Tuesday 14-04-2020 - 10:01

On the 3rd of March 2020 QMU students and staff walked down our catwalk to showcase the outfits that make them feel good. The QMUSU Feel Good Fashion Show, sponsored by Santander, was an inspiring celebration of diversity and inclusion in our community at QMU. People from different backgrounds, abilities, nationalities and orientations showed us the outfits that make them feel confident, comfortable, strong, funny or just good.

The event was an initiative of our Student Officers’ Committee, who worked with BEAT, the eating disorders charity, to raise awareness of healthy body image and ensure the event was as accessible and non-traditional as possible. There was a clear aim to challenge the traditional stereotype of how models look and societal beauty standards.

QMUSU Welfare Officer, Mhairi Menzies, embraced the event: “I was super excited for the fashion show, even though it’s something I thought I would never usually do! I love expressing myself through my clothes so it was a fun opportunity to get to show off my favourite outfits. I wasn’t nervous at all, that is until I stepped out on the catwalk... It was such a surreal experience and it went so quickly, but despite the sudden onset of nerves I had so much fun. It was a great way to celebrate the diversity of my group of friends here at QMU and show off our favourite outfits whilst strutting to some funky music!”.

Around 70 people took to the runway to show their diverse, feel good outfits. Principal Sir Paul Grice set an exceptional example by opening the show dressed as a ringmaster. He was closely followed by members of our sports and societies, individual students, staff and even the campus dogs. The event showcased the diverse community we enjoy at QMU, with one staff member commenting after the event: “I come in to QMU every week and think I know it, but this gave me a completely different view of our university and the people that are part of it and made me feel very proud of us all.”

Lindsey McArthur, University Relationship Manager at Santander, who was amongst the audience, told us: “I was delighted to attend the Feel Good Fashion show. Funded by Santander Universities, it was a fabulous event celebrating diversity and inclusion, feel good fashion and being empowered by outfits that make us feel comfortable, confident and strong. It was a lively, fun, yet poignant event that reminds about acceptance, tolerance and ultimately celebration of all of our backgrounds, abilities, qualities and orientations. Very pleased to see the Principal was the first model down the runway, hats off to Sir Paul, leading by example!”.

For QMUSU President Chiara Menozzi it was a delight to see everything come together: “We were so happy with how the event turned out. It came about because our Officers’ Committee felt that promoting a healthy body image is really important and wanted it to be a key focus during their year in office, so we created this event to celebrate the diversity of the real people who study, live or work on our campus. We wanted to show each other what it means to feel good, whatever that looks like.”

All of those involved were hugely appreciative that so many people come out to support this event. The audience really created a fun, safe and welcoming atmosphere which was so important for the participants, and their donations benefitted BEAT, Edinburgh Nightline and Shelter.

QMUSU would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, student and staff participants, volunteers, and the audience who came along to make it happen. All at QMUSU are delighted and energised by the success of the event and immensely grateful and proud of our diverse, inclusive community.