The spring/summer 2026 Kansas City Fashion Week season is here

  For UMKC senior Sydney Snelson, walking in Kansas City Fashion Week (KCFW) is more than just modeling, it’s a chance to represent local designers and redefine the industry. 

  For the spring/summer 2026 collection, and her third KCFW cycle, Snelson worked with two local designers – Tabu Knits Boutique and Range & Reverie. Snelson has previously worked with a myriad of other local designers including PLLLLLENTY. 

  “I really like working with local designers because they have so many unique pieces of clothing,” Snelson said. “They’re full of heart, full of grit.”

  These designers’ “heart” and “grit” were certainly showcased in their clothing at KCFW. 

  Snelson’s outfit for Range & Reverie was a royal blue romper with gold detailing that highlighted the brand’s blend of rustic and chic aesthetics. For Tabu Knits, Snelson wore the opening look – a mint, a-line, floral dress with rhinestone detailing and a bow that showcased the brand’s modern and embellished style.

  Snelson’s experience with modeling hasn’t been the stereotypical strict dieting, incredibly vain, competitive environment, but rather the opposite. She described the Tabu Knits designers as the “best hype women ever” and the modeling industry as “very raw and real.”

  While she finds the industry to be very supportive, Snelson said when she first got into it, she often struggled with telling people she modeled. 

  “I thought people would only see me as dumb, or ‘she’s so full of herself,’ and ‘she doesn’t look like she needs to be doing that’,” Snelson said. “Whether or not people actually thought those things, I don’t know.”

  According to Snelson’s longtime friend DJ Yearwood, this isn’t the case. 

  “I’ve known Sydney since middle school, and I don’t think modeling has affected or changed who she is,” Yearwood said. “At her core, Sydney has always been a high-achieving, hard-working person who happens to have the looks and confidence to compliment her character.”

  As she’s gained more experience, Snelson’s attitude has become more aligned with Yearwood’s.

  “I realized ‘Hey, this is just for fun and you don’t have to worry about it,’” Snelson said. “If you enjoy it, you enjoy it and it’s not anyone else’s business about what they think.”

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