On Friday, Nov. 7, students gathered at the Star Quad, where they noticed a red carpet and several racks of clothing were set up. After a week spent collecting donations from students across campus, UNC Charlotte’s Graduate Public Health Association (GPHA) organized a self-expression fashion show and clothing drive for queer students on campus, giving them the opportunity to find clothing that they feel confident and comfortable in.
GPHA’s Community Engagement Officer, Teresa Wilkinson, is a member of the LGBTQ community and understands the importance of having gender affirming clothing and outfits that allow students to embrace their identity.
“A lot of students who just moved here from their hometowns might not necessarily have a place to affordably get that type of clothing yet,” Wilkinson said.
GPHA wanted to create that environment for students, encouraging them to find outfits without the barrier of cost or judgment from people back home.
GPHA—who are they?
GPHA is an organization run by master’s, graduate and undergraduate students of public health. They help organize volunteering events, such as clean-ups and clothing drives, to connect people and promote public health on campus.
“Public health is any sort of program that helps promote the health of a specific population or the health of the masses,” Wilkinson said.
The organization aims to welcome all sorts of people in the health world, working among Ph.D. students and professionals in the field to improve and advocate for public health as a whole.
The intersection of public health and fashion
Public health involves the health of any population and any organization or action that cares for these populations. These populations can vary in size and demographics, and the issues that professionals focus on differ as well.
Public health considers both broad populations, like the overall health of all Americans, and narrow ones, such as women in Charlotte with a specific health condition.
“This event kind of aims towards the mental health of LGBTQ students, and it creates a positive environment, because now they’re in a space where they can express themselves, and self-expression plays a lot into your mental health,” Wilkinson said.
GPHA wanted to take action to improve the mental health of LGBTQ students. Noticing that fashion is a significant factor in determining mental health, they thought a fashion show and clothing drive would be an impactful event to host.
Sustainability measures throughout
All of the clothes were donated by students across the campus, creating a sustainable way to let students express themselves through fashion, and students get to take home these clothes entirely free of charge.
“We wanted to kind of upcycle instead of using fast fashion,” Wilkinson explained.
Any of the clothes that are left over after the fashion show will be donated to T4Tclt, a nonprofit organization based in Charlotte that is dedicated to building a gender-expansive community.
“So, anything that’s not taken here will go there, and I know that someone will get to rock it,” Wilkinson said.
Encouraging lasting initiatives for inclusivity
Through events like this fashion show and clothing drive, GPHA highlights how public health extends beyond traditional or scientific definitions of wellness.
By combining sustainability, mental health and community connection, the organization creates spaces where students can feel seen, supported and empowered to express themselves freely.
Events like these reflect the growing importance of inclusive and gender affirming initiatives on campus. It is valuable for UNC Charlotte’s LGBTQ population to be reminded that health, confidence and belonging are all connected.