En’Rage Models Host First Headlining Show

The En’Rage Institute & Beyond runway show on April 16 in the Hoff Theater at the Stamp Student Union. (Madeline Seck/The Black Explosion)

The En’Rage Models strutted the runway in Hoff Theater at the Stamp Student Union on April 16 for their first headlining show,  “The En’Rage Institute & Beyond.”

Audience members dressed in semi-formal red, black and white streetwear.

The modeling team put together a four-part production that took the audience through a student’s journey from entering school, graduation, stepping into the workforce and a final flood where the models come together. 

“This is our En’Rage Institute show, our first headline show ever in the history of En’Rage,” said Samantha Rose, a sophomore accounting major and current president of En’Rage Models.

Behind the scenes, Sean Smith, a junior business management and information systems major, is part of the creative committee working on the production of the show, including lighting, cameras and effects. 

“I work heavily on the light aspect,” Smith said. “I focus on the color scheme. We have to keep in communication with certain people, when they’re coming out, what they’re wearing, understanding the color hues, the schemes that are coming in, what makes sense to really help the crowd stay engaged while focusing on the outfit.”

En’Rage president, known on stage as “Ms. Rose”, has been modeling since she was 11 and has been a part of the collegiate team since her freshman year.

“Usually we perform under different organizations or in collaboration with others,” Rose said.

Before each show, Rose takes time to prepare herself mentally. “I listen to my music on the way to class to kind of hear the beats and the tempos to make sure I have the steps down.”

Former president Wayne Hudley, a 2023 graduate and teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools, returned as a mentor to support the show. He helped rebuild the team post COVID-19, when only a few members remained.

Known on the runway as “Icon”, Hudley shows up in style. “It became every day that I needed to look nice, have my best outfit on. So it helped with my confidence,” Hudley said. 

For newer models like freshman information science major Osemeke Otule, walking the runway for the first time was exciting. 

“This is my first show,” he said. “We use props in creative ways. Whatever accessory you have, it becomes an extension of you.”

Otule emphasized the challenges of expressing Black fashion and culture at a predominantly white institution and how En’Rage is a club that presents Black culture and style.

“There’s a lot of different stereotypes about Black culture and what Black people can do. What’s so special about Black people, they love to break those stereotypes and barriers in different creative ways.”

“No matter what the show is, you’re going to get a different vibe from us,” Rose said. “But you’re still going to have that En’Rage essence behind it.”

And what is that essence?

“Boss energy,” Rose said.