Members of the Black Fashion Society modeled in the “Denim and White” photo shoot on Jan. 30. Photographed by Jatoni Donelson.
The University of Mississippi’s Black Fashion Society has been redefining fashion standards while increasing its presence on campus. In their recent photoshoot, “Gentlemen White,” BFS members aren’t afraid to express their true selves as they combine the models’ individual flair with the school’s uniform fashion.
Jatoni Donelson, a fourth-year public health major, serves as both BFS president and photographer.
According to Donelson, BFS is more than just a student group; it’s a community that fosters self-expression, inclusion and empowerment among its members.
“The inspiration (for the photoshoot) actually came from one of our members; she sent it to me last semester,” Donelson said. “Since I’m juggling two roles as president and photographer, my goal is to keep Instagram active by trying out photoshoots so I have content to post in between shoots.”
Marjae McGregory, a freshman integrated marketing and communications major, has been a member of BFS all year. Reflecting on her experience, McGregory emphasized the organization’s role in creating a space for members to express themselves. However, the organization hasn’t always been visible on campus.
“Being a Black organization, we can sometimes feel pushed to our limits,” McGregory said. “Especially in fashion media these days, we’re expected to look a certain way, but with Black Fashion Institute, we can come as who we are and experiment.”
For Mesha Brown, a fourth-year African American studies and business major, BFS is a safe space for Black expression.
“It feels like a very safe space. Our organization is different. We’re able to expand Black representation into something that’s entertaining and you can tell we put a lot of effort into it,” Brown said.
Donelson said the organization’s increased numbers have created new challenges for the logistics of photo shoots, especially when it comes to highlighting the individual models’ styles.
“The past two semesters, the organization has basically rebranded. Typically, we have about five to 10 people at a shoot. Last semester, which was our first shoot after the rebranding, we had over 30 people. It’s hard to capture personalities with such a large group of people,” Donelson said.
Despite these challenges, BFS members have appeared at New York Fashion Week and Los Angeles Fashion Week, demonstrating the organization’s impact on individuals’ confidence and skills as models.
As BFS continues to grow, Donelson envisions a future where members take their participation more seriously and ultimately use their college experience to advance their careers.
“I want it to be something that people take seriously and actually make a career out of. I want it to be more than just something they did in college for fun. I want it to be something that they can grow from and say, ‘This is where I started,'” Donelson said.
BFS is currently preparing for a pink and red themed Valentine’s Day photo shoot. The group encourages members to bring their own personal style to the table in order to encourage students to experiment with fashion.
“I always tell my members to do something daring with their clothing because I want it to be an open space where people don’t feel like they have to dress in a way that’s socially acceptable,” Donelson said. “Allow yourself to express yourself through your clothing.”
