Myra Mrowicki Named Pink Carpet Host For Shop. Sell. Strut! Season 3
FREEHOLD, NJ (January 18, 2019) – Fashion blogger, model, socialite, and style influencer Myra Mrowicki (www.febearyfashionista.com) has been announced as pink carpet host for Season 3 of Shop. Sell. Strut!, taking place at iPlay America in Freehold, New Jersey on May 19, 2019.
The colors for Shop. Sell. Strut! are hot pink and mango, so instead of a traditional red carpet, Myra will be working the pink carpet and interviewing designers, models, celebrities and other VIP guests as part of an afternoon of fashion, fun and entertainment.
Shop. Sell. Strut! is the fundraising arm for the Morgan Marie Michael Foundation (Tax ID: 82-1496694), a 501(c)3 charity supporting individuals on the autism spectrum with programming, appliances, and resources for enhanced living and development. The event in May is their primary annual fundraiser, featuring a fashion forward runway show. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the Morgan Marie Michael Foundation. The event is open to the public and tickets are on sale now.
“I have been a supporter of the amazing work of Shop. Sell. Strut! since Season One,” says Myra. “To start out as an attendee two years ago, being invited to be an honorary model and committee member last year, to serving as this year’s pink carpet host, is an honor. This organization has done so much to support families raising a child with autism. There are so many challenges that these families and children face, and knowing that they are getting the support they need makes all of the hard work so worthwhile.”
A long-time supporter of the New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia fashion scenes, Myra Mrowicki founded her fashion blog, Febeary Fashionista (www.febearyfashionista.com) in 2014. She uses her blog and social media platforms to support the designers, models, producers, performers and publishers in the industry who are doing amazing things in the world of fashion and style. She was recently the red carpet host at Atlantic City Fashion Week Season 13, and has been a runway model for notable designers including Robert Greco Couture, Carmen Bury, Melissa Lockwood, and Brand A. She’s also participated in a fashion shoot for the social media of her favorite Montclair, New Jersey boutique, That Little Black Dress. She was the first guest on the premiere episode of the radio show “Chit-Chat with Alyssa Lego” on Hamilton Radio Channel 2, and served as a judge for the National American Miss Pageant.
Myra is dedicated to supporting meaningful and worthwhile causes. She was thrilled to be named the Honorary Model and Committee Member for Season Two of Shop. Sell. Strut!, which raised money for the autism-related efforts of the Morgan Marie Michael Foundation. She has also modeled, volunteered or otherwise lent her talent to causes such as Fashion For Hope and the Cancer Support Community of Central New Jersey.
For more about Myra, please follow her blog, or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram @febeary.
Last year, I was honored to serve as the honorary model for Shop. Sell. Strut! Season 2, an annual charity fashion gala that raises money and awareness for autism-related causes. I have been a long-time supporter of this wonderful cause, and its amazing co-founders Alyssa Lego and Amanda Witkowski.
As planning begins for Season 3, taking place May 19, I was honored again and asked to serve as one of the judges for this year’s model casting. The casting took place Saturday, January 5, at Island Soul Clothing & Gifts (1309 Ocean Terrace) on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. About 50 models came out in pouring rain on a dreary wintry afternoon at the Jersey Shore to show their support and strut for their opportunity to walk the runway.
I had a great time and was very impressed at all of the young women and men who came out. It was so great to meet all of you, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing you again in May.
For anyone reading this who would like to support, save the date for Sunday, May 19, and follow Shop. Sell Strut! on social media for information and tickets about this year’s event! I strut for autism, do you?
All Photos Credit: Naomi Rivera from Looking Glass Photography
On June 9, 2018, I was given the thrill of being the Honorary Model for Shop. Sell. Strut! Season 2, held at Pure Event Space in South Amboy, NJ. Shop. Sell. Strut! is the fundraising event created by founders Alyssa Lego and Amanda Witkowski to raise money and awareness for autism-related causes. This year’s event raised money for the Morgan, Marie, Michael Foundation, and their iCan iPad Learning Experience Gift Program.
Shop. Sell. Strut! features fashion shows as part of an afternoon of fun, vendors, a silent auction, and entertainment. I had the pleasure of walking in three of the runway shows, as well as participating in the opening number and closing presentation. I was also thrilled and surprised to receive my very own pageant crown by Alyssa and Amanda as a thank you for all of my work on behalf of Shop. Sell. Strut! Perhaps my most important role for the evening was a speech that I gave talking about the important mission that drew everyone together. You can read the text of the speech on this post I published on LinkedIn.
Before I show off the great photos from this amazing afternoon, I want to take a moment to thank Alyssa and Amanda, as well as Dawn Lego, Maria Witkowski, the members of the event committee, and the volunteers, for giving me this wonderful honor and coming together to raise money for this important cause.
My opening look, that I wore when welcoming guests to the venue, was from Bebe. Bebe loved the look so much that they made me one of their #bebebabe Women of the Week for June 15, 2018 on Instagram.
The lovely Amanda Witkowski and I are comparing fascinators before the show begins. Amanda is a world-class figure skater, who is going to be a pediatrician, in addition to her modeling and fashion merchandising. A truly multi-faceted and talented young woman.
There aren’t enough words to describe my feelings for the brilliant and beautiful Alyssa Lego. She has founded several charities, a fashion line, and a fundraising organization. Plus, she is an inspirational speaker, pageant queen, tap dancer, as well as a writer. She’s also getting ready to debut her own radio show. She inspires the heck out of me and it’s always so much fun when we get together.
Me and Dawn Lego, who did so much behind the scenes to make things happen. Thank you so much, Dawn, for letting me part of this experience.
My next look for the evening was this custom couture gown from one of my favorite designers, John Leon. This stunning pink outfit was designed specifically for Shop. Sell. Strut! and I loved the chance to represent a good friend and fabulous designer on stage.
My view from the stage a few moments before the opening number kicked off.
Front and center giving my speech about the mission of Shop. Sell. Strut!
One of my runway looks, from Mona’s Boutique & Tailoring. I loved working with Mona and her boutique is a perfect stop for weddings, proms and other formal attire.
I especially enjoyed strutting the runway in this outfit from Brand A. It’s called the Myra, and it’s named after me! Brand A is the fashion line created by Alyssa and Amanda and this runway show was the line’s debut.
The fashion was international! This was my first time wearing a traditional Indian saree. This beautiful and elegant outfit is golden, with the Shop. Sell. Strut! colors of fuchsia and mango. The jewelry was amazing and I felt so beautiful and special wearing it. This was one of the highlights of the show.
My own pageant crown! I was so surprised and happy to receive this special gift from wonderful people.
My final look is a second stunning custom couture gown from John Leon. The pageant crown is the perfect accessory, don’t you think?
With designer and blogger Ava Holly Lewis-Korth.
Me and media personality Shefik, who was the co-host of the afternoon.
When I wore my Brand A look on the runway, it included an amazing piece of jewelry from Kellene Kulas.
This past weekend, I attended the first committee meeting for Shop. Sell. Strut! Season 2, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 9. It was a wonderful afternoon, and the event is on its way to being a tremendous success.
Shop. Sell. Strut! is the fundraising arm for the Morgan Marie Michael Foundation (Tax ID: 82-1496694), a 501(c)3 supporting individuals on the autism spectrum with programming, appliances, and resources for enhanced living and development. The event in June is their primary annual fundraiser, featuring a fashion forward runway show. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the Morgan Marie Michael Foundation.
I’ve been honored to be asked to serve as the Honorary Model for Season 2, as well as an honorary member of the event committee. Seeing what is being put together, and all the energy and effort everyone is dedicating to the cause, has been so inspirational.
The meeting was held at Breaking Grounds Coffee & Cafe in Mt. Holly, NJ. It is the perfect space, and truly symbolic, due to its mission to provide inclusion, diversity and opportunity for adults with developmental disabilities. They took such amazing care of us, and the space is so comfortable. The entire town is quaint and beautiful, so be sure to stop in if you’re in the area. If you happen to have children or family members with autism, it’s the perfect spot for them to enjoy. Oh, and the bagels and pastries are delicious! www.breakgroundscoffee.com
Over the next few months, I’m going to share a lot about Shop. Sell. Strut! and these amazing women putting the event together. Part of Saturday’s meeting was a photo shoot, to give our team promotional shots to use. What a fun opportunity to get everyone together, dressed up and modeling for the camera. All of these photos were taken by Naomi Rivera at Looking Glass Photography. Thank you, Naomi!
If you’d like to support Shop. Sell. Strut!, tickets for the June 9th event are now on sale at one.bidpal.net/shopsellstrut/ticketing. We’re working on a great selection of items for the silent auction, and there will be other opportunities to donate and support. You can even support the Morgan Marie Foundation on Amazon Smile. Get in touch if you’d like to be involved or if you have questions.
We started off by going on Facebook Live to give away this autism-inspired bracelet to one of our Facebook followers. This was done in celebration of our 500th Facebook follower. Congratulations Marco Panting for being the winner!
Here are Shop. Sell. Strut! and Morgan Marie Michael Foundation co-founders Amanda Witkowski and Alyssa Lego.
Our Event Committee Members Brooke Niemiec, Cameren Berry, and Laura Singer. It was great meeting all of you, and going on this journey together!
Think I was having fun?
# I Strut For Autism, Do You?
Committee member Brooke Niemiec.
Committee member Laura Singer.
Co-founder Alyssa Lego.
Co-founder Amanda Witkowski.
Committee member Cameren Berry.
I had to show off my pink custom couture dress from the amazing designer John Leon (www.johnjnlleon.com). Thank you so much, John, for your amazing creation, and for staying up until one in the morning to have it ready for me, at the last minute! We’re hoping to include this one-of-a-kind piece on the runway in June. I’m going to do a whole blog on it soon. I love it!
Most importantly, we’re a family coming together to support an important cause that affects millions of families. We want to raise awareness of the needs that exist, as well as money to support the cause and make positive things happen. Everyone who is involved is committed to positive change, and we all hope our contributions will make a huge difference.
Do you have a little princess at home? Would she like to have tea with Cinderella, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Anna, Elsa, Ariel, and Moana? Would she like to become more confident, and learn how to handle herself on the runway, or while doing an interview? She can do all of this in a friendly, fun atmosphere while raising money for an important cause at the Shop. Sell. Strut! Tea Party this Sunday, October 22, in Manasquan, NJ.
You may recall last April I attended the Shop. Sell. Strut! Fashion Marketplace and Runway Show Benefiting Autism New Jersey. That was a memorable event where a wonderful crowd at the Lake Terrace in Lakewood shopped, watched several fashion shows, participated in silent auctions, and had an overall good time, all to benefit Autism New Jersey.
Shop. Sell. Strut! was founded by two amazing young women, Alyssa Lego and Amanda Witkowski. They are very socially-conscious people who have been using their time and talents to raise awareness and money. Their event in April was a tremendous success. I had so much fun being involved!
After their success with Shop. Sell. Strut! Season One, Alyssa and Amanda have turned their attention to a new cause, The Morgan Marie Michael Foundation.
“Our mission is to create awareness and encourage respect for children with special needs,” Alyssa told me. “We have developed programs such as the iCan iPad Gifting program and PURPOSE – Life after 21. Our Shop. Sell. Strut! event series serve as fundraisers to support the foundation and its clients.”
“A simple iPad can make the difference for an individual on the autism spectrum,” adds Amanda.
Sunday, October 22
Their next event, which will take place at the beautiful Atlantic Club in Manasquan, NJ, will be the Shop. Sell. Strut! Tea Party, on Sunday, October 22. Little girls ages 4-12 who attend will take part in a high tea with seven Disney-inspired princesses. They can get all dressed up in formal attire, and they’ll be involved with photo shoots, a personal animation video, as well as runway and interview coaching, plus a dance party. Guests will also be included in the Shop. Sell. Strut! 2018 calendar.
Tickets to this fun event are available now, and each ticket for your little one includes admission for a parent or guest. Tickets for additional guests are also available.
I’m so honored to have been invited to be a social media ambassador for the afternoon, so I’ll be there! Who doesn’t want to meet princesses? I hope the Morgan Marie Michael Foundation will raise a lot of money. I’ll be following their programs and continue to support!
One of the misconceptions about fashion is that it’s shallow. People who aren’t in the fashion world often see it as over-priced clothes, worn by too-perfect models. At its best, though, the fashion world can help people be more confident, feel better about themselves and use their talents to raise awareness and be a force for good.
On Saturday, April 29, I will be attending the Shop. Sell. Strut! event in Lakewood, NJ. This special event is notable not just for the exciting concept, but for the impressive young women who created it and the incredibly important mission it is focusing on.
Shop. Sell. Strut! is going to be a high-profile event, combining a fashion marketplace – featuring racks of pageant & prom gowns – with an exciting runway show. The afternoon will benefit Autism New Jersey, the largest statewide network of parents and dedicated to improving lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
Alyssa Lego, Founder of Shop. Sell. Strut!
The founders of Shop. Sell. Strut! are Alyssa Lego and Amanda Witkowski. Alyssa began her charitable work when she founded My Name Is, which is dedicated to removing labels and negative stereotypes for children with special needs. I had an opportunity to interview Alyssa and Amanda about the upcoming show, and started by asking Alyssa why she felt compelled to create My Name Is.
“I believe there are three main reasons that make it challenging to remove negative labeling. The first is the fear of the unknown. Children with special needs may act differently. And when that behavior is not as predictable as a typically developing young person, there may be an immediate fear (fear of being uncomfortable, fear of danger) which then controls perception and leads to judgement. It’s easier to just say, “He’s weird,” and walk away to a more comfortable place as opposed face the fear and work through it.
“Another reason for the challenge is the lack of integrated programs. Sadly, children with special needs and their families live a very isolated life. There does not exist sufficient opportunities for the two worlds, differently-abled and typically-abled, to co-mingle. There’s value and reward in having a typically-abled child to work/play closely with the differently-abled. But education on the value and on the disability as a whole is lacking, leaving programs sparse.
“The third challenge that I see is how fast we move as a society. The pace with almost everything is get it done yesterday. We move fast, and we’re very competitive. The community with special needs requires patience, tolerance, understanding – all things that are typically slower paced. The two rhythms just do not jive.”
I am so impressed by Alyssa’s maturity and understanding of these issues. Her family has a deep personal connection, since her younger brother Michael has special needs himself. I asked her what are some of the biggest misconceptions children like Michael face.
“I can name two profound misconceptions that may be helpful to people reading this blog. Sometimes children with special needs have a behavior that seems peculiar or socially unacceptable. But the behavior may actually be something else. That child may be trying to seek or avoid sensory which ultimately regulates them in society. They could be coping with an uncomfortable social situation, or they could be communicating in their own way. Therefore, a behavior does not mean that the child is being difficult. It could mean they may need sensory input or for their peer or caregiver to take the time to understand and resolve the situation.
“The other misconception that comes to mind is an individual with special needs does not understand. My younger brother is a good example. He is non verbal. But he is very smart, very aware, very keen and understands most things. We try very hard to never talk about him when in front of him. We address my brother like we do with anyone else. And I would encourage people to do the same. Just because a child with special needs does not respond or express him/herself as you and I do, does not mean he/she does not understand. They understand much more than you know. And remember, they have feelings just like you and I.”
How has she worked to help kids deals with those misconceptions?
“Appreciation starts with two things. Understanding yourself and how you are different and understanding that being different is OK. In my Kindergarten Tour, “Friends Who Are Different,” one of the first questions I ask young students is “Name three ways you are different.” Then we talk about why those differences are special and how it’s OK. We’re so busy trying to be the same that we forget to celebrate the difference. When we touch on the delicate subject of being ridiculed about being different and ask the tough question, “If being different is special and important, then why would you make fun of it?” and “How does it feel to be poked fun of?,” there’s a new understanding. Once this realization comes to light, it becomes easier to take the concept and apply to more profound differences such as disabilities.”
With so many important issues to address and having already created a successful program, why is Shop. Sell. Strut! the next step in your mission?
“If you know my Mom, I’ve been raised with “Go Big or Go Bigger!” It was the right time for me to take my non-profit work into a fundraising direction so that I could have more impact. But I wanted to be successful in a big way. Both my parents are very creative and I am fortunate to have inherited that gene. As most conversations start in my house, it was a thought after dinner when we relax and unwind as a family. My mom was suggesting we needed a better avenue to resell my pageant wardrobe. I mentioned a fashion show. The three S words were like a light bulb and the next thing I knew I was in logo maker creating the current Shop. Sell. Strut! logo. So my “why” is the desire to do more coupled with a great idea at the right time – I just seized the moment. I want to make a difference. I want to inspire change. I can’t do that unless I take action, leverage what I know and love, and keep going bigger.”
Amanda Witkowski and Alyssa Lego, Creators of Shop. Sell. Strut!
Amanda, how did you become involved?
“I’ve known Alyssa and her mother Dawn for a few years through pageantry. Last spring I went to a fashion event to support Alyssa, and she and her mom helped select my wardrobe for a pageant I was going in to. During the summer we were talking about pageants, appearances, clothes, and gowns and Alyssa started on the idea of selling what we had to get new things. It started out as more of a resale event. We have both tried pageant resale sites and that has worked a little. But we like to try things on, walk in them, and really consider the fit. Somehow we got to the idea that if a group of girls got together it might be more exciting, some swapping, some selling, etc. We toyed a little with the idea of putting our own things on the runway, but our ideas started to grow and evolve. The idea went through a few permutations, but always had some form of community service attached to it because that is what we do best. Each of us has done and continues to do other work in support to the autistic community. That was always the assumed community we would support. I don’t think we ever considered any alternatives.”
And the fashion show?
“I mentioned pageantry,” Amanda continued, “but another interest and big part of my life is figure skating. I had an idea a number of years ago about doing a fashion show but changed that to a skate-thon, because that was more in my comfort zone to organize, plan and host. I did two events, Autism Skates 2014 and Autism Skates 2016. But always thought that a fashion show at some point would be fun. Once Alyssa raised it again, I knew it was time to move forward. Together we’ve been able to do the project I had always dreamed of just bigger and better than I had ever imagined.”
Ok, I’m excited! What can we expect?
Amanda: “Participants can expect vendors, boutiques, an amazing gift auction, a live pearl party, photoshoots, step and repeats, our original idea of a resale shop, and then a couture runway show! We are stating it much like one would find at a New York Fashion Week Event with lighting, and a great DJ!”
Alyssa: “I can hardly believe how Shop. Sell. Strut! has evolved and grown in such a short time. I’m grateful to my mom, Dawn Lego, my partner, Amanda Witkowski and her mom, Maria Witkowski, and our event committee and media director. It seems that every day a new idea pops up. Fortunately we are very forward thinking and open minded. Being that this is our inaugural year, we trying it all. I’m so pleased that we’ve executed on most all of our wish list items.
“Shop. Sell. Strut! is offering a vendor market place, couture fashion show, auction gift raffle, awards program, pearl party. press conference, runway pit, swag, mini photo shoots, sessions with Matt Boyd Photography, theme song, growing tree, 50/50 raffle, birthday board… I hope I did not leave anything out.
“I’m looking forward to the press conference for obvious reasons – it will help spread our message and mission to a wider audience through media channels. But I am especially looking forward to the runway show where we are showcasing an autism-inspired, custom-made gown designed, created and donated by Talisha White. Talisha made the gown in three different sizes and we selected models in our castings. We plan to play a inspirational song as the models hit the runway. I’m sure it will be a touching and emotional moment.”
Thank you Alyssa and Amanda for giving us so much information about Shop. Sell. Strut! and educating us on the special mission that you are so dedicated to. I cannot wait to attend and hope that lots of people who read this will purchase tickets and be involved!
Here are the details one more time. I hope to see many of you there!
