Features

Poise steps out

Poise is Grambling State University’s new modeling troupe who made their first appearance Tuesday in the Black and Gold Room.

Damik Bridges, a 20-year-old junior with a double major in chemistry and theater, is the founder of Poise .

DEQUANNA ALEXANDER/The Gramblinite Poise model make her way down the runway. The troupe’s next show is April 5.

DEQUANNA ALEXANDER/The Gramblinite
Poise models make their way down the runway. The troupe’s next show is April 5.

Bridges, a member of the GSU Lady Tigers soccer team, first started the organization last semester because she wanted to provide an outlet for those who wish to pursue a modeling career. 

“I wanted to get them started on a modeling career through Poise. I just wanted to do something different,” said the Atlanta, Georgia, native. 

The event was named “The Devil Wears Prada” and was flooded by students and relatives of those involved.   

“I thought it was very interesting because it was different and portrayed fashion in a professional and elegant way” said Tajha Staten, a criminal justice major from Monroe, Louisiana. 

Bridges wanted their first show to be held at a different venue and she feels like they were able to “do much more, be productive and bring out better stage ideas.” 

What makes Poise unique is that a huge of their outfits are hand made and designed by Damik Bridges herself. 

Bridges purchases the material needed and creates a variety of clothing in the comfort of her dorm room. 

Two scenes featured Bridges’ clothing, which were “The all red scene” and “The coat scene.” “I really enjoyed it, I felt like it was fresh and unique. It was very well put together and I really enjoyed the designs of Damik Bridges,” said Kaylin Footman, an Early Education major from Los Angeles, California. 

There was a total of 4 scenes, and the other two featured  from “The Lovely Dolls,” a boutique based in Lafayette, LA and “World in Vision” from New Orleans, Louisiana. Poise modeling troupe consists of a three-member board and 25 models who all had to try out for the troupe last semester.  

In addition to Damik Bridges, Dominique Bridges, a biology major from Atlanta, Georgia, and Alexis Jordan, a marketing major from Detroit, Michigan, are also on the board.             

The troupe have been practicing for the past 2 months and worked extremely hard so that their first show would be a reflection of their hard work and determination. 

“We have worked so hard to put on a great first show and I think the audience saw how it paid off” said Dominique Bridges. 

During practice time, the trio would train the models on how to walk and also how to compose themselves in a sophisticated manner and, surprisingly, none of the models had any modeling experience before joining Poise. 

“I think our models have really come out their shells and grown because they are dedicated and make Poise a priority. They did a great job and I’m proud of them” said Alexis Jordan, the secretary for Poise.

Poise have scheduled their second show for April 5 and it will be held in the auditorium. The troupe will begin practice immediately after the Mardi Gras holiday and will work on making their second show even better than the first.