The runways of New York have some small town competition.

That’s right, you don’t have to go to a metropolitan to see a fashion show with top name designers.

You don’t even have to tune into a television to watch models strut their stuff up and down a runway.

As a matter of fact, you can see all of the above in the city of Selma. For almost 25 years the Selma Alumni Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha has provided residents of our community with a one-night only opportunity to see a fashion show that normally would be reserved for those who are considered the “rich and famous.”

The Ebony Fashion show is set to take place at 8 p.m., Friday Jan. 14, at Pickard Auditorium.

The Ebony Fashion Fair was created in 1958 by Selma native and Ebony magazine creator Eunice Johnson.

Johnson was a graduate of Selma High School and Talladega College.

After moving to Chicago she married John H. Johnson, publisher and chairman of Johnson Publishing Co. Johnson and her husband were also instrumental in developing Fashion Fair Cosmetics, a leader in makeup for black women.

Johnson is another success story from Selma and like others has made a commitment to bring some of that success back to Selma to help others.

The proceeds of the Ebony Fashion Fair go towards the alumni sorority’s scholarship fund.

According to Jerolene Williams, chairman of the Fashion Fair committee, over $25,000 in scholarships have been awarded in just the last three years.

That is most definitely giving back to our community.

We encourage residents to fill the Pickard auditorium and get ready for a once a year entertaining event.

There is much work that goes on behind the scenes in putting this event together and we thank those who have so diligently put their time towards the success of this project.

Who ever said that you have to go the big city to get big city entertainment?

Just spend some time in Selma.