The best candidate for “24-Hour Catwalk” might just be coming from a 24-hour town.
That’s the perspective dyed-in-the-wool fashionista and Las Vegan Joey Galon is bringing to the sewing table. He’s hoping for a shot to win 24-Hour Catwalk, a new reality show on Lifetime network that pits budding fashion designers against each other for a cash prize and an opportunity to launch a signature clothing line.
“It’s a dream come true–a big step toward launching my own line,” said Galon. “And I’m terribly excited about it!”
The new reality show scheduled to air this fall, gives four fashion designers per episode the opportunity to create their own collection in just 24 hours…more like a New York minute even for a quick-working, fashion designer. After a first round, challenge, and elimination during each episode, the competition whittles down to two designers, each tasked with creating a themed collection for their own star-studded runway show.
The Filipino-American, who maintains strong ties to his parent’s country of origin and travels there regularly, needs not be intimidated by the competition. Galon’s fashion designs have been maturing over the years and have been frequently spotted on pageant runways. In fact, at Miss Asia USA 2010, Ariana Manibog Varela, the then reigning Miss Philippines, wore his stunning lavender floral gown and headdress. The result: she took top honors in cultural costume and swept the title. She also benefited from Galon’s expertise as a pageant coach.
As a modeling, pageant, and personal growth coach, Galon reveals a remarkable array of additional talents through his Runway4Life project. It’s this set of skills that not only helped Varela win Miss Asia USA but also put him on the radar at nuvoTV, an English-language cable network that caters to the bicultural Latino population. They selected him to serve as a resident guest judge and coach on its thirteen-episode reality show, called Model Latina Las Vegas. The competition premiered nationwide on August 15.
“Dreams are ageless,” says Galon. “I truly feel blessed about the goodness and timing of this exceptional opportunity. It’s further evidence to me that one never knows when a long-held dream will manifest itself. You must always be ready for dreams to come true. And I’m ready.”
With his marketing, public relations, and special events background, the trained fashion and textile designer is ready for the Lifetime challenge. He’s already been involved in high profile fashion shows and worked numerous pageants, such as Miss Philippines USA (a preliminary to Miss Philippines Universe), Miss World, and Miss International.
Galon has provided his expertise as a staffer for Miss USA and Miss Universe. He’s launched fashion-related products, created design sets, choreographed shows, and worked exclusively with top couture houses such as Bob Mackie Fashions, Thierry Mugler, Oscar de la Renta, and Hubert de Givenchy. But his crowning achievement was likely the official launch of Joey Galon Atelier at Miss USA 2010 in Las Vegas, giving him an opportunity to showcase his collections.
As friends, colleagues, and well-wishers prepare his New York sendoff at a popular Las Vegas gathering spot, Galon will be hoping Lady Luck is his mistress for the trip to Lifetime’s New York production studio: he’ll certainly ensure she’s dressed to the nines for 24-hour Catwalk.