runway

Fashion content creator Hannah Krohne, known online as Hannah Lizzy, partnered with social impact agency Influencer Social Responsibility (ISR)™, founded by Alexandra Bushman, to host a fashion show celebrating confidence and self-expression for girls from non-profit organization Girls Inc. of NYC in honor of Women’s History Month Wednesday evening.

Hosted at the Indego Africa in Residence gallery in Midtown, the penthouse space overlooking Manhattan was decorated with elegant pink florals, light bites, and complimentary goodie bags as around 20 models prepared to walk the runway.

Ahead of the show, Krohne took the mic to introduce the event and reflect on her own journey with confidence.

“Like many teenagers do, I struggled with my confidence throughout middle and high school,” Krohne said. “It took me years to understand that confidence is so much more than liking the way you look. It’s about liking the way you speak; the way you speak to yourself, the way you speak to others. It’s about believing that you bring value into every single room you walk into.”

At 5:30 p.m., around 20 high school girls from Girls Inc. — an organization dedicated to uplifting young women through mentorship and advocacy programs — took to the runway. During the first half of the show, each girl modeled in full glam and formal dresses.

At the midway point, one of the models stepped out to address the crowd, reinforcing the show’s message of boldly being yourself. 

“A lot of things are happening and changing in this world and the one thing that we must keep is the freedom of expression,” she said in her speech. “What better way to do that than with clothes?”

During the second half of the show, the girls modeled chic business casual looks and comfortable pastel two-piece sets. Each model’s walk was unique, with some slowly strutting down the runway while others joyfully bounced and waved to the crowd. 

Unlike a typical fashion show, where audiences are often reserved, the room erupted in applause. Notable attendees were fashion and lifestyle influencers Miranda McKeon, Maddie Schrader and Frances Bailey, who loudly cheered the girls on and treated them like professional models. 

For the Girls Inc. participants, the opportunity to walk the runway was more than just a fashion moment — it was a chance to embody the values that the organization cultivates.

“It’s just been a jaw-dropping kind of day,” Girls Inc. Team Leadership Circles program manager Adjua Thomas said. “Our students are incredible role models to their social community, so it’s really exciting to get to see them be pro-models today.” 

Photos courtesy of Sidney Mazza and Alison Su.