Style, for me, is not about chasing trends or dressing up to hide insecurities—it’s about transformation. I used to think clothes were armor
We would like to thank you for supporting Marlon Banks in this years competition. Your participation allows us to empower the Elton John AIDS Foundation in their mission to end AIDS for everyone, everywhere.
What makes your style stand out?
My style is fire dressed in fabric, rhythm stitched with soul. It’s disco and funk, bold colors and brave choices—but more than that, it’s resilience you can see. I don’t just wear clothes, I wear stories of love, of survival, of rising when the world said stay down. That’s why my style stands out: because it isn’t just on me, it is me.
What’s your dream fashion moment?
The room is dark, the silence thick. Then a beat drops funky, groovy, alive. It doesn’t just play, it pulses. A light cuts through the dark, sharp and demanding. And then I step into it.I’m not walking. I’m arriving Draped in fire, stitched with soul, my look is more than fabric it’s a story. Sequins catch the light like sparks, colors blaze like a sunrise refusing to be ignored. Every line of the silhouette says strength. Every shimmer says survival. Every thread says I rose, my testimony.
What would you do with $20,000?
With $20,000, I’d pour it into the things that define me. I’d finish my book, Blemished, Unbroken, Clear, Clouded Skies, sharing my story so others know they’re not alone. I’d bring my theatrical production, Phoenix and the Rising Rhythms, to life, creating a space where people can feel, heal, and be inspired. I’d also grow my nonprofit, Free, Anchored, and Growing, dedicated to Behavioral Health Awareness, so more people can get the support they need. This all defines me.