Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Teens Work The Runway In Fashion Show

MIAMI  (CBS4) - A fashion show is usually about the clothes, but at one particular South Florida fashion show it was about building confidence and self-esteem for a particular group of teenage girls.

The show is called 'Hear the Runway' and most of the teenage models are deaf or hearing impaired.

Skylar Crews interpreted for CBS4 as we interviewed her sister Vivian, who is deaf.

Vivian told us, "It's very exciting. It helps me be confident and comfortable with who I am."

The fashion show started as a school project.  Dr. Leslie Walker proposed the idea as part of her doctoral studies and her husband encouraged her to make it a reality.

Dr. Walker told us her husband pushed her to make her dream a reality. She did it with the help of some star power like Annaleise Dayes from the hit reality series "America's Next Top Model".

"In 10 years you become more comfortable in your skin and have a bit of fun," Dayes told the teens.

Also helping out is Sara Zamikoff, the owner of Emporium Boutique.  She provided the clothes and said this project is close to her heart because her grandmother was deaf.

"You should volunteer," said Zamikoff. "Reach out in whatever your area is and it comes back to you tenfold."

For the girls in the show strutting their stuff on the catwalk, they not only heard the runway but they felt the love of the effort that was much appreciated.

"Just feeling excited about everything, not really worried about being nervous," Vivian said, "The whole thing's fun."

For more information, log on to www.heartherunway.org.