Creative Direction & Production: Isa Zapata with TruKreative
Photographer: Jorge Duva
First Photo Assistant: Jose Arizmendi
Photo Assistants: Mauricio Luna and Marta Maloto
Production Assistant: Teri Caraballo
Stylist: Betina Bak
Makeup: Susana Betancourt
Hair Stylists: Emilio Uribe and Glenda Amaya
Behind-the-Scenes Photographer: Johnny Acero
Videographer: Macrofilms
MFI Fashion Interns: Petter Rodriguez, Catherina Gonzalez, Jazmin Alia and Daniel Estevez
Fashion Assistant: Catalina Meneces Lourido
Fashion Contributors: Gio Isaza and Norma Fonseca Gaona
Guest Designers: Katherine Cordero, Gio Isaza and Sartori Amici
Carla Ruben’s Hair & Makeup: Carlo A. Vera
Special Guests: Liam Stefanov, Vicky Echeverri and Elizabeth Melamet
Special Thanks: Oscar Lopez
Location: Miami Dade College’s National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower

Brenda J. Schamy

Brenda J. Schamy, Attorney & Strategist. A first impression forms before a single word is spoken, in the cut of a blazer or the confidence of a color choice. Brenda J. Schamy, an Attorney & Strategist, calls her style eclectic and expansive, the kind that shifts shape depending on the room and the role she’s playing in it. She didn’t always dress with intention, but a few years ago something clicked, a sharper understanding of how clothing communicates. Now every outfit is a calculation of occasion, presence and instinct, chosen the way a closing argument is built, piece by piece, until it holds. “Fashion is a non-verbal first impression,” she says. “It’s a facet of identity and a form of expression.” Her mother’s counsel still guides her, and Yves Saint Laurent’s words linger longer: “Fashions fade, but style is eternal.”

Steven Lawrence Meyer

Steven Lawrence Meyer, Founder & Principal Designer, Haus of Lawrence. Light and fabric follow the same instincts for Steven Lawrence Meyer, Founder & Principal Designer of Haus of Lawrence, where architectural lighting shapes how people experience a space. That same eye for proportion and contrast informs his wardrobe: relaxed tailoring, oversized silhouettes, rich textures, and a neutral palette drawn from French style, understated and built to last. He’d rather be well-dressed without shouting for attention than compete to be the loudest in the room. Every outfit starts with a strong foundation, then layers, texture and proportion follow, edited until it feels balanced. Europe, especially France, sharpens that instinct further, influencing a creative peak he carries home. “Don’t chase every trend,” he says. “Invest in great basics, buy quality over quantity, and figure out what makes you feel like yourself. Confidence always outshines the clothes.”

Carla Ruben

Carla Ruben, Founder & Creative Director, Creative Edge Parties. A great outfit works the same way a great event does, every detail is intentional, and nothing is left to chance. Carla Ruben, Founder & Creative Director of Creative Edge Parties, brings that same design instinct to how she dresses: clean lines, a sharp jumpsuit, a crisp blazer with jeans, exceptional shoes. Her style took shape alongside her company, once she understood that presentation was part of the pitch. She’d rather be remembered for how she carries herself than for what she wears, aiming for polished and comfortable rather than overdone. “Style is an authentic expression of who you are, not a reflection of what’s trending,” she says. “The best style feels effortless because it comes from confidence, not from trying to be noticed.”

Humberto “El Gato” Rodriguez

Humberto “El Gato” Rodriguez, Radio & Television Host. Few names in Latin entertainment carry the recognition of Humberto “El Gato” Rodriguez. Born in Bogotá, he has more than 37 years of experience in the media industry. A music expert with a background in sound engineering, he has created highly memorable radio programs for audiences throughout Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market. He is a host for many celebrated programs including: Sábados Felices on Caracol Television, the Guinness World Record holder for the longest-running television comedy show in the world; the popular podcast El Poder De La Música; and the highest-rated morning radio show in Miami on Magic 93.9 on iHeartRadio. He is also a sought-after commercial voice-over artist for major brands and products, and has served as a music judge on various reality shows and talent competitions. “My style is classic with a modern edge — comfortable, polished and intentional without trying too hard,” he says. “I like pieces that reflect my personality rather than simply following trends.”

Gino Campodónico

Gino Campodónico, Senior Director of Communications & Storytelling, Adrienne Arsht Center. Confidence walks in first, followed by color, texture, and the faint hum of a mood board still taking shape. As the Senior Director of Communications & Storytelling at the Adrienne Arsht Center, Gino Campodónico spends his days shaping narratives for one of the country’s leading performing arts institutions, and his evenings dressing like every outfit deserves its own opening night. His eye traces back to South Beach in the ‘90s, to Gianni Versace’s reign and a mother immersed in luxury fashion, then sharpens further behind retail counters on Collins Avenue and at Bal Harbour Shops. Today his style shifts with his mood: bold one day, effortless the next. “Style is one of the purest forms of self-expression,” he says. “When you feel good in your clothes, it shows.”

Ketsia Marcellus

Ketsia Marcellus, COO, Suited For Success / Dress For Success Miami. Fashion arrives before language does, an introduction spoken entirely in fabric and detail. Ketsia Marcellus serves as the COO of Suited For Success/Dress For Success Miami and works as a licensed Florida Realtor, while sourcing and reselling secondhand and vintage pieces on the side. Her style moves between masculine and feminine energy, shaped early by Sunday mornings in the Haitian church, where presentation carried both reverence and self-respect. Every outfit now begins with intention, tuned to the occasion’s energy but anchored in authenticity, accessories and details filling in personality even where dress codes limit the rest. “Style is one of the loudest ways we can introduce ourselves without ever saying a single word,” she says. “Every piece I wear should tell a story, evoke an emotion or make someone look twice.”

Lena Draiman

Lena Draiman, Licensed Medical Aesthetician & Investor. Style begins as an instinct, then settles into something closer to identity. Lena Draiman is a career chameleon of sorts: she’s a Licensed Medical Aesthetician, a Comité-certified Champagne Specialist, an Investor, and a “home CEO” to a teen. Despite all of her successes, her fashion sense didn’t fully take shape until she stepped away from her on-camera career and the wardrobe it required. What followed was a shift from costume to canvas, a mix of playful femininity and clean structure that changes with her mood while staying true to fit and season. Every outfit is chosen with movement in mind, as well as color, fabric, and the simple test of whether she can walk, dance and breathe in it! “True style is not about following trends, but standing out as you,” she says. “Choose to wear what makes your heart sing over what makes the crowd react.”