Executive Summary
- The Bianca Modo Foundation held the “Unmasked Fashion Show and Gala” in Smyrna, Georgia.
- All 20 models participating in the event were survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking.
- The event aimed to raise $50,000 for survivor leadership and career-readiness programs.
- Local boutiques donated clothing to support the confidence-building initiative.
The Bianca Modo Foundation hosted its inaugural “Unmasked Fashion Show and Gala” at the Smyrna Community Center on Saturday, utilizing a runway event to empower survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. The event, timed to coincide with Human Trafficking Prevention Month, featured approximately 20 models, all of whom are survivors of abuse or exploitation.
Bianca Modo, the foundation’s founder and herself a survivor of domestic violence, organized the gala to foster confidence and leadership skills among participants. “I realized that the survivors I was encountering in domestic violence and human trafficking didn’t have confidence and didn’t have leadership skills,” Modo stated. “So we wanted to pull in art and fashion, something Atlanta is known for, to get people excited.” According to organizers, the event aimed to raise $50,000 to fund the creation of leadership and career-readiness programs specifically tailored for survivors.
Local Atlanta boutiques supported the initiative by donating some of the 50 garments featured on the runway. Participating models expressed that the experience provided a sense of reclamation and empowerment. Bailee Wistisen-Kunkel, one of the models, described her runway look as “powerful,” noting that it positively impacted her self-image. Another participant, Dreama Nguyen, stated, “I love it because it’s so flowy, and it’s also form-fitting. It builds a lot of confidence.”
Jazmine Frazier, executive director of Eternal Reign for Girls and a colleague of Modo, emphasized the pervasive nature of trafficking during the event. Identifying herself as a survivor, Frazier explained the tactics often used by perpetrators. “If you go into any group home or any place where victims are sharing their stories, you’ll hear that they were groomed and coerced,” Frazier said. “The trafficker targeted them, built trust and then exploited that.”
Advocacy and Reintegration Efforts
The event highlights the critical role of community-based rehabilitation programs in the Atlanta metropolitan area, which remains a significant hub for commercial sexual exploitation. While law enforcement focuses on interdiction, organizations like the Bianca Modo Foundation address the long-term psychological and economic challenges faced by victims. By focusing on career readiness and leadership training, these initiatives aim to bridge the gap between initial rescue and successful societal reintegration, reducing the risk of re-victimization.
