BANGOR, Maine — People gathered in Bangor on Sunday to celebrate Pride in style at Red Rabbit Bazaar.
The clothing store and Bangor Pride hosted a fashion show.
“Everybody is welcome at this party, every body is welcome at this party,” Red Rabbit Bazaar owner Cara Oleksyk said.
Oleksyk brought the event to life inside her salvaged fashions store, which opened in a new location in March. She said hosting a fashion show has been on their radar for a while.
“Once we moved over to 54 Columbia Street, that first level, super accessible, it just made sense,” Oleksyk said.
The goal was to bring the community together to celebrate pride and self-expression through fashion.
“It's about feeling comfortable in our own skin and that radiates out,” Oleksyk said.
People modeling in the show got ready to hit the runway.
“I'm feeling really good about it,” 6-year-old Everett said.
Model Asher Deveu wore a dress with characters from the game Animal Crossing on it.
“I'm always looking for an excuse to dress up,” he said.
“Something like this is literally a dream for me,” model Chloe Arthurs said.
Eight different models strutted down the catwalk, each showing off three unique looks.
Arthurs, whose stage name is Babirusa, is non-binary, and likes to express their gender identity through fashion.
“I kind of like to mix the masculine and the feminine,” they said. “That defines my identity.”
For some, like Deveau, having a safe space for that expression is essential.
“I come from a family that is not very accepting, I got kicked out shortly before my 18th birthday,” he said.
Deveau is a trans man, who likes to dress in a mix of feminine and masculine styles. He believes that everyone should be able to dress the way they want, regardless of gender.
“It's really meaningful to be able to celebrate with people who accept me. I really appreciate the experience of being able to be who I am and having a supportive community,” Deveau said.
The next Bangor Pride event is the Bangor Pride Parade on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. The parade will go down Maine Street and end with a festival at West Market Square.