Stars Among Us Gala Filled with Glamour, Style & Talent

A packed house with community leaders and philanthropists at the 13th Annual Stars Among Us Scholarship Gala to benefit the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services.

The gala was filled with surprises and entertainment was in full swing as local celebrity journalists and media representatives walked the runway for the cause on Sunday at the Westin Galleria Hotel. There was excitement amongst the audience as the celebrity models flaunted a stylish walk modeling outfits tailored by the Alliance Center Tailoring Services.

The mission of the Alliance Center is to promote the well-being of refugees, immigrants and low-income residents of Harris County in order to provide a better quality of life by making them self-sufficient. The fashion show was made possible as Alliance’s tailors created international ensembles with the help of Simran Rihal, an upcoming fashion designer and stylist. For the last three years she has owned her own apparel business with production overseas. “At present my focus is to contribute to the local community by producing here in Houston and I am really overjoyed to see such tailoring talent right here in Houston,” says Rihal.

Amongst the media celebrity models walking the runway were Editor-in-Chief Culturemap Clifford Pugh, KTRK Channel 13 news anchor and reporter Miya Shay, Producer at KPRC-TV 2 Amber N Wills, Former Meteorologist Ayna Sehgal, Reyne Hirsch writer for The Huffington Post and host of Trash or Treasure on KPRC, Channel 13 Reporter Sonia Azad, and Ruchi Mukherjee Lifestyle/Society Columnist for South Asian Magazine Lights Camera Action. Effervescent Council member Corbett Parker served as the fashion show emcee who enthusiastically kept the audience engaged with a question answer session with the models reflecting their thoughts on the Alliance.

The gala also honored five distinctive immigrants who have managed to make significant differences in the community at large. The recipients for this prestigious award were Abey Girma, Litho Printing, Phyllis and Victor Hsu, and Mandy Kao. Guests wrapped up the evening inspired by the stories and believing in the popular notion that America is the land of opportunities, while enjoying drummers from Burundi, Ingoma Planet, and Bhutanese flute music by Man Rai.

Spotted supporting the Alliance Scott Hochberg, member of Texas House of Representatives, Houston’s Mayor Pro-Tem The Honorable Ed Gonzalez and his wife Melissa, legendary tennis coach John Wilkerson, Mayor Pro-Tem, Sugarland, Texas Jacquie Chaumette, Sue Davis, Yu Ru Huang, Chau Nguyen, Donna Cole, Dr. William Flores, UHD President, Patrick Leung, Tsige Amare, Kheang Ven, Alweena Cooper and Kristian Carr among others.

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