Gazelle Diehl was part of a video along the famous thoroughfare during Indonesia Fashion Week.
A Strayer Middle School student was recently part of a fashion video on a billboard in Times Square. The video that included Gazelle Diehl, a seventh-grader, ran in New York during Indonesia Fashion Week, said her mom.
“It was like, ‘Wow, oh my gosh,’ ” said Fenny Schmidt, Gazelle’s mom. Dad, Kevin Diehl, said “It was heartwarming to see.”
Gazelle, 13, has been modeling since the age of 9. She doesn’t expect it to continue much longer, she said, as sports consume her interests. She plays volleyball, basketball, and softball for Strayer. She’s also in the skiing/snowboarding club.
Gazelle is low-key about having her performance seen by thousands of people in Time Square. “It’s kind of nice to see and made me happy,” she said. She described modeling on a catwalk as “kind of nerve-wracking. You have to be serious, can’t really show emotion. It can be scary for me to be up there.”
When she saw the photo of Gazelle taken from the video, Strayer Principal Dr. Jennifer Bubser said “This is incredible and I am so proud of Gazelle.”
Her parents consider Gazelle’s experience and opportunity to be part of a fashion video as “an accomplishment, a life experience,” Mr. Diehl said. “It gives her exposure to different cultures. We consider it part of a rounded education, meeting people from all walks of life.”