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Model who fainted at Kanye West's fashion show to be in Inquirer fall fashion issue

    by Elizabeth Wellington, Fashion Writer
    Published 

Move over, Kanye. We found her first.

Gordonnay Gaines, a 19-year-old New Jersey native with Wilhelmina PA, spent Aug. 25 with us shooting the Inquirer's fall fashion spread that will appear Sunday in the Live Life Love section (for more about the shoot, check out our behind-the-scenes photos.) But on Wednesday, she became notorious as the model who fainted during West's much-criticized Yeezy season 4 fashion show. Gaines, who was clad in a sheer, bodysuit contraption, said she was overcome with heat during the presentation on New York's Roosevelt Island and passed out. (She recovered and walked in the finale.)

The internet went nuts Thursday as tweeters recapped everything about the show, from the lack of water bottles, snacks, and swag on the bus to the low-quality shoes that model Amina Blue teetered in. In the end, the Yeezy collection -- a collaboration between West and Adidas -- was yet just another part of West's nude-hued story, although this featured fewer accessories and a lot more backside.

It seems that West thinks everyone should aspire to dress like his wife, Kim Kardashian. I think not.

The Inquirer cast Gaines in August because we thought her mass of natural curls could be picked out into the perfect Afro halo. The look fit our our fall theme: 1930s glamour meets 1970s funk.

She did extremely well.  As in #Nofainting.

On Sunday, Gaines saw this controversial Kanye casting call tweet and decided to go.

Although light-skinned, both of Gaines parents are African American. She thought she had a shot.

Gaines, who lives in West Orange, N.J., near Manhattan,  waited in the wrap-around-the-block line for just two hours, before she learned models who were signed with an agency  could walk right in.  West's team looked her over for 20 minutes.  (Gaines wouldn't comment on whether West actually gave her the thumbs up,  but we heard that West gave his personal stamp of approval to every model who walked in the show.)  While in English class  at Seton Hall University on Tuesday  afternoon, Gaines got the email telling her she was in. She left immediately.  And, by 7 a.m. Wednesday, Gaines was in the city ready to work.

We caught up with Gaines late Thursday night to talk race, beauty, fashion, fainting, and, despite reports to the contrary, how West's  team actually did help her after she passed out.

Staff photographer Michael Bryant shoots model Gordonnay Gaines at our fall fashion shoot.

 

Elizabeth Wellington: What did you think West meant by his tweet that specified multi-racial women?

Gordonnay Gaines: I didn't take it to only mean light-skinned women. There were multiple dark-skinned women who particpated who were multi-racial. When I was at the casting, a guy came up to me and asked me what I was. Both my parents are black. But back in my family history, there are people who are Native American, Creole, German. But I do consider myself black when asked. And I'm proud of it.

Wellington: How did the clothes feel?

Gaines: I thought the designs were amazing. They were comfortable. My outfit was sheer, but we were really hot. Everything felt good and soft. Everything was very comfortable.

Wellington: You looked great, but your outfit was pretty sheer. Did you feel exposed?

Gaines: I mean, my boobs were showing (laughs). The first New York Fashion Week show I did a few years ago, I worked with Kithe Brewster and the outfit was pretty sheer. That is where I met [black supermodel] Beverly Johnson. This was my first major show, and my boobs were showing here, too. Honestly, it's something natural. I'm not going to go around in public like that. But for a show...

Wellington: Did you have to stand perfectly still?

Gaines: We were allowed to move around. They even told us to sit down if we needed to sit down. I shifted my body weight. I moved my feet to different positions. But I didn't want to get out of formation.

Wellington: Did you have any warning that you were going to go down?

Gaines: During the rehearsal, we all felt good. Of course the sun wasn't blazing.  But it was like it came out really hard after we started. We were just shocked. I mean I felt good the second before I fainted. I tried to sit down, but I just fell. The sun got the best of me. No one could have controlled it. I felt embarassed, but it wasn't under my control.

Wellington: Then what happened?

Gaines: The EMT came. Everyone there was helpful. They asked me if I was OK. The horrible part was the social media.  Kanye's team did help. After the EMT came, I got back in the show. I walked the finale. I just didn't want to miss that opportunity.