[Note: This interview was made for listening. Transcripts are generated using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and may contain errors. Please check the corresponding audio before quoting in print.]
Mark Munger: And now for something completely different.
Music was thumping, and beautiful people were strutting down a runway that stretches the length of the auditorium at the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple in downtown Sioux City. I was there to see the rehearsal for the Sound and Style fashion show that will happen on Friday night, November 6. Accessorized with my reporter's kit, I dove into the scene.
Felicia: I like the fact of just showing off the artist's clothes that they have. I kind of saw a draft mode of the art that I'll be wearing.
Olivia Whitewing: My name is Olivia Whitewing.
Mark Munger: Tell me about what's happening.
Olivia Whitewing: Right now we're rehearsing for the Sound and Style fashion show. Oh, for sure. Yeah, especially with each design. This is my third year doing this with the same designer. A lot of her fashion is indigenous-based, and it has a meaning behind it. And we're one of the only ones that are grouped out by our culture, so it's really fun.
Iban: Iban,
Alondra Jeronimo: Hi, I'm Alondra Jeronimo. This is what our third runway show. To express their art and their vision, and honestly make whatever they have already on their plate come to life, and just be so pictionary with it and own it.
Speaker 2: You know, we have all these beautiful people here, all these different energies. I mean, he's here with me today, and he's so good.
Jacob Lloyd: My name is Jacob Lloyd. No, this is my third year here, but just modeling here, nowhere else.
Speaker 4: Yes, I would say so from a very young age. I always knew that I wanted to model because I do like being on the stage. I love to be able to put on the art and to present it, to be the model, to be the canvas, and I also do drag. So I love to strut. I love to show my moves and just yeah do my thing. Cause you know when you're at the grocery store, I mean sometimes you do strut, but you just feel like everyone else. But here, you know, it's just like the spotlight's on you, and it's just very nice.
Vienna: My name is Vienna Virgin Beach. So my outfit, yeah, it's we're wearing boots, so I'm super excited about that, and it's it's a long like maxi skirt, too. So I'm very excited about that as well too, and a corset. So I'm just I feel like I said it gives you a really good confidence just once you're out there and you just feel beautiful, and it's it's great.
Jonathan Valdovinos: Jonathan Valdovinos.
Mark Munger: Who's the designer?
Jonathan Valdovinos: Alexis, my brother and my sister, Alexis and Carla Valdovinos. I was kind of forced to do it, but I always like to help them out. So if they ask me, I just like show up for them.
Mark Munger: Yeah, that's great. Have you guys always been close?
Jonathan Valdovinos: Yeah, we. I think all our family is pretty close, but yeah, like we all kind of like rely on each other, and yeah. So yeah, I would say yeah, we're pretty close.
Mark Munger: Has fashion been a part of your?
Jonathan Valdovinos: It's been a part of their life, most likely. I used to be like more into fashion when I was younger, but like now, like not not so much. It's just like basic outfits and stuff like that.
Mark Munger: How does it feel to come back into it?
Jonathan Valdovinos: Ah, kind of refreshing, but nerve-wracking at the same time.
Mark Munger: Yeah.
Samantha: Samantha S-A-M-A-N-T-H-A.
Mark Munger: Okay.
Samantha: And Virgin, Carla, and Alexis had asked me to do a show. They they say have a sexy walk. So you're young and sexy once, and you have to walk. You get one life. You have to have fun and
Mark Munger: a sexy walk
Samantha: and shake some.
Mark Munger: Just like naturally.
Samantha: Yes.
Mark Munger: You got it.
Samantha: Supposedly, I'm gonna... watch me like not nail. No, I will nail it. I can't talk like that. But just about having fun.
Victor Hernandez: Yes, my name is Victor Hernandez. So I actually had a friend contact me last year about being involved in this, and then essentially I had a meeting with Gia, the organizer, and the friend I had ended up dropping out, but I ended up staying, and I had a great experience. Met a lot of cool people, and it's something that I wanted to come back for. You know what I mean? I I'm a little. I've been described as a little rough looking around the edges, and I figure if somebody that looks rough around the edges can do it like me, other people might be able to. You know what I mean?
Mark Munger: I mean, real beauty has roughness.
Victor Hernandez: Yeah, 100%. Yeah, you know.
Mary: Mary, this is my first time, but my... this is my daughter, and this is her third time.
Mark Munger: Oh, really?
Mary: So I decided to do it with her for mother-daughter bonding.
Mark Munger: I love that. Are you happy you made that decision?
Mary: Yes, I am. Maybe she's not, but I am.
Ajamo: My name is Ajamo A J A M O. I feel like I dress up to like, I don't know. I just feel good when I dress up, you know. And then I like doing like different hairstyles, you know. I feel like me when I do that.
Mark Munger: The sounds from the Sound and Style fashion show rehearsal. The show is put on by the Sioux City Conservatory of Music and happens on Friday, November 6, at the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple. I'm Mark Munger. This has been a Manager's Special from Siouxland Public Media.
