CATWALK is an elite modeling competition that caters to the Transgender Community (male to female). Its purpose is “to encourage and empower the TG community to excel in the fast-evolving world of fashion and unique marketing.”
The photo (taken with iphone, wish I’d brought my real camera!) is from this year’s competition at SOMArts Cultural Center, held on Saturday, April 4. More are at the SOMArts Flickr group.
Favorite moment: the finalists had a Q&A. One was asked “What one word comes to mind when you see someone who is intolerant of who you are and your lifestyle?” For me, it was the most suspenseful moment of the show. What is the internal response to systemic intolerance as harsh as that which is meted out to the TG community? What is your knee-jerk, one-word reaction? What would my reaction be in her place?
Her answer? “Challenge.” The moment, and the spirit of the whole event, was very true to SOMArts’ mission to foster an appreciation of and respect for all cultures. Hopefully, CATWALK will return to SOMArts in 2010.
