The second annual Flowers that Feed: Floral Fashions Feeding Families art and fashion showcase was held May 13 at the Coolidge Family Farm in New Gloucester. From left are Whitley Nabintu Marshall, local celebrity host Melissa Malone-Soutuyo, and Misty Coolidge. Submitted photo

Artists, models and fashion designers gathered May 13 for the second annual Flowers that Feed: Floral Fashions Feeding Families art and fashion showcase.

The event was presented by Artlovelifestyle Magazine at the Coolidge Family Farm in New Gloucester to raise funds for the Good Shepherd Food Bank.

Plus size model and beauty queen Katie Cunningham of Augusta. Submitted photo

The show was organized and produced by two local beauty queens who hold national and international titles: Whitley Nabintu Marshall, the reigning International Mrs USA, and Misty Coolidge, Mrs. Worldwide. Both queens have personal ties to the cause, having faced food insecurity themselves at different points in their lives, according to a news release from Marshall, of Portland, Artlovelifestyle Magazine 0wner and editor-in-chief.

Proceeds from the runway show were able to feed more than 6,000 Maine families, for the second year in a row.

The evening kicked off with a Sip & Shop art and fashion expo prior to the runway show. The lineup included designers from Maine and across the nation: Trenity Designs, St. Louis, Missouri; Built by Stacy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; D by Design, Mandeville, Louisiana; Style Your Curves, Tampa, Florida; Ashley Arlene Designs, Lisbon Falls; ArtbyBen, Portland; Caesar the Designer, Houston, Texas; and Re-Loved Fashions, Augusta.

Lauren Gray Jakub, U.S.A. Mrs. Augusta. Submitted photo

Melissa Malone-Soutuyo was celebrity emcee. Special guests traveled from across the country for this event, including Danielle Mullins, Miss Earth USA 2023, from Kentucky; and Laura Cliff, founder of the Still She Rose Wellness Initiative and Ambassador Program. Talent scouts were present, casting models for New York Fashion Week, as well as local fashion pioneer, Caron Bryan, CEO and founder of Port City Models & Talent, who attended as an event sponsor.

The co-producers of this event are friends Marshall and Coolidge, united in their passions for preventing and fighting hunger.

Marshall and Coolidge plan to continue this annual charity event each year, hoping to use their platforms and influence to bring awareness to the importance of the services the Good Shepherd Food Bank offers, and increase their annual contributions and impact within the community.

To follow along about the show, find it on the Flowers that Feed Facebook page, as well as Artlovelifestyle Magazine’s Facebook page, Instagram @artlovelifestyle, and artlovelifestyle.com.

Check out other upcoming area events!