Vote for Your Favorite Fashion Week Intern
We received a record number of entries to our New York Fashion Week Internship Contest this season, making it especially difficult to choose our eight finalists — but choose we did.
Next, each finalist was given one week to come up with a video response to the following scenario:
“Imagine you are an emerging fashion designer preparing your first collection for New York Fashion Week. What is the name you have chosen for your collection, and why? Where did you get the inspiration for your collection? Pick a key item from your closet or elsewhere that would best represent what we will see in your collection.”
Now it’s your turn to vote for your favorite candidate. Watch the videos, then vote at the bottom of this page. The four finalists with the most votes are coming with us to New York Fashion Week!
The videos (in alphabetical order by last name):
Folayemi Agusto
–!>
Samantha Epstein
Catherine Hsu
Jackie McKenzie
Meghan Mende
Gabrielle Tavani
Alma Alice Woo
Vote!
Leave a Reply
Marilyn Dillion
Good luck everyone..
Calling All Fashionistas: Go Behind the Scenes at Fashion Week! | FIJI Water
[...] the second round, the eight finalists create a video response to a fashion question. (See last year’s question and video responses.) In round two, all four winning entries will be selected by your votes on [...]
Abby Rayfield
Meghan Mende gets my vote!!! :)
Jon Donagy
Good luck ladies!
Geoff Le Puerta
Good luck to all the girls. This is exciting!
Johnny Seabass
You now what your right, overall all the girls did a good job and im sorry to drift away from the point and apologize. The contest is about fashion and sense of style not grammar. However I agree with Laura its not right to accuse anyone of false accusations. Best of luck to all contestants and winners of fashion week. Sincerely, Johnny
Laura
Michael, I completely agree no one should be getting attacked. However, you are being a hypocrite by accusing a contestant of false accusations. Looks like you're not practicing what you're preaching.
Semp
Oh wait..... nvm just looked at the original post. LOL Johnny Seabass MORE LIKE Johnny Seagrass!
Semp
To Jake..... where did Johnny mess up with "your". The only your in his statement seems to be the correct usage as it indicates possession of the "important obligation" and not as a contraction of "you are".
Jake
Johnny, I think you are getting away from the point of this contest in order to bring somebody down and that is very inappropriate. Just be positive on the person you are trying to support and leave it at that.
Michael
Thank you FiGi administrator for coming on here and explaining the contest there are four winners and all eight of them are winners for even being this far its very simple here to see here there is a problem with one of the contestants and maybe they should be more investigated on their voting process and if I was in the contest I could write anything on this wall and put an anomynous name on it but I would never put anyone down you will fall instead of gain. Spellinng grammar, macbook filming...seems to me ego is setting in. I really feel for this happening no one should be put down only praised.
Johnny Seabass
Dear Jake, That's not even relevant. Your compared to you're is nothing like spelling the name of a major company someone is trying to get an internship for. What does that say about your knowledge of the company your trying to work for? Your compared to you're, what are you a school teacher? Thats not the point I was trying to make, I just thinking spelling the name of a major company wrong in an edited video you made a big slip up in the video process of trying to get this internship. Is Fiji looking for who is using proper grammar? Probably not. Is Fiji gonna notice and take into consideration that you spelt their company name wrong while trying to get an internship from them? I think so. That is the point I was making. Sincerely, Your Dear Friend Johnny
Jake
Johnny, maybe you shouldn't be the one to jump the gun when you can't even use the correct usage of the word "you're". Maybe we need to analyze ourselves before we analyze others so we don't make ourselves out to be hypocrites? I think so.
Rita Masters
Wow Meghan Mende's and Catherine Hsu's videos were definatley the best! I loved Meghan's idea about the fireworks and letting your inner light shine and Catherine's dress that she chose was beautiful and perfect for the collection she described! Good Luck to the both of you and I certainly hope you are both chosen to go to Fashion Week!
Johnny Seabass
Dear Virginia, all I was saying was this is a contest for a pretty serious internship, if you were making a video for Fiji don't you think your most important obligation would be to get the name of the product and sponsor right? No offense was just making a point that observation is key and I feel that plays a big part in this contest.
Love, Johnny
friend of a contestant
if one of the winners can't attend, will you bring the girl with the next highest votes? or only bring 3?
Sean Mortimer
"Go meghan its your birthday go meghan go meghan ohh yea ohh yea alright alright, clap clap clap clap your hands, go Meghan!!!"
Judy
Go Jackie!!
Allen Matthews
Congrats everyone on the contest, me and my two sons Eric and Corey are also very proud!!!
Danny Tanner
Great job everyone me and my daughters are all very proud!!!
FIJI Water
Hi Everyone,
This is FIJI Water's blog administrator. Please keep your comments civil, and avoid disparaging other contestants. In our opinion, all eight contestants did an awesome job. We were really impressed with this year's videos.
Also, as a reminder: the top FOUR contestants will be Fashion Week Interns, not just the top video.
Thanks,
FIJI Water
virginia lejeune
to you johnny seabass, look at the key board, you think it might have been an honest mistake, lighten up pal, these are kids, not spelling majors
virginia lejeune
My vote goes to Jackie, she nailed the assignment, pulling from her own closet a piece that is truly parisian. So vote Jackie all the way to fashion week.
Jen
I think everyone here has to realize that all of the contestants have no control over these posts and what is written in them.
Jenny
Did I not read there will be four winners so if you are in the top four you are good?
It seems to me there is a problem here in being number 1...in some of the references made yesterday were very cruel against one of the girls in the afternoon because she was in the lead..Do you know you will be working together?
Ren
All of the girls are winners for making it this far..Congratulations....
Being negative toward others is not a good choice in this world being POSITIVE to one another will make you a winner in this world...
Marvi
Ashley, relevance ?
Ashley
I have known Jackie since elementary school and you would always look twice when you would see her. A compliment each day on how she would put together an outfit ideas I had not seen before. I remember her getting to go to New York and fashion was always her topic of conversation and she was someone you could listen too and jealous no way, She has been chosen for the Teen Vogue contest and represented it very well we are so proud of her she has had a tough last year with her father passing away and I am sure he would be proud of her. Good luck to the girls each one did a nice job but I had to express my true feelings for someone I know who has their whole heart in the fashion world. Hey she even met Tim Gunn and she posted photos and I am sure he saw the passion..
Ms. Carlson
Meghan had it in her heart to inspire people to believe what she believes in. Her video and fashion inspiration was remarkable and I wish her the best success. All the contestants did a good job and it was a tight race I wish everyone the best of luck but Meghan's was truly exceptional. Always remember "Me stone is Me stone".
Walt Snyder
My vote goes for Samantha Epstein's shoe, not Samantha Epstein
Marvi
Negative, Pange
pange
meg mende!! hands down best vid and the most enthusiastic personality about the whole thing! a true winner. zlas
Ben Bradley
Brother...?
bob bradley
Meghan Mende is just banking on katy perry's fireworks cant you see that people? read a book on fashion . i voted for this Jackie McKenzie lady. she is the only one in my beautiful eyes that has the true understanding of fashion
Brunstallion
My vote's for samantha epstein. My name is Brunstallion.
ANGELA
It's really disappointing that this contest is getting away from its original idea and is being overshadowed by hateful comments for the sake of being mean. It's one thing to talk and criticize someone's video but when it gets personal that's just low and uncalled for, we're not 5, grow up people. Good luck to all contestants!
Johnny Seabass
Something seems a little off, i know what it is its Jackie Mckenzie's video because she couldnt even spell Fiji right in the beginning of her video. How can you be a fashion intern when your blind as a bat.
Peter Baldwin Senior
Hey guys guess what.... im back
Chet Walters
Who shot the couch? Jackie McKenzie shot the couch...
Kim Dillion
Jackie is definitely reading off of something in her video. She looks down every time she speaks, & you can barely hear what she has to say. So i am confused about her having a good video.
Billy Frick
I'm Billy Frick and I voted for Peter Baldwin Senior.
Big Daddy Andrews
Who cut the cheese... Jackie Mckenzie cut the cheese
Ronny Stein
I vote for Catherine Hsu!
Cassandra
My vote went to MEGHAN MENDE and so should all of yours. She will ROCK fashion week.
Hamilton Porter
Well guys it was an open and shut case Meghan def won. Congrats on the other top 3 leaders as being runner ups but only one video will win. If your not first your last in the world we live in today. I must say Brittany Caswell also had a very nice video and I hope she makes the top 4 with Meghan. As for Jackie Mckenzie I have one word to describe her and her video = Overrated. When it comes down to it Meghan came to play ball and hit a grand slam while the rest of you were just sitting in the dugout.
Marilou Suszko
Jackie McKenzie nails it with using the Parisian woman as her standard of fashion.
Julia
I thought using Qi was a very original idea and that Ms. Hsu's video was put together nicely. Not only does she have an excellent personality behind the camera but her ideas come from a unique place. If anyone knows anything about Qi it ties very well into fashion which I never really thought about before seeing her video. Qi is a life force that flows through all of us and even the way your dress can affect this flow. Building a line behind that idea and how clothing affects you is a great idea. All the girls did a wonderful job I just thought Ms. Hsu's was the most unique, visually appealing and to the point. I do wish she had worn the dress she was talking about in her video though. Good luck to all and may the best girl win not the most popular.
fashionnj
MEGHAN ALL DAY ! .. the others are just wannabes
Sue Miller
I voted for Jaclyn McKenzie
Alex
I can see from the comments that most of you have no idea what you're saying. I can say categorically that Meghan's video is in no way the best. The best two videos in my opinion are that of Catherine and Folayemi. I am not a friend of either. I am just a by passer who read the comments and feels the need to contribute so as to make sure the right people go to Fashion Week.
"Jwow" lets get this fight on!
"I on the other hand have had plenty of experience in the fashion industry, as many of you well know. " V Wang
Sounds like your trying to pretend to be some one your not. You live in Jersey...(hahah) but work out of the city and are a small scale fashion designer. How the hell would we know you've had experience? Answer that one sir V Wang!
Catherine Hsu
Hi, I am Catherine Hsu, and I do not know who "Pete Baldwin SR" or "Vince Wang" is. Although, I do find what some of you are writing, very hurtful. So please, stop.
Molly
Catherine Hsu and Jackie McKenzie are probably the only two that fully represent what fashion week is about. This statement is not to put down the others but just to take a glance at the reality of it all. They have what it takes, so make sure you don't vote based on popularity because then fashion week will be misrepresented.
Editta Sherman
Meghan Mende seems to have the instincts for getting to the reality of fashion - individuality through instincts. Her presentation seems to get what many seem to miss; that is, express yourself by being yourself. Unlike all of these videos, which seems to originate from the cliche handbook, Meghan's presentation is not strained nor contrived. Congratulations, Meghan, you are an up-and-coming fashion icon!
Mary
Meghan Mende!!!!!!!!
Semp
@Vince J. Wang
Why couldn't you establish that you weren't Vera Wang to begin with honey? When posting on a fashion related discussion and leaving the name V. Wang you only invite speculation. It's similar to posting on ESPN as B. Simmons or on some right wing news related site as B. O'Reilly. Let's get real here Vince. I'm sorry for what may seem like an attack, I just don't think it's that outlandish to assume; albeit unlikely.
V. Wang
The real V. Wang? HAHA Listen honey, if you really think VERA WANG would have the time of day to look at an internship contest like this, then you must be crazy. I'm Vince J. Wang a.k.a V. Wang. I'm a fashion designer out of South Jersey, but I work in the City. I have no idea who any of these girls are and I really don't care, I found this page when I was doing a Google search for Fashion week. Mr. Baldwin, you need to get your story straight before you go accusing people of impersonating anyone. There are probably thousands of people with the first initial "V" and the last name Wang, I just happen to be a fashion designer as well (on a smaller scale of course). Definitely not trying to give anyone false hope or ruin anyone's chances at anything. I just gave my opinion and signed my name. So leave the girl alone, who are you to be calling any of these contestants fake. If anyone is ruining her chances at this, its you Baldwin. Anyways, don't mind him, good luck everyone.
zetataualpha
Meghan Mende all the way! Go get 'em girl!
zlam <3
Pete Baldwin Senior
First of all I never worked at TJMaxx you ignorant imposter. I hope the real V. Wang sees this since your impersonating her. You are who you hang with, your obviously Catherine Hsu's friend so what does that say about Catherine? I did work in the fashion business and know what I am talking about, clearly you dont. Congrats you just ruined your friend at fashion week, your both clearly fake. Just remember fashion week is much more then a popularity contest its about the fashion and the experience. Im Pete Baldwin Senior.
SJ
I voted for Meghan Mende.
G Lowe
I voted for Meghan Mende. She's right, we all have an indivdual light within us. Everything in life is created from moment to moment, always new. Like fireworks, this universe is a celebration and we are the spectators waiting for someone to bring it out!!! Meghan know's this and through fashion she can make it happen for others.
Semp
Who says high fashion can't entail Fireworks? Furthermore, why does high fashion have to conform to whimsical Parisian ideals? This stubborn resistance to original ideas is what is ruining the fashion industry today.
Originality > Cliche
Terry T
I vote for Meghan Mende! Woohoo for Fireworks!
V. Wang
Wow, excellent job by all the contestants! I will be attending NY Fashion Week this year and I look forward to seeing the winning interns there. I do have to go ahead and disagree with Mr. Pete Baldwin. I understand you say you have worked in the fashion business, but clearly that was retail at TJMaxx. NY Fashion week is about high fashion, not Fireworks. I on the other hand have had plenty of experience in the fashion industry, as many of you well know. My personal favorite is Catherine Hsu and her collection "Chi." She showed a knowledge of what Fashion truly is about, taking an simple idea, implementing it into a style of your own in a creative way that makes sense with a personal touch. Good Luck to all! - V. Wang
ally
Jackie McKenzie seems to have that natural beauty it takes to be in fashion and she talked very professional she looks alot like Katerine Heigl the same beauty she seems like she would represent thefashion industry with the right look and poise. Good luck to everyone...
Ashley
i vote for meghan mende! im loving the fireworks ! zlam!
ANNA
I voted Jackie McKenzie!
leah
I vote for meghan mende :) she's great
Garrett
@ Kayla, I'm not siding with any of the candidates but what reasoning do you have to support your claim? I don't see anyone doing any wrong except you for a false assumption.
Kayla
Why does Jackie's friends put down all the other contestants? Not cool
Peyton
I just don't understand the firework theme as something that is truly a fashion inspiration? It just seems cliche and something that KMART or Wal-Mart would pick up for a commercial. No offense, but fashion week is among the most influential designers and I feel the candidates should have that higher level of fashion knowledge for this type of internship. That's why I would narrow my votes down to Catherine Hsu and Jackie McKenzie. Hard decision.
John
After watching all three videos, the three that stand out to me are Catherine Hsu, Jackie McKenzie, and Gabrielle Tavani. The all seem very passionate about fashion and have great ideas. Personally, my vote goes to Catherine Hsu. Besides being one of the only girls that wasn't awkward in her video, she also displays a knowledge of fashion and the inspiration for her collection is great and it makes sense. I just don't understand how the song "Fireworks" would relate to fashion in any way. Just my opinion. Good Luck to everyone! Vote Catherine Hsu!!
Ty
The most talented out of these is definitely Jackie McKenzie!
Sara
My votes for Meghan Mende! Love the idea of everyones style being unique just like a firework. Zeta love!!!
George Lian
Catherine Hsu
Angie
I vote for Meghan Mende!
Ashley Stout
I vote for Meghan Mende. She's awesome and love the fireworks theme!
Diana
I vote for Catherine Hsu - she really gets it!
Patricia Garcia King
I vote for Catherine Hsu
Chrystian
some of these girls talk about great concepts but then show a piece that doesn't embody what they said. I thought Catherine Hsu did a great job of being consistent and understanding of what shes presenting. love!
Richard AkersBarrows
Brittney caswell has the best personality and ecstatic for the job!!! Her clothes r fun nd youthful like her!!! I know she great for the iternship!!!!
Michelle
I think Catherine Hsu has some great ideas! plus I absolutely love the dress she chose for her collection!!
Osmosica
I don't know any of these lovely ladies but I have to say I had a hard time choosing between Folayemi Agusto, Jackie Mckenzie and Alma Alice Woo. (Though, to be clear, everyone here obviously has talent! These were just my personal favorites.)
So in the end, who did I choose?
Didn't you know it's impolite to ask someone about their vote?
I did finally make my choice and I'll give you a hint.
Whose pitch was both about things a real girl like me would actually buy and wear AND was highly creative?
All of them?
Yes!
But if you HAD to choose like I did?
That's alll I'm givin' ya, folks :) ...but what I'd really suggest is you take all 3! (or 8 if you can...why not?)
Alex
Clearly Folayemi Agusto has the most original ideas, vote for her!!
flangel
CATHERINE YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT!!!
=D
ShattySemp
I think all the ladies are so wonderful, but where is the male spice?
April Montgomery
Love Girls Night Out!!!
Jenna J
Miss Jackie Mckenzie has my vote, I can just see the passion she has for this, and I know she really deserves to be out there in Fashion Week! I that many of these girl want to attend fashion week, but we need to vote for the girl with the most drive and passion, just like I have when I perform! *teehee
Semp
JACKIE MCKENZIE IS SOOOOOOO WHIMSICAL
Courtney
I vote for Folayemi Agusto!! I have seen her pieces in different shows and they are AMAZING. take her to fashion week!
<3 Court
Marissa
I vote for Catherine!
EllaBaby
I voted for Gabby Tavani!! Simply because I agree with her take on the LBD as a "staple" piece. Just bought 2 this weekend at a local boutique in Princeton! Needless to say, lovedddd it. Tavani is so on point. no matter wat "personal" fashion you have, the classic pieces will always be in fashion. Best to you all ladies! Wish you the best, Gabrielle =)
Mindy
I think this is such a fabulous opportunity for all of these candidates. I don't know any of the candidates personally but I must say I really like the "whimsical" reference made by Jackie McKenzie. I wish all of them the best of luck and it seems like they all have a good future ahead of them!
Pamela A
That Jackie Mckenzie is one sizzling hot spice of NYC fashion week! She belongs there, I can see her passion through this video...The other girls...I don't know so much about...but Jackie will not let NYC down! VOTE FOR JACKIE!
Hannah
Anything in the world (such as songs, weather, designers, colors) could inspire one person, that is why people have such vast imaginations and we see so many different collections on the runway during NY Fashion Week. If you like a certain person, vote for them. That's it. You're making yourself look bad by attacking other candidates.
Catherin
The best vote is clearly Meghan. She is an amazing girl with great style and finesse. Not to mention a sweet girl who would thrive in an opportunity such as this.
Dakota
Hands down, the best video is truly Brittany Caswell.
Vivian
Is this really based on fashion knowledge and passion? Or a popularity contest?
If you know anything about fashion... you're only decision is Jackie McKenzie.
Please don't let a good opportunity go wasted.
Vivian
Is this really based on fashion knowledge and passion? -Seems like it's based on who's got most of their friends refreshing and voting.
If you REALLY understand fashion... your only choice would be Jackie McKenzie.
agnes0830@aol.com
samantha is right on target!
camille
Gabrielle is the nicest girl in the entire world. Her life is also completely about fashion and helping others. <3 her best friend
dat boy
i just want Folayemi Agusto on this
Briana Attalla
*
chris
i vote for catherine hsu!
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