Thursday, November 14, 2024
Media Contact:
Stephen Howard | Supervisor of Communications | 405-744-4363 | [email protected]
After years of persistence, Oklahoma State College senior McKenzie Davis lastly
achieved her dream of attending New York Style Week. However her imaginative and prescient extends far
past the runways of Manhattan — she needs to remodel Oklahoma into the following vogue
vacation spot.
The Spears Faculty of Enterprise advertising main and MBA 4+1 candidate noticed past the
glamour and vibrant lights to a future the place her dwelling state has its personal thriving vogue
scene, and he or she needs to make it occur.
“Going to the profession honest at OSU, you see oil and gasoline, you see insurance coverage, you see
all these several types of industries, however nobody from magnificence or vogue,” Davis
mentioned. “I need to convey that to Oklahoma so people who find themselves as captivated with it as
me have that chance. I like Oklahoma. I by no means need to depart. So, it could be
very nice to convey among the vogue business right here.”
As the one pupil from Oklahoma chosen amongst 1000’s of candidates for September’s
Faculty Fashionista’s Creators Loft, Davis rubbed elbows with business leaders at
the premier occasion for vogue and wonder for faculty content material creators. The Elk Metropolis,
Oklahoma, native used her time in New York to make strategic connections with business
executives and entrepreneurs whereas getting an inside take a look at the enterprise of vogue.
The 23-year-old now serves because the OSU consultant of Campus Collective, the place she’ll
be working with manufacturers like Dove, Prada, Uncommon Magnificence, La Roche-Posay and Garnier to
promote pupil ambassadorships and post-college profession alternatives for future OSU
college students.
“Strolling round New York, it was attention-grabbing to see how related it was to Oklahoma
when you get outdoors town,” Davis mentioned. “If they will do it, why cannot we?”
Davis’ path to the style world started shortly after highschool commencement, beginning
with a modest $15-per-hour modeling gig. By way of strategic networking at statewide
pictures meetups, she steadily constructed her portfolio and connections, ultimately
commanding $250 per hour for modeling work.
Now at OSU, Davis is concurrently finishing her senior yr in advertising whereas
pursuing her MBA by way of the accelerated 4+1 program. She’s been an integral member
of the Middle for Gross sales and Service Excellence (CSSE), the place she is believed to be
the primary freshman ever admitted to this system. She has even served as a multi-year
captain for CSSE’s annual golf fundraiser.
“I’ve been privileged to come across McKenzie inside the Middle for Gross sales and Service
Excellence,” mentioned Whitney Roman, director of the CSSE and an assistant professor of
skilled observe. “She is each an distinctive pupil and human being. I’m frequently
impressed along with her initiative and drive, paired along with her unbelievable capabilities.
She is a superb instance of the tenacity and integrity that we hope all OSU college students
signify.”
Davis credit a lot of her success to an idea she realized from Dr. Andy Urich, the
Eastin Middle Chair for Expertise Growth and an affiliate professor of administration.
Urich gave a lecture on the artwork of making “fortunate conditions,” which resonated with
Davis as she mirrored on her journey into the style business.
“I would wish to assume that I am only a person who’s had lots of fortunate issues occur
to them,” Davis mentioned. “However Dr. Urich’s lecture actually helped me perceive that what
appears to be like like luck typically comes from persistently placing your self in conditions the place
luck can discover you.”
Davis realized that her path into modeling was the real-life embodiment of this precept.
What began with responding to a random photographer’s photograph shoot invitation led
her to hunt out Oklahoma modeling and pictures meetups. At these gatherings, she
related with skilled fashions who shared insider information about company signings,
advertising methods and business pricing — primarily getting a crash course in
vogue enterprise earlier than she ever set foot in a university classroom.
“If I hadn’t began going to these meetups, if I hadn’t began speaking to businesses,
if I hadn’t made my comp card, if I hadn’t made mates with photographers and folks
who may assist me get the place I need to be, I’d by no means have made it to New York Style
Week,” Davis mentioned. “What I am studying now in my enterprise courses — advertising your self,
promotion methods, pricing fashions — I used to be already training in the true world
by way of these early modeling connections.”
Whereas New York Style Week might have been a private milestone, her greater aim is
guaranteeing future vogue business aspirants will not have to go away Oklahoma to pursue
their goals. She envisions a future the place OSU profession festivals characteristic recruiters from
vogue manufacturers stationed alongside vitality and insurance coverage corporations.
“5 to 10 years down the street, I actually hope that some 23-year-old lady who actually
loves vogue can go to the profession honest and see these corporations,” Davis mentioned. “I simply
actually need people who find themselves as captivated with it as I’m to have the ability to pursue their
goals right here in Oklahoma.”
