K–pop Demon hunters, anti-ICE protests and 6-7 blended current trends with traditions to celebrate the state of youth culture in 2026 on the glittering runway of the fashion show.
Cultural Inclusion Council (CIC) gave the stage to performers from the many cultural alliances on March 7.
Novel to the event this year, general admission was free for students. CIC director Isenia Fregoso said with a smile that tickets sold out for free.
CMU student and host Christopher Lopez began the event with shared laughter by referencing the popular internet meme 6-7 and saying the outfits on display had “aura.” This opener quickly gave way to a performance by CMU’s Monument String Quartet.
Students Cassidy Pollock, Gia Doehler, Jackson Lowers and Violet Spang performed Beethoven’s “String Quarter No. 4” and “What It Sounds Like” from “K-pop Demon Hunters,” an arrangement by the quartet’s coach Jason Pegis.
“We had a little girl come up to us and say ‘that was the coolest thing I have ever seen.’” Doehler said.
Members of the Asian Student Alliance (ASA) flooded the runway with Bollywood-inspired looks and traditional Japanese and Filipino fan dancing in baro’t saya.
One model in traditional lehenga jumped in time with the chorus of “GOLDEN” from “K-pop Demon Hunters” as the audience sang along.
The Black Student Alliance (BSA) strutted in suits and clinked matcha cups while brushing each other’s shoulders, demonstrating unity. The models paid homage to street wear with motocross inspired outfits during their second walk.
Five students dressed in straw hats with rainbow streamers, white beards, colorful shirts and canes swayed onto the stage after BSA. These models from the Latino Student Alliance (LSA) performed La Danza de los Viejitos, or The Dance of the Old Men.
In this comedic piece, four dancers stomped in rhythm. A fifth stomped out of time for comedic effect, eventually rolling onto the ground and kicking their feet into the air. The dance is a staple of many different celebrations in Michoacán, México and represents the cycle of life.
The crowd rallied with LSA’s stance against the recent actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Protest images flashed behind the group.
“Honestly, my favorite part, and I hate that it even has to be a thing, is that this creates an opportunity for LSA to discuss and protest about ICE,” Fregoso said.
The Ho’olokahi Polynesian Alliance (HPA) vocalized loud “cheehoo’s” to celebrate their models before going onstage. The group performed traditional hula in floral attire.
HPA member Nescille Taifiane spoke on their motivation.
“I wanted to join because we get to represent our culture. I feel like this campus needs more representation,” Taifiane said. “My favorite part was when we gathered on the stage as a group to hype one another up.”
The Native American Student Alliance (NASA) followed HPA and walked the audience through traumatic Native American boarding schools of the 1800s, punk in the 1980s and modern streetwear from the 2020s.
NASA members incorporated activism into their ensembles with the inclusion of bright, red handprints as a symbol of awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). The placement of the handprint over the mouth signifies the silenced voices of Native American women.
“LSA had a very large audience to make a statement to, alongside NASA with the red hand print. Those two statements are very powerful, and I am glad they had the space to do that,” Fregoso said.
Lopez came back on stage to introduce the Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA), whose walk featured an energetic tap dance to “You Make Me Feel.”
Former GSA co-coordinator Rebecca Weber mentioned it was difficult to find models this year and their third model did not arrive for calltime. This year’s performances did not include GSA’s usual drag show.
CMU alumni and fifth year fashion show model Nia Taubr performed a traditional Greek dance called siratki for the International Student Alliance (ISA). The iteration Taubr performed paid homage to the film “Zorba the Greek.”
“The dance specifically talks about the joys and the adventures of the island of Crete. I have over 15 years of Greek traditional dance in my background, and I’m half-Greek. I did a lot of Greek dance when I was younger and wanted to bring my culture to the Fashion Show,” Taubr said.
All of the alliances emerged for curtain call as the night came to a close. Lopez encouraged the audience to take the centerpieces home and asked everyone to look forward to more events from CIC next month.
“The alliances will be doing a ‘Month of Belonging’ in April and people can check our Instagram for more information,” Fregoso said.
