DURHAM, N.C. — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. North Carolina’s Criminal Justice Analysis Center said from 2019 to 2021 there were more than 138,000 reports of assaults committed by former intimate partners or family members.

Domestic violence awareness advocates are organizing a fashion show to give survivors a platform to show their strength and beauty.

The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence Fatality report shows within the first six months of this year, 39 domestic violence homicides were reported. 

C. Dewayne Hinnant, a domestic violence awareness advocate, is hosting a fashion show Saturday afternoon in Durham. He used to work for the City of Durham, where they had a marriage domestic violence task force. Hinnant saw that people needed resources and he wants to help. On top of this, he had a friend who experienced domestic violence. This gave him the idea for the fashion show, which he’s hoping will bring education and awareness.

“It’s nerve-racking and exciting all at the same time. Like I said, this is my first fashion show; I never did a fashion show, I’m not a fashion show person,” Hinnant said. “But I’m putting it together for a good cause.”

The show will include models, vendors and designers who have experienced domestic violence. Hinnant wants to give survivors a platform to overcome what they’ve been through. He is able to make this happen with the help of designers like CJ Telfaire, who is also a domestic violence awareness advocate.

“People often think that domestic violence is just men perpetrating crimes on woman, but it affects the whole household, with children as well,” Telfaire said. “I grew up in a household that had domestic violence. It was my mother, before my mother, both of my grandmothers. 

While all involved in making this fashion show come to life are hoping this event will educate others, they also hope it shows the beauty that radiates from all of the survivors.

The event will take place from 2-4 p.m. at 401 North Driver Street in Durham. It is free to the public. You can make donations that will go towards nonprofits that are partnering for the fashion show.