MELANGE 2018: BLACK & WHITE

Diversity is on the rising trend for fashion and the arts; recent analysis suggests an overall increase in people of color on the cover of the top 10 leading U.S. fashion magazines, as well as diverse models in New York Fashion Week. Over 200+ activists, artists, and advocates are traveling from around the world to New York City to participate in an upcoming celebration of diversity and self-love -- Melange 2018.

In its seventh year, Melange 2018 will be taking place at the historic St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Harlem on February 22, 2018. The Board of the Church is partnering with Melange by providing a sacred space for leaders in the arts. Make-Up provided by M·A·C, and from this current season of America’s Next Top Model, Rio Summers, will be showcasing her first show premiere in New York City.

“Diversity is about the freedom to be ourselves. We promote self-love to be a catalyst for unity,” comments one of the Executive Producers, Cristina Ribeiro. Over the years, Melange has evolved as an underground arts movement celebrating diversity with past events in San Francisco, Brazil, Boston, and more with high profile partners and participants, including: Jean Paul Gaultier, Nicole Miller, Guila Clara Kessous (UNESCO Artist for Peace), and more.

Melange 2018 in Harlem is titled “Black and White.” In honor of Black History Month; the show’s theme explores biracial identity through a blend of fashion, theater, music, and dance, as presented by Creative Director, Patrisha Bailey. Katiti Kironde, the first African American Woman on the cover of Glamour Magazine, will be presenting several awards at Melange 2018.

The Melange Dancer of the Year Award will be awarded to Jennifer Jones, the first African American dancer to join the The Rockettes in 1987. The Melange Model of The Year Award will be presented to Rain Dove for her leadership as a humanitarian. Rain is the androgynous/agender supermodel who has been in Vogue, W, Buzzfeed, Elle, Marie Claire, Cosmo, and many more. The last recipient of the Melange Model of The Year Award was Madeline Stuart in San Francisco for her leadership in diversity.

At Melange 2018, there will also be a celebrity appearance by Diandra Barnwell, the former co-star of E! Entertainment's "So Cosmo" alongside designer Lorenzo Pena, as well as featured dance performances by D’COR Dance Company. From San Francisco to Brazil, the underground arts movement -- Melange -- has continued to build global traction in promoting diversity and self-love in the fashion & arts community.