Who will walk the runway during New York Fashion Week and win $20,000? You decide.
Joslyn Jones
About Joslyn Jones
My dream is to help women just like me have a voice and believe they can always use it. Im an aspiring author, artist, and love anything creative and expressive. My story is meant to support and encourage others to believe there is good in the world
Learn More About Joslyn Jones
What makes you the Next Runway Star?
I’ve always loved fashion and truly anything creative in general. Art and fashion have always given me a voice in some of the darkest times in my life, it has also created the brightest moments as well. I remember as a young girl my sisters and I would spend hours dressing each other up and playing fashion show in the small hallway that we always seemed to always make so big. When I started to fall deep into my eating disorder years ago, it seemed as though I had lost my drive to be creative as much as I used to, and it was one of the many signs that I needed to admit myself into treatment. Through the months I stayed in treatment, creativity, art, and style became one of the main coping strategies that saved me. And as I chose to recover outside of treatment I continually found myself exploring my style more as I grew into a healthy body that I genuinely love and celebrate everyday. I would love to be able to continue to share my story and celebrate ALL bodies.
What would this once in a lifetime experience mean to you and why?
I have never been courageous enough to enter a contest especially a contest as big as this one. So this experience would mean the world to me, as I get to support a cause I so strongly believe in and I get to continue being an advocate in an even bigger way, while also pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I would also feel incredibly grateful to be able to bring my family along as they have been my biggest supporters through all the ups and downs of my life and have continued to show me love and kindness through it all. Getting to experience something as amazing as this alone would be incredible but getting to do it with them would be a dream come true. Along with that, walking the runaway as someone who is not society’s standard body size and being able to represent those that look like me, is exactly what 16 year old me needed to see to feel comfortable in her own skin at any size. Being able to do that for others as well would be life changing.
What are you most proud of about yourself or what have you overcome and why?
The person I was 4 years ago is a more grown and resilient person now. I am proud of myself for how far I have come in Eating disorder recovery as I used to be someone who suffered in complete silence and never reached out for help until I got to the point where I absolutely needed it. 4 Years in recovery now, and I have spoken up about my recovery process and have been a voice for those who feel as if they don’t have one. I will continue to be an advocate for those who just like me were suffering in the silence, as the world can be so cruel and judgmental at times. Being strong enough to hold others pain and hurt, while I still continue to recover myself can be tricky at times, but the joy I get from being able to help others is the most beautiful and rewarding thing to come out of something dark at times.
What would you do with the $20,000 cash prize?
NEDA and the ANAD are organizations that I support wholeheartedly as they have helped not only me but so many other individuals as well. It would be an absolute honor to donate $5,000 to each of these amazing organizations, as I will always strive to support organizations that do amazing and genuine work. With the other $10,000 I would use it publish my own survival story of DV, as my dream will always be to support and be a voice for those who feel as if they don’t have one. I would also donate to my local DVACK organization, as they have also made an impact on my life for the better.
Content from Joslyn Jones
Rise is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that helps sexual assault survivors across the country and around the world. They’ve created the most successful legislative reform movement in U.S. history: 120 laws passed, 1 UN Resolution and 112 million people’s lives impacted by their efforts.
POWERED BY
Elevate provides life-changing prizes for participants, impactful engagement for brands, and helps generate millions of dollars in donations for worthwhile charities through our interactive competitions like NEXT RUNWAY STAR and NEXT MUSIC STAR.