LEARN ABOUT BEING AN FS MODEL

by Lily Magny and Mary Klahs

The FS team is so excited to start this year’s model castings and welcome a new group of models into the community. We invite anyone from any year to try out! We know it can be daunting to enter the world of student fashion shows, so we would like to put any nerves at ease by sharing the experiences of two FS veterans, Lily Magny and Mary Klahs.

We hope this will give potential models out there a feel for what being an FS model is all about and encourage you all to try out!

Lily

I had heard of FS before coming to St Andrews and was really nervous before the casting auditions. From the outside, modeling can seem quite intimidating but as soon as I stepped in the room and met the FS team I felt instantly at ease. They made me feel so comfortable and welcome that my nervousness immediately dissipated.

I had so much fun during my castings, and the rest of the year continued in the same sense of relaxed community during the practices and socials. The FS committee is a team and that includes the models. We all work together throughout the year which includes meeting up for socials and dinners.

I was so excited for practice each week, not only to see the other models but to learn little by little the choreography that would later make the show. The practices were a great way to widen my social circle and meet other students, especially from other years and degrees I wouldn’t have otherwise ran into. We all shared the same excitement for the show and passion for our parts in it.

I loved being a model for FS so much the first year that I was inspired to join the committee, where I’ve spent the last two years on the other side of the casting process. Modeling for FS has been one of my favorite experiences at university and I really encourage everyone to push through any nerves and try out!

Mary

As a fresher, I arrived in St Andrews really not knowing anything about societies and social groups. My mom was actually the one who read up on the student fashion shows in St. Andrews, and encouraged me to try out!

Initially, I found myself dreading model tryouts; I am a very shy person in nature, and the thought of third and fourth years judging my appearance and walk was intimidating. I actually almost turned around before my first model audition from nerves, until a quick pep talk phone call from my mom had me dragging my feet onward.

However, the moment I stepped into tryouts, all of my worries disappeared. The atmosphere facilitated by the committee was so warm and relaxed! It felt more like a group of friends hanging out than it did an audition. Most importantly, the committee was kind and welcoming to everyone involved, and continued to be so throughout my two years as an FS model!

The show itself was such a unique experience that I will always remember as being a high point of my time at St. Andrews. It was amazing to see the hard work between the models and committee culminate into one of the largest student-run fashion shows in the UK. Even the uncertainty of last year proved to be no match to the FS models and committee, who worked hard through covid restrictions to produce an online replacement for the show! I strongly encourage anyone who wants to be part of the FS team to push through any nervousness and try out!