Who will walk the runway during New York Fashion Week and win $20,000? You decide.
Roxy Williams
Must finish first to be the Grand Prize winner.
Voting for this round ends on September 9, 2026 at 10:00 PM EDT
About Roxy Williams
Afro-Indigenous engineering intern at Star Catcher, Space for Humanity Space Ambassador, Latin America Regional Manager at Cosmos for Humanity, Pantera Space Founder, Brooke Owens Fellow and international speaker proving dreams have no borders.
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Learn More About Roxy Williams
What makes you the Next Runway Star?
I’ve always believed that people are more than one label. For a long time, I felt like the world wanted women to choose: be taken seriously or be fashionable, be technical or be creative. I’ve never believed those things were opposites. To me, fashion is another form of communication. Before I even say a word, it tells people that confidence comes in many forms. If I walk this runway, I want someone watching to realize they never have to shrink one part of themselves to succeed in another. That is what makes me the Next Runway Star.
What would this once in a lifetime experience mean to you and why?
This opportunity would mean so much more than walking a runway. Every platform we receive gives us the chance to shape how people see themselves and what they believe is possible. Throughout my journey, I’ve realized that representation isn’t only about being seen—it’s about expanding someone’s imagination of what they can become. When I was younger, I admired women who broke barriers because they showed me that success didn’t have to look just one way. And through this runway I want to do the same for someone else just like Amanda Nguyen has done for many women like me. I want people to see that our identities are not limited to one profession or one passion. We can be scientists, engineers, artists, entrepreneurs, and still embrace fashion and creativity without feeling like we have to justify it. If one young girl sees this and realizes she doesn’t have to choose between different parts of herself to succeed and to be her true self, then this experience will have meant so much.
What are you most proud of about yourself or what have you overcome and why?
I’m most proud of two things: the resilience I’ve built and the opportunity to experience Zero Gravity. Those two are deeply connected. Every setback, rejection, and moment of self-doubt taught me to keep moving forward instead of giving up. Experiencing Zero Gravity wasn’t just about floating weightless—it represented years of perseverance, faith, and refusing to let other people’s expectations define my future. It reminded me that some of the biggest barriers we face aren’t physical, they’re the ones we place on ourselves. That flight became a symbol of what’s possible when you continue believing in a dream, even when it feels far away. Today, I carry that lesson into every challenge: keep learning, keep growing, and never stop reaching higher.
What would you do with the $20,000 cash prize?
Winning the $20,000 would allow me to expand the impact of two causes that are deeply personal to me. Part of the prize would support Hope House in East Texas, helping provide resources and opportunities for sexual assault survivors. Sometimes it’s hard to rebuild after a traumatic experience but together we can do it. The other part would expand Pantera Space, the nonprofit organization I founded to bridge the gap in access to space education. Through Pantera Space, we will continue supporting children from vulnerable communities in Costa Rica by helping them continue their education while discovering the possibilities of space. Many of the students we’ve worked with are immigrants or refugees who have grown up believing their dreams were out of reach. Having once been a refugee myself, I understand the uncertainty and barriers they face. Our mission is not only to reignite that spark, but to preserve it and expand access to space education for even more underserved communities.
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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.
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