SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – During National Women’s History Month, two South Dakota women proved you don’t have to live in a big city to dream big.
From Groton and Aberdeen to Paris Fashion Week, their work was featured on and behind the scenes of one of the fashion industry’s most recognized global stages.
For Karli Keck, a cosmetologist from Groton, and Ashlyn Dinger, a photographer from Aberdeen, the experience marked a full-circle moment years in the making.
The two first met in cosmetology school before life took them in different directions. Dinger later left the program to pursue photography, eventually launching her own business, Ashlyn Lee Photography, while Keck continued building her career in hair.
Neither expected their paths would reconnect in Paris.
“I didn’t go into it having like any idea of the fashion industry at all,” Dinger said. “I’m clearly from South Dakota, and fashion’s not big here, and I’ve never just been in an environment like that, so it was really cool!”
For Keck, the excitement built gradually.
“I was just excited,” she said. “And then like three weeks leading up to it I was like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna be at like Paris Fashion Week like that’s crazy!’ and then I got a little nervous, but still super excited.”
Keck worked with a team to create hairstyles featured during runway events, including a showcase dedicated entirely to hair artistry.
“The first day was specifically Hair Couture, that’s what it was called, and that was to showcase the hairstylists,” Keck said. “So there wasn’t a fashion designer or anything, it was just to show the hairstylists’ creativity and their passion.”
Meanwhile, behind the lens capturing those styles was someone she hadn’t expected to share the moment with.
“But I’ve never been to Paris, and I didn’t really have like any plans to in the near future,” Dinger said. “So when it all like worked out, I was like, ‘What the heck?’ And then all of a sudden I find out that Karli is going as well, and I was like, ‘What?!’”
The opportunity itself came after both women independently applied, simply putting themselves forward without knowing what would happen next. They both view rejection or failure as steps toward true success.
“I might as well just apply; the worst she can do is tell me no,” Keck said. “So yeah, then I did! Our team was around 40, I don’t know the exact number off the top of my head, but she said there was somewhere around 1,000 applications for her hair team.”
Out of roughly a thousand applicants, Keck was selected. Dinger was chosen to photograph the experience.
During National Women’s History Month, the timing made the accomplishment feel even more meaningful, as two small-town South Dakota women contributed to a global creative event.
“So it’s just really cool to know that even some 22-year-old from South Dakota can do anything really,” Dinger said.
Keck said representing her state on an international stage was something she didn’t take lightly.
“It’s honestly such an honor to represent our state,” she said. “Even if it inspires like one girl to go after what they’re passionate about, that’s a win to me, and hopefully it helps create more opportunities for people in our area too.”
Both women said the experience pushed them to think even bigger about what could be possible in their careers. And they hoped their journey would encourage other young women, especially those in small towns, to take risks, apply for opportunities, and not let geography define their ambitions.
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