Residents across South Dakota donated hundreds of dresses, purses, shoes, jewelry, and makeup to help girls on the Cheyenne River Reservation get glammed up for this year’s prom. Organizers say the annual Passion For Fashion is about much more than just glamour and glitz.
Glamour, Glitz & Graffiti is the theme of this year’s Passion For Fashion event at the Cheyenne River Youth Project in Eagle Butte where participants choose a prom dress, shoes and accessories, and get their hair, makeup, and nails done.
Mariah Black Bird is a local graduate and was one of the many volunteers on hand.
“I’m doing makeup today. I was a participant in the Passion For Fashion when I was young and this is my way of giving back. It’s a lot of fun and I like to see the girls enjoy themselves just like I did when I was young,” says Black Bird.
Dozens of girls attended the event over the weekend, had lunch, participated in “ice-breaker” activities, and listened to female guest speakers before flooding the gym to choose their outfits.
Tayzia goes to school in Eagle Butte and says this is the fourth time she’s participated in Passion For Fashion.
“It’s fun to get dolled up and just get treated like a lady the whole day, you know, and it’s just nice to get away from home sometimes,” says Tayzia.
She says the event is also about spending time with friends and family.
“On a reservation like this, you know, you’re almost related to everybody which is kind of sweet, you know, because you’ve got a huge family. And then, like, I just look at all these girls and I see them as sisters you know, rather than as just girls that I go to school with and stuff like that, and you know, you get to know one another and it’s just really a fun experience for everybody involved,” says Tayzia.
Organizers say the girls not only have fun getting glammed but the event often ends up being an esteem-builder. They say this is the first time many of the participants will wear formal attire.
This year’s Passion For Fashion’s street-art inspired decorations were created by students at Youth Project and include a New York City skyline, a subway car, and a runway.
