The first section of the show, Caterpillar, captures youth and purity. I remembered days playing dress up in my mom’s old prom dresses or my dad’s suits, trying to find my own way of outward self expression. There is a sense of playfulness and naivety depicted through proportion, silhouette, and fabric placement. She is passionately searching for her place in the world, as she begins to transform from girl to woman. The fabrics are neutral beige and whites to emphasize an untouched innocence and purity. I play with textures and patterns that invoke a sense of childhood yet foreshadow the femininity to come.

I am still constantly transforming. The journey of finding oneself is constant; some seasons come with ease and beauty, others with trials and mountains to overcome. Through all these seasons my family: my mother, my sister, and my grandmother, were my constants that kept me grounded. There is nothing like family to remind you of your beauty, your potential, and your unique light to offer the world, and mine did just that!

I have always been inspired by watching my older sister Jillian make the transformation from girl to woman with absolute grace and beauty.

The second section, Cocoon, shows the woman’s journey through life and adolescence— learning, experiencing and finding herself as a woman. The transparent materials used in the collection personify the shell that develops around the growing woman. You begin to see her feminine core, as she bares who she is to the world. Color and gold is slowly added, to show a greater sense of oneself and the discovery of her femininity. She is unveiling her inner and outer beauty to the world, yet there is a sense of fragileness that remains. Through the transparent shell, others are viewing the fragile constructs that make up her inner self.

For me, this section is soft and feminine, yet so daring! I think of my mom…. As she constantly exposes her vulnerable, inner self to strengthen me, and to strengthen the people around her. She exposes her inner secrets, even her moments of fragility; she lets her guard down to others around her, to release her beauty to the world. To me, that is true femininity at its finest.

Butterfly, the final section, shows the woman in grace and elegance. The strength inherent in a butterfly is subtle, yet self- assured. The haute couture pieces, introducing vibrant color to the collection, are visually powerful and progressive, displaying confidence and a sense of self. I chose four different ethnicities of women, to display beauty in different and unique forms.

Throughout the design process, I always referenced to these four women as “the queens”: four unique beauties, four royal jewels. In this section, the woman has embraced her uniqueness and desires to share it with the world. She is saying, “Here I am. I am unique and I am okay with that. In fact, I love that.”

I love how a butterfly is so beautiful, yet so subtle, almost with a sense of humility. Without training our eyes, we can easily miss the beauty it possesses. It can touch us and go unnoticed. My grandmother taught me this. She taught me to see the beauty in each person, in each situation. To look deeper than just the surface, to discover her true self, and to not let someone’s beauty go unnoticed. My grandmother, with rheumatoid arthritis, could easily be overlooked for her lack of social standards of “beauty”, but it’s her inner beauty that shines so bright and draws you in. That’s what the clothes of the final section represent: An outwardly depiction of the beauty that lies much deeper than skin. These four looks are an opportunity to enhance the beauty each woman already possesses, and a way to reinforce the celebration of her uniqueness.

Like the feather of my logo, each woman is unique and soft, but each have a core—an inner strength which begs to be recognized and celebrated. AUDRA is for the core. The shining, golden core that lives within each woman, waiting to be unveiled. I think most women can relate to having a “queen moment” when you’re completely unveiled and confident in who you are, and we all have our days as a caterpillar, still transforming and discovering.

The transformation of a woman never ends.

It’s a constant, beautiful journey through self-discovery, maturation, and self-actualization.