Florida A&M University junior Christian Aristilde realized that some college students did not get the high school prom experience they were longing for due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s interruption.
In his eyes, a memorable accommodation to replace it would be a fashion extravaganza with red carpet vibes — the FAMgala.
The annual gala is a student-led event geared toward college students to resemble the iconic Met Gala held in New York City.
“When it comes to fashion, FAMU students always go all out,” said 20-year-old Aristilde, a West Palm Beach native majoring in criminal justice. “We wanted to create an event similar to the Met Gala where students can showcase their style without any judgment.”
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Aristilde — along with other FAMU students — took it upon themselves to create the event with the sponsorship of a promotion team called Winners Circle Entertainment, which Aristilde is a representative for.
The students started the public event last year, where over 600 people attended with high-fashion attire such as custom-made dresses and suits.
Where the Met Gala is an annual fundraising event held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in NYC, the student-centered evening event’s main purpose is to give the community a space to showcase their unique style and creativity through self-expression as they make their own fashion statements.
Tickets for the FAMgala will be sold through the platform Eventbrite starting July 16, with each ticket costing $50 compared to last year’s price of $20.
Although the gala will be held in September, the event’s executive board has already got the ball rolling with plans of hosting a higher level of grandeur with award presentations such as Miss and Mister FAMgala, extra decorations and refreshments, according to Aristilde.
While The Moon on East Lafayette Street was the venue for last year’s gala, this year’s location will be Bricks & Brass, an event venue located on West Tennessee Street.
FAMU broadcast journalism senior Mia Uzzell was a red-carpet host at last year’s gala, and she sees the importance of college students being able to experience the event.
“A lot of times, high-scale events are sometimes very exclusive and insular, so it’s important for us to be able to participate in an event like this,” said 21-year-old Uzzell, a Jacksonville native.
A ‘do-over’ experience
Students like Jaylin Poole, a rising senior at FAMU majoring in psychology, attended the gala last year and looks forward to the second annual event as it approaches.
Poole is also a member of Images Modeling Troupe — a student organization on FAMU’s campus — and says he has always had a love for fashion.
But like many others, the Miami native did not have a prom while in high school since he graduated in 2020 during the pandemic.
“This was my first big event that brought everyone together for a luxurious night to have a great time together,” said Poole, 21. “I knew I had to be a part of it.”
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While last year’s gala theme was “Haute Couture,” the theme for this year — “Eternal Bodies” — was revealed June 19 during Juneteenth and is inspired by the 2018 Met Gala concept “Heavenly Bodies.”
The theme, which acknowledges FAMU’s Eternal Flame and exemplifies how fashion transcends generations, encourages designers to create pieces that reflect eternity and immortality.
First-year FAMU student David Dor, a West Palm Beach native majoring in psychology, connected with a wardrobe stylist for his outfit last year — a black turtleneck and a black suit with a collection of gold chains hanging on one side of his jacket, along with a matching scepter.
He said he enjoyed showing off creativity and fashion.
“I really wanted to use this as a do-over to show people what I’m made of,” said Dor, 18, who also did not have a traditional high school prom experience.
“I’m definitely excited to go again to see how it turns out,” he added.
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How much does the FAMgala cost?
Last year, the gala cost almost $18,000 to put together, with $10,000 going toward the venue and about $2,000 being used for the limo transportation of student organizations that helped headline the event.
Other contributions to the total cost were photoshoots, marketing strategies, DJs and decorations.
The event’s budget this year is about $18,000, according to Aristilde.
With all the logistics that go into putting the event together, Uzzell sees the event as an effective learning experience.
“Being students, this is our playing ground to learn and elevate, and I think students should see a reflection of themselves in this event while also seeing the excellence that FAMU students are able to produce every year,” Uzzell said.
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.
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