What makes your style stand out?

The same thing that makes each one of us unique — our story. I am a former refugee who grew up in NYC public housing, studied at the top design school in the US, and designed accessories for the Presidential Inauguration. My one-of-a-kind style is influenced by my life experiences: displacement, violence, and poverty, as well as by urban culture, hip-hop music, world culture, fine art, 20 years working in fashion, not to mention all the wildly interesting humans I’ve met living in NYC.

What’s your dream fashion moment?

Wow. Incredibly difficult question – but if I really had to choose one, it would be: To have a fantastically diverse next-gen fashion show at an iconic NYC cultural institution (like The Met, MoMA, BK Museum), using high-end style to advocate for community mental wellness and celebrate global culture, music, and art... showcasing my unique style and vision of course, hahaha :)

What would you do with $20,000?

I would put the $20K prize towards my Fashion 4 Social Impact initiative, which aims to promote community well-being in underserved communities with high-vibe style, art, and culture. More specifically, I would organize an I-R-L community wellness experience to celebrate global culture, spark youth empowerment, and foster community unity. Why, you ask? Because I believe that fashion is one of the best ways to bring people together and lift our spirits, bc we all need that in a time like this.