Each year, a new cast, crew and executive team join the VCFS legacy. Though its exciting to know that another great year is in arms reach, it’s always difficult to say goodbye to our graduating class and all other members that must carry on in another direction.

In my personal experience, each year has welcomed new friendships- many certain to be lifelong. For 8 wonderful months, being apart of VCFS means planning together, celebrating together and growing together. Our team is made up of tenacious, passionate and creative individuals that work day and night to deliver a memorable experience and will continue to do so long after they’ve said their goodbyes. Whether they were a creative director, a model, dancer or a musician, every member leaves behind a personal footprint, reminding us of their contributions and their love of art.

Today, we’re celebrating some of our incredible VCFS alumni! I caught up with a few of our past members to see what they’re up to today and how they feel their current endeavours were influenced by their time on VCFS. I was, albeit not surprised at all, so impressed with their current projects and accomplishments and can’t wait to see what they do next!!

Devon Cole // Musician 2016-2017, Head of Music 2017-2018, Musician 2019-2020

In September I moved to Toronto from my parents’ house in Calgary! It’s kind of sus to move during a pandemic but I felt really passionately about being here and starting fresh after uni. I’m here working on music full time - getting connected with people in the city, learning how to TikTok, working w/ my producer, writing songs, slowly killing my plants…

I’m working on a new single called “Alive.” I’m really excited for people to hear it. Noelle (another VCFS alum) and I actually met up the other day to do a shoot for fun, and now she’s helping me with the cover art for the new single! VCFS forever.

The 2017 VCFS show was my first big, real, solo performance. It gave me the confidence to keep performing throughout my time at university, until I eventually started playing at The Brass on a weekly basis in my final semester. I think that all came to fruition from being in VCFS and getting a taste of what it’s like to put my energy into something I love doing and feel passionately about. It was really special. I’m very grateful for my time with VCFS.

Kiera Forse // 2017-2018 Creative Director, 2018-2019 Portfolio Photography, 2019-2020 Creative Director

Hello everyone! My name is Kiera and I was a member of the Vogue Charity Fashion Show exec team between the years of 2017 and 2020. My first year on VCFS I was just a little bean but was so amazed and delighted to be chosen as a creative director for this iconic show. I followed this role with one awesome year as the head of portfolio and events photography and went full circle to end my time with VCFS as the creative director once again! When I first entered university I was on track to becoming a clinical psychologist, but because of VCFS and a handful of incredible people who worked with the organization, I am currently a fashion styling student at the Fashion Institute of Technology New York (FITNY).

After my first year with VCFS I founded a fashion Instagram blog, @littlefashionattic, which documents the street style of amazing people all over the world! Unfortunately, COVID put a little damper on my travel plans so @littlefashionattic is currently focusing on looking through my own personal closet of curated items that I have collected from all over the world since I was a little girl. VCFS also launched my photography career. I am now a freelance photographer who has had works published and displayed in an art gallery and I am currently in the middle of shooting a photographic series exploring emotional and physical vulnerability in young men. My dream is to one day own a costume designer and wardrobe stylist for film and television, with a focus on sustainable and socially responsible fashion.

To say VCFS changed my life would be a massive understatement. This organization not only introduced me to the most inspiring individuals I have ever met, but it also helped me discover and embrace who I truly am and what I want with my life. I owe a very special thank you to the group of powerful women who made up the head exec team on my first year in VCFS; Sarah Tarrant, Alexandra Young, Aleksandra Uzelac, Zelia Bukhari, Shannon Hogan, Devon Cole, Rachel McClung, and Juliana Nemeth. These individuals, as well as the previous VCFS creative director Joe Palubiski (who I was told made a case for hiring the random first year girl interviewing to be a creative director) and my co-choreographer Katie Pennock, took a chance on me and believed in me. These kickass people gave me the freedom to be creative, challenged me to grow and to inspire, and loved me for exactly who I was. They are the kind of leaders you only dream of working with because they can change your life. They certainly changed mine. I am forever indebted to VCFS for the people it brought me and the lessons it taught me (I didn’t mean for that to rhyme but that’s fun so I’m going to leave it!). Wherever I end up it is because all of you.

P.S. Forever sending gratitude and love to the creator of this piece Mikayla Bergamin, my co-creative director of last year’s show and a girl with more love and support to give than anyone can imagine.

Megan Mikhail // 2017-2018 Musician, 2019-2020 Head of Music & Musician

I just moved to Toronto and started my first full-time job in marketing! The sad thing about quarantine is that it’s taken away most of my opportunities to perform and engage with other musicians in the same way that I was at Queen’s, which was usually where I found myself most inspired and most creative. But it’s really put me out of my comfort zone creatively in the sense that I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my music and spend a lot of times writing songs about things that come from really deep down inside of me, rather than things that are happening externally around me. Earlier this year, in May, I released an EP called Back Around with a few songs I had written in the previous year that I was particularly proud of, and it’s been a great feeling to have those songs out in the world!

These days I’ve been exploring music in so many new ways that I never did before, especially when it comes to listening to and exploring some new genres like R&B and trying to incorporate some new elements into my own music. I’m incredibly excited to be back on the stage eventually when COVID is over, but I’m grateful for the new creative space that this year has brought for me. I also started an Instagram account during quarantine to share little songs and videos with friends and family and create a new way to perform even when I can’t actually be on the stage. @meganmikhailmusic

VCFS has influenced where I am today in so many ways. The obvious ones being the incredible community of people that I was able to meet and be so inspired by, and the confidence that VCFS gave me to share my music and really put myself out there and try new things as a performer. But also now that I’m working a full-time job and living on my own, I can also see that VCFS has influenced my work ethic and ability to work creatively in a team. Personally, I feel the most grateful for the opportunity that VCFS gave me to collaborate with such an incredible and talented group of people in order to put on a show on such a large scale. I really feel like it was an experience unlike any other creative experience I’ll have in the future, and I miss it and the whole VCFS team everyday.

Sarah Mayo // 2017-2018 Model, 2018-2019 Model and Choreographer, 2019-2020 Head Model

Since VCFS I have been mainly focused on finishing my degree in Environmental Biology and looking ahead to life after graduation! I’ve been exploring options for Masters programs internationally, mainly focusing in conservation. But even though my life path is leading me towards the sciences, I always want to make space in my life for the arts. This year the increased time at home due to COVID is pushing me to get back in touch with some forms of art that I used to love, like music and charcoal pencil drawing. I’ve also made sure to continue shooting, and recently collaborated with another VCFS alumni Erica Guistiniani (@editsbyericag), which brought me right back to my VCFS roots! Finally, starting this month I plan to get back into doing circus aerial arts like silks/fabric which I did for a bunch of years growing up.

Being in VCFS for 3 years was a defining part of my university experience, and absolutely helped foster my growth into the person that I am today. In my first year I felt so welcomed by the older alum, who helped me come out of my shell and showed me the ropes of the organization. They and Vogue as a whole played a special part in making Queens finally feel like home. Over the next two years, I got to take on continuously larger roles which not only allowed me to express myself more creatively, but also taught me about team building, management and leadership. Being Head Model was one of the steepest growth curves of my life and in terms of my personal development, as I had never led a team of 50+ people before! That experience taught me a lot about my own capacity when I set my mind to a broader goal, especially with something that I’m passionate about. Not to mention, I had the most incredible team of models and choreographers (you know who you are!! <3) who I am eternally grateful for and who helped me grow as a leader through their continuous support and feedback. Because of my time on VCFS, I am a more confident, capable and creative person today.

Sebastian Zarazua // 2018-2019 Model, 2019-2020 Model

I’m currently running my own YouTube channel (Sebastian Zarazua) where I have done closet tours, thrifting with friends, and shopping in general. I hope to continue build this channel to have more fashion content, as well as behind the scenes of any creative projects I plan myself. In addition to YouTube, I have taken up film photography and have been executing my own shoots with the help of some friends. Finally, I have been continuing to model unrepresented by an agency for brands within my city & for my friends. If you want to keep up with any of the above mentioned activities, shoot me a follow on instagram (my handle is my name)!

I feel like VCFS was my initial foray into what it means to be a creative & has built my individual style as a result of my finding my creative self. It has shown me that I love to model and be in front of a camera, whether it is for the execution of my own vision or that of another. It has also given me the confidence to wear what I want and express myself how I want to, without the fear of others opinions because I truly enjoy what I am doing. I am personally grateful to VCFS for helping me realize all these things that are continuing to add to my creative journey and for showing me that I do indeed have creative passions that would have otherwise gone unrecognized.

Kira Murphy // 2016-2017 Socials Intern, 2017-2018 Sponsorship Coordinator, 2018-2019 Creative Director

Hello everyone! I am currently completing a post grad certificate in Television Writing and Producing at Humber College. The program is keeping me very busy creatively with lots of developing, writing and portfolio building!

Since graduating/being on VCFS, my film “Dance Together” was released worldwide on Amazon Prime as well as broadcasting platforms in Canada and the US! “Dance Together” is literally my child so I am very proud that it gets to be seen and I love getting messages from people who have related to it.

VCFS taught me many life lessons such as working in a team, time management, and overall communication. I am so grateful for the amazing memories and friends that were made through working on the show.

Kenzie Cunningham // 2017-2018 Model, 2018-2019 Model

My name is Kenzie Cunningham and I’m in my fourth year of nursing here at Queen’s, hopeful that we make it to graduation this year! During my 2nd and 3rd years of university, I was given the opportunity to model in Queen’s Vogue Charity Fashion Show. I will forever be grateful for the unforgettable experience’s Vogue allowed me to accomplish as well as the amazing individual’s it brought into my life. Vogue pushed me to expand my creative drive by providing unique opportunities I had never imagined before. I was able to meet such a diverse array of people who helped to shape such a large part of my university experience and in the long run, helped to shape a part of myself I didn’t know I was capable of expressing so forwardly. In the fashion world, the modelling industry plays a huge role it its development. Models are the representation of creativity and self-expression, changing their performance to project the appropriate image for differing situations. I never pictured myself as someone who would excel in front of a camera in such a vulnerable way, but I loved every second of it. In 2018 & 2019, I was a model in VCFS’s “Tempora Mantura” in scenes such as Flora, Faces of the Future and Lingerie, using fashion to tell the history of human essence and existence itself. We were able to raise over $85,000 for the Kingston Sexual Assault Center, creating a positive impact on their programs, facilities, and other opportunities offered to their clients.

In 2019 & 2020, I was given the opportunity to model in VCFS once again which I enthusiastically accepted. VCFS’s “As we Are” included different characteristics within a community ultimately creating a cohesive society. It displayed that we can be entirely different but, in the end, we still need one another to succeed. During this show I modelled in scenes such as The Artist, The Jester, Tempestuous and Lingerie. VCFS selected Youth Diversion as their charity of choice for the 2019/20 year, raising over $77,000 for donation. I took this opportunity to get more involved in the Kingston community through volunteer opportunities provided by Youth Diversion. I felt like I was making a difference in the Kingston community, even if it was just in the slightest.

This year, being in my 4th year of nursing, I’m focusing most of my time on my education. COVID has changed many components of the nursing program and it’s been a bit difficult trying to adjust to online learning, remote clinical, VERY-regular COVID testing and not being able to see some of my friends when I need them. I’m staying positive though and I’m having lots of fun living with my housemates for the time being! We regularly have themed house-get-togethers, movies nights, game nights, you name it, we’ve tried it. It’s been really nice being able to spend this time at school with my friends since my time at Queens is coming to an end so soon. I’m really going to miss this place and all the people I’ve met here after graduation but I’m excited for the future, and I know everyone will keep in touch!

In January, I’ll be completing my integrated practicum (full semester working in hospital) as the final component of the Queen’s Nursing program. I’ve been hopeful I’d have a placement closer to home however, COVID has caused a delay in placement receival for many students. My first choice patient care unit would be in pediatrics or in the NICU! I love children and have had many jobs with kids in the past. I was able to complete my paediatric placement last year during my studies and I absolutely LOVED IT. However, even if I’m not able to work in paediatrics, I know developing new skills in other nursing fields will be extremely beneficial in the long run.

As for modelling, I still love to take pictures for fun of myself or others. I enjoy thinking of photoshoot ideas with friends, taking photos on film or just plain old having fun in front of a camera. I have had a few people reach out for photos (for start-up clothing brands, etc) and I always help out when I can! VCFS sparked a new passion for photography and modelling I didn’t know I had, and I hope to continue to improve these artistry and creativity skills in the years to come!

I joined vogue as I had a friend in the show the year prior. When I went to support her, I was absolutely floored by the talent, hard work and dedication displayed by all its cast. The next year, I worked up the courage to do something out my comfort zone which positively impacted my life in so many ways. This encouraged me to continue trying new things, be spontaneous and daring, try things I’d never imagined before. This mentality helped me to figure out who I really was, who I wanted to be and what I wanted to show people I could be. Yeah, this might still be pretty burry but hey at least I had a blast starting to figure it out.

Along with everything else, VCFS provided me with an outlet to get out of my own head. An outlet to get out of my studies and any circling thoughts and anxieties. Vogue helped to improve my mental health by providing such an enjoyable distraction from life stressors. It gave me a chance to breathe, think it over, and start fresh after a rehearsal, it forced me to take breaks which is something I struggle with when under high stress only resulting in higher stress levels. So, thank you Vogue, for not only improving my mental health when I’m drowning in schoolwork stress but also for probably improving my marks. There is an endless feeling of reward when I think about Vogue, the opportunities, supporting such a great cause along with the other cast and crew, those who donated to the local organizations and those who supported the show. I couldn’t be more appreciative to have been a part of such an amazing cast and I am forever thankful for the amazing people in my life, in and outside of vogue. Thank you for helping me push my limits to accomplish things I could never have imagined.

Sylvie Lefebvre // 2018-2019 Designer, 2019-2020 Head of Independent Design

This year I am working on my fourth year final project for my BFAH. I am focusing on historical fashion and how it acts as a visual timeline. Using that time line I hope to show what events aren’t showcased enough. The dark underbelly of the time represented by the clothing chosen. I will be talking about how different colonial settlers actions directly affected Indigenous people in North America. Clothing is a part of history that is very accessible to the everyday audience. It is easy to connect with and easy to visually place on a timeline. I believe that using clothing to highlight the darker parts of our past would bring this knowledge to more people of different backgrounds and educations.

I have also been working on my own photography and small works of art have been made over this quarantine. I’ve made quite a few masks, and many fun new garments for myself. Coming into university I had just decided not to go to Ryerson for fashion design, I felt that it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing. Fashion design was just a hobby, through VFCS and getting to design and create clothing has shown me what I didn’t know in grade 12. I not only have a love for design and creating, I have a need to do it. Without VCFS I would most likely be heading to teachers college to teach in a high school for the rest of my life. VCFS gave me an opportunity to explore new dreams and possibilities after Queens. Not only that, but the people I got to work with and get to know, have been some of the best that I have had the privilege to meet during my time at university.

Joe Palubiski // Model (1st and 2nd year), Choreographer (2nd-5th year), Creative director (3rd year), Videographer (4th year)

Currently I’m working in the field of freelance videography, mostly sticking to editing corporate videos remotely during covid. Since graduating (and pre-covid) I was working for a corporate retreat organizer (like a wedding planner but for over the top corporate retreats,) which allowed me to travel to over 10 different countries in the span of a few months, filming for around a week in each place. Although this wasn’t the most ‘creative’ form of videography, It allowed me to continue to see the world and really helped develop my technical videography and editing skills, which in turn has allowed me to expand my creative horizons by removing technical limitations.

Although Covid has certainly crippled the creative industry as we know it, I find it has also forced people to create content in new and unique ways, which is exciting to see. I’m currently planning on filming a couple music videos with a few people, as well as trying to breach into the wedding videography industry by providing slightly more fresh and contemporary videos than the status quo.

As overstated as this might be, I’m excited to find my place in the creative world post-covid. I think that this period has allowed people to really see what they take for granted when it comes to large sets, unfettered connectivity, and even just inside spaces. I’m curious to explore the creative world of post-covid life. Of course, I’d also like to get paid to film and travel again.

I think VCFS really was my creative awakening. It forced me out of any comfort zones I thought I had from the get-go. While I still remember the feeling of my first photoshoots and rehearsals, and the first time I stepped on stage, I think being creative director is what I’m most grateful for. A full year of working alongside two amazing creative co-directors really pushed me to be my most creative self. I think my third year in VCFS truly was the highlight of my university experience, and for that I’ll always love the show. Without VCFS I don’t think I would have explored the creative sides of my life as much as I have, and I think that’s something that goes for everyone who decides to play any part in vogue.

Shayna Buckle // 2016-2017 Model, 2018-2019 Model, 2019-2020 Creative Director

As someone who loves to have multiple projects running at once, I’ve since been growing my modelling portfolio and dipped a toe into acting! A spur of the moment audition resulted in my being cast as the lead in an upcoming TV pilot, and it’s sparked a new love for acting that I’m hoping to nurture into something more! On top of travelling to BC for the first time this summer, which was an absolute life-changing trip, I also am working on building an e-commerce business as well.

I had the opportunity to be in vogue for three of my four years at Queen’s, two spent as a model and my senior year as one of VCFS’s Creative Directors. I really grew up in the show. I evolved from a nervous, gawky first year to a confident leader in my last because I was gifted with a community who was beautiful in spite of it. Vogue was never about being the “it” club on campus for me, rather it was an artistic showcase combining the talent of so many students for charity. I’m grateful for the team who brought my idea “As We Are” 2020 to life and refined it into something more tangible. What started as a show designated to the emotional side of the human experience (Anger, Greed, Loneliness, Passion, Hope, Peace) morphed into the articulation of Carl Jung’s archetypes. Only teamwork made it possible, and the excitement of creating a show that could inspire and be felt by every single person in the audience. I’m grateful for the collaboration of minds, intersectionalities, and talent that ultimately made the 2020 show as successful as it was. Lastly, I’m grateful that Vogue is a club that makes it easy to walk-away as a graduate, knowing we left behind something that made a difference, a legacy performance that says “we were here”, and we ultimately raised the bar for future vogue members.

Amber Rappe // 2017-2018 Hair and Makeup, 2018-2019 Creative Director

I was apart of the Vogue family from the beginning of 2017 until the end of 2019. During my first year, I was a member of the Hair and Makeup team and for my second year I was apart of the Creative Direction team, as well as Head of Hair and Makeup. Since my time with Vogue I have continued to work with makeup artistry for both MAC Cosmetics and the largest Shopper’s Beauty Boutique in Atlantic Canada that caters to brands like Chanel, Dior, Urban Decay, and more! My current creative focus is to further hone my photography and production skills. This endeavour has been entirely inspired by my time with the Creative Direction team, in hopes that I can create media singlehandedly, while incorporating my love for unconventional beauty. Most recently, I’m proud of having my work published in an independent and Canadian-owned magazine called Wandering Autumn!

There are so many things and people that VCFS brought into my life to which I will be eternally grateful for. Vogue taught me to put myself out there in a way I had never done before. A lesson I have carried with me since and one that has only brought more positives into my life. It showed me that being surrounded by the right people can completely change how you see yourself and the world. I never felt I had found my place at Queen’s, until I met my peers in VCFS! Above all, I was most grateful for the atmosphere of camaraderie that filled every rehearsal, every meeting, and every gathering with my cast mates.

Erin Meiklejohn // 2012 Designer

Hey, I’m Erin!! I am a small business owner. I design sewing patterns and sell all the materials and supplies needed to make lingerie and swimwear. My goal is to share my love of bra and swimwear sewing with the home sewing community and help them create beautiful and empowering garments for themselves. 4. VCFS was a sewing outlet for me through university, and it reinforced my passion for making.

Thank you to all the alumni listed above and the countless more that have contributed to the VCFS mission over the years! Thank you as well for participating in our alumni series and giving us a glimpse into all your exciting and inspiring creative endeavours. Looking forward to what you’ll all do next!

Mikayla Bergamin // Press and Media Editor

VCFS ALUMNI SERIES