WEModel USA Receives Proclamation in Old Town Alexandria
By Jerald Council, CouncilMag.com
An estimated 27 million people worldwide are exploited for labor, services, and commercial sex, according to the U.S. Department of State’s most recent Trafficking in Persons Report. To raise awareness about human trafficking, WEModel USA and the City of Alexandria invited the community to the “Stop the Traffick & Walk the Runway 2.0 Day” event.
Various attendees dressed in all-white.
The all-white fashion photoshoot took place at Waterfront Park in Alexandria, Virginia, where Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley presented a proclamation to Patricia Watts, the founder of WEModel USA. The event featured photographers, fashion enthusiasts, pageant queens, community leaders and media representatives.
Participants gathered in Waterfront Park.
Proclamation Day
Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and Patricia Watts, founder of WEModel USA, officially declared June 28, 2025, as "Stop the Traffick & Walk the Runway 2.0 Day" in the City of Alexandria.
Despite the humid June day, the community gathered in Alexandria to support WEModel USA’s year-long fight against human trafficking. Here are a few images capturing the scene.
““It’s all about taking it to the community, and about kicking back, fighting back against human sex trafficking...””
The highlight of the morning was when participants walked the runway, displaying their all-white outfits. People of all ages arrived with their pets, some also dressed in white. It was a lively and fun event as DJ Eclipse kept the crowd pumped with songs such as “Boots on the Ground” and more.
The finale included a parade of models on the runway.
How to Help
If you believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking, call the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or contact law enforcement by calling 911.
