March 23, 2026

The glitz, glamour, music, and compelling ensembles returned to Prince George High School on Friday, March 20, 2026, as the school hosted the 17th edition of its popular DECA Fashion Show, drawing hundreds of students, families, and community members for an evening of style and dance.

SEE MORE PHOTOS: PGHS 2026 DECA Fashion Show

This year’s theme, “Runway Rhythms,” focused on the fashion trends born out of American music hubs, including New York, California, Florida, and right in the Commonwealth of Virginia. During the approximately hour-long show, students modeled various outfits that aligned with the show’s theme, current fashion trends that lean into retro looks from the 1980s to 2000s, and the accompanying music, ranging from Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, TLC, and Ella Fitzgerald, among others. 

An extension of Prince George High School’s Fashion Marketing Career & Technical Education program, the fashion show has been a fixture of the school and community for nearly 20 years. The event’s brainchild, fashion marketing teacher, DECA sponsor, and 2025 PGCPS Division Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Kimberly Beales, put her years of experience in the fashion world to use when making the switch to teaching.

“I used to work for a bridal company named Tiffany’s as a fashion show coordinator,” Mrs. Beales explained. “Fashion shows are a big part of the business. When I came here, the fashion class was small, and we began to talk about what I wanted to do and what they wanted to do in the class. I was brand-new to teaching, but they said they loved the idea of doing a fashion show.”

She added, “At that point, I thought it would be just a one-year thing, but here we are 17 years later.”

Students play a key role in the event’s success, serving as models, choreographers, set designers, and helping market the event ahead of the show’s one-night-only event. As the show approaches, like big fashion houses across the globe, Mrs. Beales works with the students to begin tracking what’s in and what’s out in clothing and style for the upcoming seasons and determine how those trends could be incorporated into the show. 

The lessons of the fashion show go well beyond the bright lights and clothing selections that are showcased on stage for hundreds each year. During the lead-up to the event and well after the curtain call, students gain valuable skills that will be essential as they head into a competitive industry, including event planning and management, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. 

As one of the high school’s biggest events annually, ranking alongside the Spring Fling arts showcase, seasonal concerts, and graduation, tickets are a hot commodity, bringing hundreds of people out to support the school’s students and celebrate their creativity. 

“When we first started, we may have sold around 200 tickets. Now we basically sell out the auditorium,” Mrs. Beales shared. “It’s not just the high school kids who come, but it’s the teachers, the moms who saw it years ago, and parents of our students bring their younger siblings in to see this event. I’ve had people months before the show premieres come up and ask when they can get tickets. It’s amazing to see, especially the students who come back each year. It has become a signature event for Prince George High School.”

To see more photos from this year’s DECA Fashion Show, visit the division’s Flickr channel at http://flickr.com/PGCPS.