The Fashion Show 2014 partnered up with the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa to put on the very first “Passion for Fashion” event March 8.

About 10:45 a.m., a few dozen Girl Scouts grabbed a name tag and took a seat in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union.

The event began with an interactive talk between the girls and Jenifer Roberts and Jennifer McDermott, two school of education graduate students. These students both work at the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center, which promotes equality for women.

Roberts and McDermott discussed important topics such as body image and eating disorders. They explained the importance of having a healthy body image to the young girls by using facts and statistics to which the girls could relate.

They also refuted some of the common misconceptions haunting young girls today.

“The body type that they are presenting in toys like Barbies is not actually realistic,” Roberts said, as she explained that a human being with a Barbie doll’s body measurements would not even be able to function properly.

The event proceeded into some hands-on activities that taught the girls about body image acceptance and gave them a chance to voice their opinions about the topic.

After being served lunch, the girls had an opportunity to make scarves out of old Fashion Show T-Shirts, a chance to draw their own designs and to create their own inspirational boards by cutting words and images out of various magazines.

Every year, student organizers of The Fashion Show pick a service project as part of their philanthropy. In the past, The Fashion Show has chosen to collect canned goods for the Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support. But this year, they wanted to do something a little more hands-on to support the cause.

Senior Kaley Ihle and junior Courtney McCulloh, alumni directors of the The Fashion Show 2014 said that by attending this event, they hope the girls will learn to be confident in their own skin while becoming more familiar with the Iowa State Fashion Show, as well.

“We want them to see us as role models and somebody to look up to,” Ihle said.

Several parents that accompanied their children at this event said that they were pleased with “Passion for Fashion.”

“I’m impressed,” said Mary Lepley, a parent of one of the Girl Scouts. She explained that as a parent, it is important to teach your kids these lessons, and this event gave the Girl Scouts a chance to hear from young adults that have gone through the same experiences.

Marlene Winkler, another parent of a scout, agreed with Lepley and also said that she thinks it was a great experience for the girls to meet other Girl Scouts across Iowa.

Ihle and McCulloh said they could see this event being something that happens every year, and that they hope that it will continue to grow throughout the years.

“It’s definitely going to be smaller scale this year just because it’s our first time,” Ihle said.

The Fashion Show 2014 will take place at 7 p.m. April 5 at C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased through the Iowa State Center Box Office or online through Ticketmaster.com.