4 Years ago, at the age of 15, Olivia Mignone could not accept that her 5’2” limitation was going to keep her from her dream being a runway model. To overcome the industry’s height bias, send a message to the fashion world, and to empower young woman to love themselves for who they are, Olivia created Shortstack. Shortstack is a teen founded and driven modeling fashion program that provides young woman who do not meet the “normal” industry standards an opportunity to become involved in charitable fashion events, professional photo shoots, fashion design, and photography. Now, at the age of 19, Olivia is about to step out on the runway at The Midtown Loft & Terrace on 5th Avenue in the heart of Manhattan, during the 4th Annual Shortstack Charity Fashion Show.
“This is an exhilarating time for me”, explains Olivia when speaking of the upcoming show. “I had the pleasure of showcasing fashions from wonderful designers such as Betsey Johnson, Kathlin Argiro, and companies such as Hot Topic and David’s Bridal. “ Shortstack has created many opportunities for the youth in their program such as meeting America Next Top Model’s contestants Kim Stolz, Bianca Golden and Claire Unabia, to appearing in local papers, The Daily News, Fox-5 Television, and being featured on the cover and in a 7 page spread of A&U Magazine.
Shortstack’s Fashion Show is taking place on June 18th, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. and the $50 price of admission includes a rooftop cocktail hour and an entertaining fashion show. Money raised is going to two worthy causes. The first, Windows of Opportunity, Inc. (http://www.wooinc) is a non profit innovative youth empowerment program that creates unique and impactful approaches to empower and educate youth on such areas as HIV Awareness, Eating Disorder Prevention and Leadership Development. Additional money raised will go to Jayden Zapata, a 6 year old boy who needs a cord blood transplant so he can have the opportunity to walk, a procedure not covered by insurance.
“We have been blessed to have incredible sponsors currently and in the past such as Kenneth Cole, Chanel, IDT, U.S. Diamond Jewelry, and Long Island’s Rock Station WBAB, but we welcome additional clothing, financial and product sponsors” states Ms. Mignone. When asked where she sees Shortstack in the next 5 years, Olivia’s eyes light up stating, “I see several Shortstack programs across the country, media in major fashion magazines, coverage on television, people from the fashion industry attending our events, and Shortstack models on the runway at major fashion shows. Someone out there is going to give us an opportunity to show that we can walk the runway as well as models currently in the industry.”
“This is an exhilarating time for me”, explains Olivia when speaking of the upcoming show. “I had the pleasure of showcasing fashions from wonderful designers such as Betsey Johnson, Kathlin Argiro, and companies such as Hot Topic and David’s Bridal. “ Shortstack has created many opportunities for the youth in their program such as meeting America Next Top Model’s contestants Kim Stolz, Bianca Golden and Claire Unabia, to appearing in local papers, The Daily News, Fox-5 Television, and being featured on the cover and in a 7 page spread of A&U Magazine.
Shortstack’s Fashion Show is taking place on June 18th, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. and the $50 price of admission includes a rooftop cocktail hour and an entertaining fashion show. Money raised is going to two worthy causes. The first, Windows of Opportunity, Inc. (http://www.wooinc) is a non profit innovative youth empowerment program that creates unique and impactful approaches to empower and educate youth on such areas as HIV Awareness, Eating Disorder Prevention and Leadership Development. Additional money raised will go to Jayden Zapata, a 6 year old boy who needs a cord blood transplant so he can have the opportunity to walk, a procedure not covered by insurance.
“We have been blessed to have incredible sponsors currently and in the past such as Kenneth Cole, Chanel, IDT, U.S. Diamond Jewelry, and Long Island’s Rock Station WBAB, but we welcome additional clothing, financial and product sponsors” states Ms. Mignone. When asked where she sees Shortstack in the next 5 years, Olivia’s eyes light up stating, “I see several Shortstack programs across the country, media in major fashion magazines, coverage on television, people from the fashion industry attending our events, and Shortstack models on the runway at major fashion shows. Someone out there is going to give us an opportunity to show that we can walk the runway as well as models currently in the industry.”
