Fashionetta Returns With New Format, Continued Focus on Scholarships

After a pandemic pause, one of Wichita’s most recognized scholarship traditions is returning — with a new format, a new location, and a renewed focus on preparing young women for the future.

Fashionetta, a program that has served the Wichita community since 1984, is back as a public event for the first time since COVID. Long known for blending pageantry with purpose, the program continues its mission of encouraging high school girls to pursue higher education while gaining cultural and social enrichment.

Historically presented by the Beta Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., this year’s event is hosted by the sorority’s Building Knowledge and Opportunities Foundation. While the public showcase paused in recent years, organizers continued the behind-the-scenes programming of the annual program — holding workshops and meetings to help participants, known as Pearls, prepare for college and life.

Now, the program’s ending presentation is back — but with some noticeable changes.

The traditional elements many remember will still be there: talent presentations, formal introductions, escorts, and proud moments with families. However, the large fundraising books that once defined the competition are gone, and with them, the crowning of Miss Fashionetta.

In its place is a broader scholarship focus.

While there is no single overall winner, more than a dozen scholarships will be awarded, supported by businesses, families, and foundations. The Amanda Phillips Talent Scholarship will recognize top talent performance, while academic achievement remains a priority, with awards for Pearls maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher, including the Enterprise Academic Scholarship for the top scholar.

Additional honors include Miss Congeniality, presented in memory of LaShea and A-niah Bell, and an Audience Choice Award based on attendee on-site donations to participants.

Another major change is the venue. The event moves from Century II to Wichita State University’s Hughes Metroplex, signaling a fresh chapter for the long-running program.

Fashionetta is this Saturday, April 25. The reception is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the program begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 and include the reception, reflecting a shift in how the program is funded — and supported.

Even with the changes, the heart of Fashionetta remains the same: investing in young women and opening doors to their future.