Marvel on the Runway

Hampton Roads celebrates its first-ever fashion event for girls and women with disabilities! On Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Chesapeake Square Mall, Dr. Donita Edwards, founder of Birthright Kingdom Deliverance Ministries, Inc., and her daughters, Blake and Blaire Edwards, hosted this life-changing event. We featured females of all ages, shapes, and sizes; wearing casual and formal wear. Our goal for this inaugural Marvel on the Runway fashion event was to promote diversity, inclusion, and empowerment.

Too often individuals with special needs are excluded from events such as this. Our organization wants to permanently change that by hosting this event annually! In fact, our objective for 2022 is to implement three social and therapeutic activities that will be valuable to the community and beyond. As a parent/caregiver of an adult daughter who was diagnosed at birth with Down Syndrome, Dr. Donita knows the firsthand challenges our participants and caregivers face. She understands the need!

Picture this … fifteen beautiful models with varied disabilities walking or wheeling down the runway displaying poise and confidence. Applause … Smiles … Waves … Eyes dancing! Also cheering them down the runway were friends, family, zoom participants, vendors, Published model (Mz Shawna Valentine), Baila Fuzion Studio owner (Marquita Bianca), and Designer (Whitney Yancey - Go N Places).

These girls and women want to be included in fashion and conversations about style. Parents are reporting that they've seen increased confidence in the young people who participated. If you would like to become a sponsor or know of someone who is uniquely abled that would like to participate in our events, please contact Rev. Dr. Donita Edwards at revdonita@gmail.com.

Dr. Donita Edwards
Founder, Birthright Kingdom Deliverance Ministries, Inc.
Host, Disability in the Church