Cassondra Lenoir developed an organization to encourage uniqueness

Southeast Missouri State University senior Cassondra Lenoir walked the runway of a fashion show as a volunteer model three years ago. During the show she was told her walk was too couture, and that she needed to add "swag" to her walk.

Her only rebuttal was "I have a couture swag."

And so, the phrase Couture Swagg was formed.

Couture Swagg, according to Lenoir, is the very essence of who someone is.

"[It is] the lifestyle that you live," the journalism student said. "It's the one thing that makes you uniquely made, different from the rest."

Couture Swagg began as simply the name for a fashion show. But after sitting down with her close friends, Lenoir realized that her goal had grown much bigger than she originally dreamed.

She said she wanted to focus more on improving a person's self-esteem and promoting inner beauty.

"Couture Swagg is something you live every day," Lenoir said. "It's not something you turn off and on for special events."

When Lenoir saw the possible impact of what Couture Swagg could do as a club, she applied to have the group recognized as an on-campus organization. The organization will hold the fashion show "Couture Swagg presents Dare to be Different" at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Student Recreation Center-North.

The Dare to be Different fashion show is not just to showcase clothing, according to Kiara Vance, a senior health promotion student at Southeast.

"We wanted diversity," Vance said. "We wanted people to know they could be in it, too."

Lenoir said the show will promote beauty, diversity and confidence. The casting calls were open to all shapes and sizes to promote the group's values of inner beauty and self-confidence.

"You don't have to be this tall, skinny person to be beautiful," Lenoir said. "It's about a presence on stage, not what you are wearing."

Two designers, Buffy Wallice and Jasmine Stocking, will show their lines at the event. Both will be competing for a prize. Three judges, who will be given criteria to evaluate the designer's overall presentation of the line, will determine the winner. The winner will choose one prize out of a set of prize packages that include vacations to locations like Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas and Williamsburg, Va. and a cruise for two to locations like Cozumel, Mexico.

Wallice's line, Adante, is produced in St. Louis as orders come in from her customers. She believes her line is a promotion of the values of Couture Swagg because she represents a classy female.

"Adante shows young girls and women that you don't have to be diverse by being provocative," Wallice said. "It's about having class. Let your look speak for you in a positive way."

Three boutiques and one department store will also contribute looks to the show but will not be eligible to win the prizes.