After months of work, Sacramento State designers from the Sac State Student Fashion Association got the chance to show off their latest lines tonight on the runway in the University Union.

Designers were running high on creativity as they premiered collections of slim-cut black dresses, lacy blue gowns, rose and skull print skirts and even clothes that cover the scars of breast cancer with high fashion.

Hundreds of spectators cheered as unique looks from Sacramento’s newest fashion designers flowed across the stage in step to the warm beat of techno music. For two hours, color-clad models strutted, posed and precariously twirled their way across the runway.

But all good things must come to an end. When it was over, the judges counted votes, argued, argued some more and Richard Hallmarq from season 11 of “Project Runway” gave out awards to tearful winners.

Junior apparel marketing and design major Samantha Furno won the judges’ pick for top designer of the evening.

Furno was in tears backstage. She said she was overjoyed by her win.

“I’m so surprised, but I owe it to my beautiful models,” Furno said. “I’m super proud of putting myself out there, and of them.”

Furno went on to say this was her first fashion show ever as a designer.

Madelynn Esquivias – a senior double majoring  in international business and apparel marketing and design – won the popular vote among audience members.

“To be honest, it feels really good,” Esquivias said. “There’s a big story behind my collection, and for everyone else to feel like they got something out of it – that they saw something that they really liked – makes me feel like I did my job. So it’s a really good feeling.”

Esquivias said her mother surviving cancer has served as the inspiration for her fashion line. She said she felt many garments do not cover certain cancer scars well enough as well as not allowing women to fully accentuate their best features.

Esquivias said her line of clothing would help women with breast cancer scars feel comfortable in their own skin while looking fashionable at the same time.  

“I wanted to create something that could be worn by anyone with any breast cancer scars and still feel confident,” Esquivias said. “Because many women lose their womanhood in (cancer) – their femininity. I wanted something where a woman could feel like a woman and not feel insecure about it.”

Esquivias said the Tulip – a pink dress of hers worn earlier in the show – actually has a hidden shawl that can be used as a hood if a woman were to feel cold or uncomfortable with exposing a part of her body at any given time.  

As far as winning the popular vote, Esquivias said this was the first time she had showcased a complete collection of her own work and that the moment was beyond words.

“It’s really nice to know that I’ve done something that I’m in and where I’m supposed to be,” Esquivias said. “So, it just makes it unbelievable to be honest. It’s indescribable, it really is.”