Silk, linen, satin. Each texture has a pulse, a sound, a story. There—among lights, photographs, and wardrobe combinations—Jericho Davis found his refuge. A space where being different did not hurt, but instead took shape. Where he could reinvent himself without asking permission, showing his unique fashion and trend sense. Davis, a student from Peekskill, was selected to compete for an international recognition that could take him as a guest to Milan Fashion Week. It will also serve as a platform for his growing modeling career.
When Davis received the news, he did not know how to react. For a moment, the world seemed to fall silent. “It felt like my life had changed for the better, as a new window had opened for me,” he says. That window now opens toward Italy, toward the runway where Versace will present its next collection. Toward an opportunity few achieve: being part of a program that could grant him twenty thousand dollars and a feature in Flaunt Magazine. Yet beyond the prize, Davis sees in this path a confirmation. A reminder that all he has experienced—both the good and the painful—serves as momentum.
He was born in Manhattan and moved to Peekskill in 2015, when the city was still an unknown landscape. He did not start school there until 2021, and it was then that he discovered what it means to belong. “I had no idea how much of a positive impact Peekskill would have on me. Everyone within the community has supported me through my ups and downs,” he emphasizes.
Part of his story is reflected in his way of dressing. He speaks of elegance, a balance between sober and expressive. “My style consists of three components. Elegance, which shows my interest in fashion on a more grandeur basis. Casual formal, which shows the best of both worlds by combining simplicity and style.” In each outfit he wears, he seems to seek a middle ground: neither to escape himself, nor to fully fit in.
Since childhood, his admiration for Michael Jackson led him to understand that movement is also a language. That one can speak without saying anything. “His influence in how I live and move makes me work to do better every day,” he recounts.
However, elegance was not always a choice. At times, it was a defense. Davis was born with sickle cell anemia, a condition that imposed pain as a routine. Hospitalizations were frequent; crises, a habitual territory. “Normal was never a possibility for me,” he explains calmly. Between needles and medications, he learned not to remain on the ground. “I refuse to stay down even in the worst situations, finding a way to get back on my feet,” he describes.
That is why, when asked today what this nomination means, Davis does not speak of fame or money. He speaks of purpose. Of difference. “This program has shown me that it is okay to be different. I have always been seen as different and to a point it was upsetting.”
Now, that difference is his signature. Not only in fashion but also in the way he sees the world. In his desire that others, seeing him, also dare to try.
Perhaps Davis is now one of the pioneers of fashion, but he will pave the way for other dreamers. Today, everyone can support him. Voting is open through this link. Every vote adds visibility within the contest and could make a difference for Davis to reach his goal.
If he wins, he says, it will not only be a personal victory but a message. “If I win, I would like to leave a strong message to everyone. I want people to know that if you have a dream, follow it.”
Finally, when asked what he would say to the child he once was, Davis does not hesitate:
“Life is going to have moments where you feel the worst is happening. You will gain and you will lose. What you choose to gain is up to you … When you fall down, do not remain on the ground. Your life is just beginning,” he concludes.
