses while staying in sync with the music. The models presented their teachings to the audience as they gushed and raved about the models’ strategic poses and deliberate steps. They also admired the trends, designer vision, quality, and wearability of avant-garde styles.

Misty-Floyd stated, “Nothing was more flattering than watching those beautiful models walk down the red carpet with the music and lights. To see the beautiful atmosphere of the Haven, the DJ, and all of those faces walking down the runway,” She continued. “Whose life I got to have a part in changing. They got to model with America’s top model. Someone who’s been on television. Someone who owns a modeling agency. They got one-on-one lessons in photography. It was the whole nine yards. They will never forget that experience. It was everything that I could dream of.”

After the fashion show, guests stayed and listened to musicianist Eric Hatcher perform to conclude the evening.