Saturday, October 1, 2022 - The Sugar Mill New Orleans
On Saturday, October 1st, 2022 in New Orleans, You Night Empowering Events, broke a Guinness World Record for the most models in a fashion show. The number to beat was 421 held by a modeling agency in Spain. You Night and the organization’s partners barely inched over that number landing at 430 models in the show - resulting in a new world record
being set.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, October 1, 2022 - You Night Events, in partnership with
Positive Image Modeling and Chic Nouvelle Worldwide Model Management, was
recognized by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS for having the most models in a runway
show. On October 1st at 8:30 p.m., You Night’s Founder, Lisa McKenzie, along with
Leslie Legania-Shelby and Rowena Kay, were awarded a certificate confirming their
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title by Sarah Casson, an official GUINNESS WORLD
RECORDS adjudicator who traveled from Washington D.C. to New Orleans for the
Ribbons Rock the Runway event. The official ceremony took place at the conclusion of
the runway show that featured 430 models beating out the now-former record holder
based in Spain (who had 421 models).
The event was far more than a record-breaking attempt. Models used this runway
platform as an opportunity to bring hope and resources to women diagnosed with
cancer. Models walked in 19 different fashion collections, each representing the color of
a cancer awareness ribbon. As each group took to the stage, M.C.’s Kenny Lopez and
Peyton Tryst with WGNO, along with Marshall Harris, gave information about what type
of cancer each color represented.
As Casson presented the award and global accolade, McKenzie thanked GUINNESS
WORLD RECORDS and the many people who played a role preparing for this
monumental task. “We want to thank everyone who worked tirelessly over the past year
to make this award possible,” she said, adding that hundreds of models from all over the
Gulf Coast came to be a part of this World Record Attempt, representing many modeling
agencies, including many models who are cancer survivors themselves, or who were
walking to honor loved ones diagnosed. “It is our hope that this event brings
awareness, resources and support to individuals diagnosed with any type of cancer.”
A long list of honorees opened the show, many with personal connections to cancer.
Betsy Barnes, Press Secretary and Director of Public Affairs for Louisiana Lieutenant
Governor Billy Nungasser, addressed the audience about her own cancer diagnosis and
emphasized the importance of a sisterhood of support, such as You Night. Also
opening the show were Dr. John Stewart, Center Director of the LSU Health New
Orleans/LCMC Health Cancer Center; and Dr. Chris Trahan with The Center for
Restorative Breast Surgery.
Ribbons Rock the Runway is a fundraiser supporting the WE LIFT YOU UP Fund - a
501c3 public charity dedicated to helping women emotionally cope after a cancer
diagnosis. One of the empowerment programs You Night is most known for is their
Runway Training Program. Cancer survivors are challenged to step outside of their
comfort zones to adopt a mindset of self-esteem and confidence – two areas that many
women feel like they lose after a diagnosis. “We give women the opportunity to
discover or re-discover their inner and outward beauty, so that they don’t identify
themselves by their disease, but instead by the incredible women they are.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Holley Haag, You Night Media Relations
504-450-1837 hhaag@msn.com