By Model auditions will spring the 13th annual Rags II Rhythms Urban Couture Fashion Show into action this Wednesday as potential models attempt to make the cut for the show.
Hosted by the University Student Union Program Council, the auditions will begin Wednesday and continue through Friday.
Cal State Long Beach students can apply for the show on the day of auditions. The auditions are diverse and open to all shapes and sizes, according to Rags II Rhythms Executive Producer and Director Alana Johnson. Johnson is a senior design major at CSULB.
“The Long Beach community really knows about this [because] we are one of the few [Cal State Universities] that do a fashion show,” Johnson said. “We have models of all shapes and sizes.”
Johnson will coordinate the auditions and decide which models make the final cut.
“The rags represent the clothes, and rhythms represent the music and entertainment at the fashion show,” Johnson said.
Last year, about 120 potential models auditioned and roughly 40 women and 20 men were chosen, according to Johnson. She said the numbers of chosen contestants would be about the same this year.
“I would tell women that participate not to wear wedges; they should wear heels three inches or higher,” Johnson said. “There is a lot more pressure on the women than the men … for the males, I’d just tell them to be confident and don’t wear flip flops to the auditions.”
Johnson said that she expects the same turnout as last year, and aside from CSULB students, some Long Beach City College students have participated in the show in the past. She said they try to keep the fashion show within the Long Beach community.
Designers are also welcome to fill out applications before the March 22 deadline. A few designers that were a part of last year’s show included Freshjive, Ezekiel and Buffalo Exchange.
Ticket prices for the show will be decided two weeks prior to the fashion show on May 2.
“The show is open to the public,” Johnson said. “Ticket prices haven’t been finalized but will probably be $5 to $10.”
Those who audition for the fashion show will find out by Feb. 25 if they made the cut. According to programcouncil.org, the Rags II Rhythms Fashion Show has three parts: a concert, a fashion show and a vendor fair.
The model auditions will take place Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. in USU room 205; Thursday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in USU room 205; and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Soroptimist House.
