Loudspeakers blared thumping beats as the 31 models hit the catwalk, their shoulders back and heads held high. One by one, they strutted the spot-lit runway, which was lined by family and friends, then posed behind clusters of blue and pink balloons
The models were all clients of Eva’s Heroes, a San Antonio nonprofit that offers enrichment programs for people with intellectual special needs
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They were taking part in the nonprofit’s Lights, Camera, Fashion Show and Luncheon fundraising event to celebrate Eva’s Heroes 20th anniversary. The event, sponsored by Gamez Law Firm and held at the Marge and Bill Klesse Ballroom at St. Matthew Catholic Church, aimed to raise funds to support free and low-cost monthly enrichment programs for participants
Long-time fashion writer Michael Quintanilla — best known as San Antonio’s “Mr. Fiesta” — was master of ceremonies for the fashion show. He welcomed the participants as “Supermodels of San Antonio,” introducing each model by name as they showed off the fashion wear they’d selected.
“Wow, I love that, you go girl!” shouted Quintanilla, clad in a white suit with blue and purple speckles. “That’s awesome, good job, brother!”
Quintanilla praised Eva’s Heroes for “20 years of growing, sharing and loving our city’s community of individuals with intellectual special needs, who have proved repeatedly that their challenges are overcome with courage and often with help from each other.”
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‘Better and better each year’
Eva’s Heroes was founded in 2006 by actress Eva Longoria-Bastón and board president Christiane Garcia. The organization offers opportunities for participants to interact, learn and grow through inclusive enrichment and social programs
The nonprofit has been putting on the fashion show for six years. Garcia said the participants learn life skills, such as staying within a budget when they picked outfits for the show.
“It gets better and better each year,” Garcia said. “Our heroes are outstanding. Many of these families never thought it possible to have their son or daughter walking on the catwalk — to show their personalities, the potential and confidence they have if only given the opportunity that’s what we like to do.”
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Garcia recognized the Gordon Hartman family for their impact in the special needs community. In 2010, Hartman founded Morgan’s Wonderland, an accessible and fully-inclusive theme park created to be enjoyed by individuals with special needs and all visitors
“The Hartman family reminds us that real change happens when we choose to see possibilities instead of limitations,” Garcia said, “and where we use our voices and actions too make a difference.”
She said the models not only displayed their talents, but also helped create the show as producers and DJs with help from volunteers.
Quintanilla led the show’s participants in a five-day fashion boot camp. They learned to apply make-up and skin care products, as well as hair styling and sculpting from students at the Milan Institute. They studied modeling moves with Lari Nelson’s The Agency. They picked up tips about accessorizing, shopping and wardrobe building from the team at Dillard’s North Star Mall. And they practiced record spinning skills taught by the AM Project
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‘It’s that camaraderie’
During the show, Katie Morrow strutted on the catwalk with cool confidence, hitting her marks just as she’d practiced. As Eva’s Heroes 2025 ambassador, Morrow shared the nonprofit’s mission through community visits, TV interviews and corporate presentations. Before the show began, Morrow said she expected to shed tears of joy when she handed the red ambassador sash to 2026 ambassador Jordan Cash
“I want someone else to have the experience, too,” Morrow said.
The fashion show ended with the audience cheering the models and DJs gathered on the raised platform for their final bow. Cassandra Colon said it was a proud moment when she saw her son DeMarquez Colon on the runway.
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“He just lights up,” she said. “He loves this type of atmosphere. It’s amazing, because normally with autism the extra sounds discombobulate him, but he loves it.”
Colon said she, her husband and DeMarquez’s three siblings ensure her son is the center of their world. She said DeMarquez, a 17-year Eva’s Heroes participant, loves dancing and the independence he experiences with his peers
“It’s that camaraderie that they have,” Colon said. “Because ordinarily they wouldn’t be able to have these types of things.”
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