A World of Opportunities: New York Fashion Week Q&A

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is a semiannual highlight for the whole city: a cornucopia of social events, creative showcases, and kinetic energy stretching across much of Manhattan. However, for model students Kelly Capuano ‘24GS, Rhaya Jacobs ‘27GS, and Krista Nina Kalaj ‘24GS, NYFW is even more special in its personal and professional significance. 

In honor of this February’s NYFW, Capuano, Jacobs, and Kalaj share how fashion, Columbia GS, and New York City itself all work together to shape their GS stories.

Kelly Capuano '24GS

What is your GS story?

My journey with the School of General Studies at Columbia started when I was 11, having just signed with a modeling agency in my hometown of Los Angeles. After that, most of my teenage years were spent traveling to cities such as Tokyo, Milan, London, Paris, and New York to pursue a career as a fashion model. This path led me to prematurely graduate high school and complete my GED at 16 to work full-time.

When I decided to leave the modeling industry and pursue higher education, it was challenging due to the absence of a conventional high school diploma. For this reason, I began taking classes at Borough of Manhattan Community College. After two years of dedicated academic effort, I applied to Columbia GS. Now, I am here, majoring in political science!

How did fashion influence your transition to Columbia?

Fashion has been a constant in my life, shaping most of my experiences and perspectives from a young age. The fashion industry has offered numerous opportunities, allowing me to travel and meet a variety of people. This exposure to different cultures and environments has broadened my outlook, which has been valuable in my educational journey at Columbia. The diverse perspectives I gained in the fashion industry have helped to enhance my understanding and appreciation of the world which is an important aspect of any education.

Since you've been at Columbia, what role has New York City played in your relationship with education and/or fashion?

New York City has been a part of my life well before my time at Columbia, but my relationship with the city has evolved. Being immersed in such a fashion hub while pursuing my education has been very special. It has allowed for me to continue to engage with the fashion community and maintain my friendships within the industry. Columbia has enriched my time in NYC further by offering fresh insights into fashion and the city itself, opening my eyes to things like the historical relevance behind today's trends. I’m thankful for how Columbia's location keeps me close to the New York I knew before while also presenting it in a fresh and exciting way.

Any advice for others who may be transitioning from or juggling both fashion and higher education?

 For those navigating the transition or balancing fashion with higher education, my advice would be to let each experience enrich the other. The fashion world is filled with learning opportunities, as is the academic world. Given that fashion and higher education are both focused on contemporary and past cultural narratives, I would encourage others to draw connections from insights gained in each sphere to help improve on the understanding of the other.

Are you participating in New York Fashion Week 2024? If so, is there anything you would like to share about the upcoming experience?

Since I still have a lot of friends involved in New York Fashion Week I will occasionally tag along with them to events or presentations during the week. Fashion week has changed a lot since the rise of social media, so not only are there shows but tons of events, parties, presentations: some of which are open to the public. I would encourage anyone interested in the fashion world to follow their favorite brands on social media to see what they have going on, follow Business of Fashion to get updates on the week and also just walk around the city, it’s truly more alive during NYFW.

Rhaya Jacobs '27GS

What is your GS story?

Throughout my childhood, I've always found myself championing individuality. I believed it was imperative to diverge from the customary path society set before us and instead concentrate on broadening our horizons to evoke new perspectives. In high school, I saw that through social impact. I achieved my Girl Scout Gold Award on gentrification in D.C. and co-launched a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Project Pink Tax, dedicated to combating menstrual poverty. 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic voided my interest in a traditional path to college. The isolation I experienced during distance learning piqued my curiosity to take a year off and explore a world beyond the academic setting. 

During my gap year, I spent time in Paris after being scouted by a modeling agency. I had the incredible opportunity to work with leading brands like Calvin Klein and Harper’s Bazaar and explore a city I'd never traveled to. Back in New York, I was grateful enough to receive a position as an investment analyst at a venture capital firm. The opportunity allowed me to hone my skills and develop an interest in financial economics, which I plan to study at Columbia. 

How did fashion influence your transition to Columbia?

After modeling for a year, a part of me began to yearn for higher education. I was only 18 and had a lifetime ahead of me, but I always valued academics and higher learning. There were many intersections between fashion and the world of academia (Art, history, humanities…even finance!). I found Columbia GS to be one of the only available programs where I could pursue my modeling career in New York City while getting a bachelor’s at an Ivy League school. 

Since you've been at Columbia, what role has New York City played in your relationship with education and/or fashion?

New York City has significantly impacted my relationship with education and fashion. Columbia’s world-class education, which happens to be in one of the top fashion markets, was one of my primary reasons for applying. This convenience has allowed me to juggle fashion and higher education relatively smoothly. After class, I may have a casting that’s a short 20-minute commute downtown, I could then get some work done at a nearby coffee shop, then take the train back up to Columbia and make it right on time for my next class. Columbia’s proximity to downtown has made almost all my responsibilities a train ride away. 

Any advice for others who may be transitioning from or juggling both fashion and higher education?

There’s definitely no easy answer to that. I think the key is being in tune with yourself. You need to grasp your strengths and weaknesses and be able to compartmentalize all aspects of your life. For example: If you know you’ll be busy during the week, focus on completing assignments on the weekend. You could also schedule classes in the mornings and evenings to keep your days open for spontaneity. 

Always remember that if things become too much, you have many resources at Columbia to lean into. Stay communicative, whether it be your academic advisor, classmates, or professors. Make sure they know about your career!

Are you participating in New York Fashion Week 2024? If so, is there anything you would like to share about the upcoming experience?

Yes! Fashion Week, rather “Fashion Month,” is actually a month of fashion shows taking place in February and September. Each week follows: New York, London, Milan, and finally Paris to close the season. It’s often difficult for newer models (like myself) to break into the fashion week show season, but we are always hopeful and committed to showing up at all the castings. The industry is extremely dynamic, so anything can happen!

Krista Nina Kalaj '24GS

What is your GS story?

Before attending Columbia University, I was in the modeling/ entertainment industry since I was scouted at 13 years-old. During high school, I was traveling domestically and internationally to develop my portfolio and eventually I graduated early from high school to pursue modeling full-time in New York. For two years, my time was devoted to traveling for international jobs, fashion week- mainly in NYC and Paris—and going on castings regularly. 

How did fashion influence your transition to Columbia?

Well I would say being in the fashion industry was an interesting and important transition for me because in that time I really got to know myself and my interests. Traveling alone and working with new teams everyday exposed me to reality at an early age and I began building this idea of what I wanted to achieve in the long run. Alongside my participation in the fashion industry, I always had the intention to dedicate a period of my life to studying at university after high school, so I knew I wanted to study a subject area that would help me understand the world more—which is how I ran into studying financial economics at Columbia. 

Since you've been at Columbia, what role has New York City played in your relationship with education and/or fashion?

What I really appreciate about being in the city is how interesting everyone around you is- everyone is very involved and invested in their projects and I love hearing about what motivates people to contribute in their fields. So, I would say it’s made me more open minded about what I want to do with myself—the city recognizes multi-faceted individuals with differing interests and I think for a while I had a hard time reconciling with that part of me given I have divided interests in arts and sciences. Thinking ahead, I want to figure out a way to merge my interests in the entertainment world and the skills I acquired during my time at Columbia.

Any advice for others who may be transitioning from or juggling both fashion and higher education?

My advice would be to set a schedule that works for you and your prospects/ goals. If you are transitioning from the entertainment/ fashion industry, really just allow yourself to explore and see what subjects and industries speak to you, and be honest with yourself. The amazing thing about Columbia is you have the ability to create a schedule that works best for you, and you have a great community from faculty to students that can guide you along the process. I would take it one semester at a time and try to immerse yourself in different campus communities- this is what really helped me.

Are you participating in New York Fashion Week 2024? If so, is there anything you would like to share about the upcoming experience?

Tentatively speaking I may participate in September Fashion Week this year- which will be my first time doing the shows since I was a teenager. Fashion week is very challenging given that you have to be on the run and attend anywhere between 5-13 castings a day with shows and fittings in-between, but it is also a rewarding experience since you have the opportunity to participate in an international fashion event that people all around that world are watching. My insight from the past is to just enjoy yourself and not stress- you never know what you can learn and what you’ll take with you!