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 Vogue Week. However her imaginative and prescient extends far
past the runways of Manhattan — she desires to remodel Oklahoma into the subsequent trend
vacation spot.
The Spears Faculty of Enterprise advertising main and MBA 4+1 candidate noticed past the
glamour and vivid lights to a future the place her house state has its personal thriving trend
scene, and he or she desires to make it occur.
“Going to the profession truthful at OSU, you see oil and fuel, you see insurance coverage, you see
all these various kinds of industries, however nobody from magnificence or trend,” Davis
stated. “I need to carry that to Oklahoma so people who find themselves as keen about it as
me have that chance. I really like Oklahoma. I by no means need to depart. So, it will be
very nice to carry a few of the trend trade right here.”
As the one pupil from Oklahoma chosen amongst 1000’s of candidates for September’s
School Fashionista’s Creators Loft, Davis rubbed elbows with trade leaders at
the premier occasion for trend and wonder for faculty content material creators. The Elk Metropolis,
Oklahoma, native used her time in New York to make strategic connections with trade
executives and entrepreneurs whereas getting an inside have a look at the enterprise of trend.
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 stated. “If they’ll 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
images 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 via 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,” stated Whitney Roman, director of the CSSE and an assistant professor of
skilled follow. “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 Improvement 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 trade.
“I might wish to assume that I am only a person who’s had plenty of fortunate issues occur
to them,” Davis stated. “However Dr. Urich’s lecture actually helped me perceive that what
seems like luck usually comes from persistently placing your self in conditions the place
success 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 picture shoot invitation led
her to hunt out Oklahoma modeling and images meetups. At these gatherings, she
related with skilled fashions who shared insider data about company signings,
advertising methods and trade pricing — basically getting a crash course in
trend 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 associates with photographers and other people
who may assist me get the place I need to be, I’d by no means have made it to New York Vogue
Week,” Davis stated. “What I am studying now in my enterprise lessons — advertising your self,
promotion methods, pricing fashions — I used to be already practising in the actual world
via these early modeling connections.”
Whereas New York Vogue Week could have been a private milestone, her larger objective is
making certain future trend trade aspirants will not have to depart Oklahoma to pursue
their goals. She envisions a future the place OSU profession gala’s function recruiters from
trend manufacturers stationed alongside vitality and insurance coverage corporations.
“5 to 10 years down the highway, I actually hope that some 23-year-old lady who actually
loves trend can go to the profession truthful and see these corporations,” Davis stated. “I simply
really need people who find themselves as keen about it as I’m to have the ability to pursue their
goals right here in Oklahoma.”