While most fashion shows center around a cohesive theme, Jennifer Baker likes to keep individuality at the forefront.
“This is your show, your way,” she explained. “What we do at North Carolina Fashion Week is we give the designers free rein on what they want to do.”
Baker, founder of NC Fashion Week and owner of modeling agency Metro Faces International, wants to put regional talent on the map. Nearly 20 years ago, she launched the annual fashion event, and its impact continues to grow.
“It gives models, designers and boutiques an opportunity to be seen,” Baker shared. The week includes both in-person and virtual opportunities; contests, complementary workshops, portfolio-building, and finally, the runway on Feb. 7.
Fayetteville is a prime location for the event, according to Baker, given its central location between New York and Miami, both fashion hot spots.
“Years ago, it was just about the city you lived in,” Baker said of models looking to launch a career. “But now you have the opportunity to be in larger markets. I think you should always look at the beginning as something that could get bigger.”
NC Fashion Week is not only an open door for regional talent to expand their market. The event also draws models from across the country, and most recently, across the world.
“When we first started North Carolina Fashion Week, we were dealing with models from right here in our area, but now we have models coming in from New York and Los Angeles,” Baker explained. “We also did a prelude to North Carolina Fashion Week about a month ago, where we actually partnered with an agency from the Bahamas.”
The Bahamian agency found Baker through Facebook. When multiple models expressed a desire to participate, Baker conducted a virtual audition process and had models fly in for a show.
“It was really amazing,” she shared, “It was such a good time.”
This year, the week will feature events, workshops, and castings all designed to bolster models’ professional and practical skills and resources. They’ll participate in virtual opportunities to show off their best portfolio images and attend complimentary workshops. Baker says this year they’re hosting a photo movement workshop, which “gives models opportunities to learn how to pose for the camera, walk on the catwalk and just little things like how to pose and stand there for at least six seconds.” She says the preparation ensures models leave with “amazing photos from the fashion show.”
At the end of the week, two “lucky models” will be chosen to attend Los Angeles Fashion Week in the spring, according to Baker. The decision will be made based on the model’s walk, enthusiasm, commitment and overall attitude.
Baker says her biggest challenge this year has also been her biggest reward. As the fashion industry evolves, designers are expanding their search beyond models with small bodies.
“A lot of designers are now saying, ‘We don’t really want double zero models, we want people to look like everyday people,’” Baker explained. “I’ve had to go outside my database, and that’s a good thing. I’ve been able to call one of my lifestyle models and say, ‘hey, this is going to be an opportunity for you because they’re looking for people that look like you.’”
Through matching the right models with the right designers in a changing modeling landscape, Baker has overcome obstacles and continues moving forward.
Diversity is important to Baker, and she auditions models of all abilities, sizes, and ages.
“I’ve worked with fashion models as young as three and as old as seventy-two, so I would never want them to stop dreaming, and I would just want them to be authentic.”
This year, Baker is excited to have autism represented among her models. A young man who previously took acting classes with her agency eventually circled back to modeling.
“I’m really excited for him because he’s so happy and he’s excited about it.”
On Feb. 7, models will gather at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County to prepare for their big day. The morning will start with hair and makeup and end with models owning the catwalk.
“This is the day they want,“ said Baker, explaining that this is their chance to be seen. “In the audience, there could be a boutique from New York or one from Paris. The sky is the limit.”
North Carolina Fashion Week runs February 1-7. The runway will be held on Feb 7 at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County at 301 Hay St. Text “Model” to 910-978-8368 to learn more.

(Photo courtesy of Jennifer Baker)