On October 20, 2026, Florida A&M University students brought a high-fashion version of the Land of Oz to life during their annual homecoming celebrations. the "Beyond Emerald City" show used student-led creativity to reinterpret classic characters through a modern, culturally resonant lens.
Steampunk aesthetics and Beyoncé tracks redefine the Yellow Brick Road
The "Beyond Emerald City" show, which serves as the official FAMU Homecoming Fashion and Art show, centered on storytelling through a contemporary lens. according to the report, director Umowura ‘Will’ Adedayo wanted to pull inspiration from both the original Wizard of Oz and its Black adaptations to create something that felt fresh for the current era.
The production blended steampunk and vintage looks with a soundtrack featuring artists like Beyoncé and Nardo Wick. This approach was designed to resonate specifically with the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) community, incorporating elements like colorful "bussdowns," intricate braided hairstyles, and vintage half-up, half-down looks. By mixing these modern trends with classic fantasy, the students aimed to make the characters feel present and relatable.
Salienca Noel’s vision for a youthful Dorothy and regal Glinda
Stylist Salienca Noel focused on character-driven aesthetics to bring the fictional world to life for the FAMU audience. As a transfer student in her first semester at the university, Noel used specific visual cues to distinguish the show's main characters through their clothing and accessories.
For the character of Dorothy, Noel emphasized youthfulness through the use of bows and "flowy" fabrics, including a "goofy" skirt to highlight a vibrant, fun personality. In contrast, the styling for Glinda focused on "regalness" and beauty, utilizing minimal accessorizing to highlight the character's inherent excellence. This attention to detail helped transform the runway into a theatrical experience rather than a standard clothing showcase.
Balancing 40 models and university life at FAMU
The scale of the production was significantly larger than previous years, involving 40 models and a heightened budget for the stage and venue. Amore Howard, a FAMU senior who played the lead role of Dorothy, noted the difficulty of managing such a large-scale event while maintaining her academic responsibilities.
Despite the pressure of balancing classes and practice, Howard expressed that being the center of the production was a "great feeling." As the report notes, the energy in the room was palpable, with the "FAMUly" crowd erupting in cheers as the student-led production reached its conclusion. Howard, who is already a member of the Faces Modeling Troupe Inc., noted that while the work was hard, the final result was a testament to the group's dedication.
The specifics behind this year's increased production budget
While the report mentions that the show benefited from "better resources this year," it does not specify the exact amount of the increased budget or the specific sources of this additional funding. it remains unclear how these resources were distributed among the student designers, models, and technical staff.
Additionally, while the show was described as "bigger than ever," there is no information regarding whether this increased scale is a permanent shift for the annual FAMU Homecoming Fashion and Art show or a unique occurrence for the 2026 season. the report also does not clarify if the production will continue to use this level of theatrical storytelling in future years.
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