^{Courtesy of ShowStudio and Serena Brown}

In the fashion corner, Edward Enninful has been praised by both the public and the industry alike for his groundbreaking work and championship of diversity and inclusivity. He has broken the Internet, the industry, and several records during his stint in the fashion world. First, by being named the youngest fashion director of I-D magazine at just 19, and then by becoming the first man, and black editor to hold the position at British Vogue in 2017. Here, he created the diverse and trailblazing covers the publication is now famed for. Some notable cover stars have been young activist Greta Thunberg, 85-year-old Judi Dench, global popstar Rihanna, and footballer Marcus Rashford. He was even behind Vogue’s first-ever braille edition this past May.

^{Courtesy of DSTNGR}

It’s safe to say, the Ghana-born artist has come a long way since he first got scouted as a model in London. It was that moment that led to his 20-year tenure at the edgy I-D magazine, followed by a seven-year post as Creative and Fashion Director of the iconic American magazine W. During this time he heavily contributed to American and Italian Vogue, a forecast to his future relationship with the magazine to which he has been European Editorial Director of since 2020.

Being bestowed an honorary doctorate isn’t the only tribute he has welcomed; in 2014 he was named Fashion Creator of the Year by the British Fashion Council, which recognized him again in 2021 as a Leader of Change. He was honored with an OBE in 2016 for Services to Diversity in the fashion industry and also won the Global Media Trailblazer accolade at the British LGBT Awards in 2022. As if this wasn’t impressive enough, his 2022 memoir, A Visible Man, is a Sunday Times Bestseller.

^{Courtesy of Amazon}

About the honorary doctorate, Enninful said: “I am honored to receive this doctorate from the Royal College of Art, an institution which has given so much to the creative community. Education is a privilege to be part of; it offers a robust and rewarding foundation for life and I am forever blown away by the talents of the people who pass through the doors here. To be welcomed into the RCA’s history forevermore is a very special moment.”

Equally as impressive in the dance corner, multi-award-winning choreographer and director Wayne McGregor will receive the doctorate alongside Enninful. The British artiste got his start in the early 90s with his Company Wayne McGregor, and has since gained international fame for his experimental performances that have redesigned how we think of dance today. How? By expanding the meaning of the word dance, including within it technology, visual art, film, and opera. This has positioned him at the helm of the avant-garde contemporary art scene for almost 30 years. If ABBA Voyage sounds familiar to you, it’s his innovative hand that’s behind it.

^{Courtesy of ABBA Voyage}

In between touring the world with his company and working with the likes of Margaret Atwood, McGregor is also somehow carving the time to be Resident Choreographer of the Royal Ballet since 2006. On top of that, he’s the Director of Dance for the Venice Biennale. His legendary work here has made him a highly in-demand choreographer for the entertainment industry, with previous commissions including Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and music videos for Radiohead. Oh, and he’s a Professor of choreography at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. We’re overwhelmed just thinking about it all. It’s no wonder he was first in the dance category of London’s Most Influential People in 2018, or that he received a CBE for his services to Dance in 2011. You must have a deep passion for something to dedicate yourself to it so fervently. When asked about the origin of his love for dance in an interview this year, McGregor’s response was oddly relatable: “It’s probably one that’s quite well-known but it is a true one … it was seeing Saturday Night Fever for the first time.”

^{Courtesy of Wayne McGregor Studio}

About his doctorate award, he stated: “The RCA – a world-leading, industry-defining institution (in the best city in the world) has nurtured an inspirational alumni, changing our creative, ethical, and political landscape daily. I feel extremely fortunate to be honored today in their company. Many of my incredible collaborators have been RCA schooled: provocative, individual, and divergent thinkers, always taking the unconventional path to rich new seams of the possible.”

After over two decades of standing out in two of the most competitive creative industries in the world(fashion and dance), it’s safe to say that these talented individuals have more than earned their honorary doctorate degrees– no college attendance required.

^{Words by Alexia De Las Heras}

^{Header Image by Royal College of Art}

The post The Royal College Of Art Awards It’s Honorary Doctorates For The Year appeared first on Voir Fashion.

^{Image by Mario Sorrenti}

You might not know her name yet, but you’ve seen her work. If the J Lo X Shakira Super Bowl halftime show doesn’t ring any bells, then maybe you remember the iconic ‘Yummy’ music video by Justin Bieber; or maybe it’s the Savage x Fenty shows that sound familiar to you. Watching them, you might’ve wondered who the person behind those daring dance moves was. The answer, Parris.

^{Image by Parris Goebel via YouTube}

Some people are born with a purpose; after watching Missy Elliot and Madonna dancing on TV, 5-year-old Goebel discovered hers, dance. ‘I’ve always been pretty confident in my dreams and where I see my future heading, so it didn’t take me very long to identify what I wanted to be when I grew up.’ she said in a 2017 interview. The New Zealand native dropped out of high school at just 15 to pursue her calling, forming a dance crew, Royal Family, and uploading herself on Youtube.

Her small troupe went on to win the World Hip Hop Dance Championship an unprecedented three times in a row.

After having worked with KPOP star CL in 2016, she popped up on Jennifer Lopez’s radar, which led to Parris choreographing Lopez’s world tour at just 19 years old. Her signature sassy and aggressive dance style (‘polyswagg’) broke the rising star into the industry as celebrities followed J Lo’s cue. Now, the 28-year-old has Ariana Grande, SZA, BLACKPINK, Janet Jackson, Nicki Minaj, and Justin Bieber on her roster. Oh yeah, and Justin’s iconic ‘Sorry’ music video a.k.a. one of the most viewed videos on Youtube? She choreographed that too. As if that wasn’t enough, she was also behind Rihanna’s iconic Super Bowl half time show this year.

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After spending so much of her career as the industry’s best-kept backstage secret, Parris is finally stepping into the spotlight. She signed with IMG Models in 2018 and has since worked with giants like Dior and Alexander McQueen. She ‘polyswagged’ her way through a New York Fashion Week 2022 and became the face of UGG’s Spring campaign that same year. The star also recently co-hosted the NIKE Goddess experience after becoming a brand ambassador two years ago. And fashion’s not the only place Goebler’s leaving her mark: she’s released one music album, two books, choreographed two dance cult movies ( StepUp: All In), and received the New Zealand Order of Merit, and an EMMY

https://www.instagram.com/p/CiGPk7WhD4N/?img_index=1

But Parris didn’t start as an Emmy and MTV award-winning artist. She, like a lot of us, started with an impossible dream, wild determination, and unsupervised access to the Internet. In a recent Instagram post, Goebel’s wrote ‘As you climb the mountain of your dreams, you will be greatly challenged…but your passion, strength and LOVE for what you do will override anything standing in your way.’ And that she did. With a career like this, there’s no doubt she’s the newest MVP in the entertainment world (and all our FYPs). Wherever she goes next, one thing’s for certain: Parris is living up to her name.

^{Words by Alexia De Las Heras}

^{Header Image by Apela Bell}

The post Meet Parris Goebel, The Industry’s Best-Kept Secret appeared first on Voir Fashion.