Sept 2025

This issue of COVERED. by KLS explores the power of presence across culture, community, and fashion.

From the electrifying performances of ESSENCE Festival 2025 in New Orleans to the celebration of leadership at the DMV Community Awards & Fashion Show and the legacy milestone of Models Inc.’s 19th anniversary, this edition highlights the people and moments shaping culture across the DMV and beyond.

Through photography and storytelling, September captures what happens when style, creativity, an

Editor’s Note

September is about reflection, recognition, and remembering what it felt like to be in the room. This issue of COVERED. by KLS brings together three distinct events connected by one powerful thread: presence. From the cultural scale of ESSENCE Festival 2025 to the celebration of regional excellence at the DMV Community Awards and Fashion Show to the legacy of Models Inc. at its 19th anniversary, each story in this issue reflects what happens when people, style, and community

Sept 2025

ESSENCE Festival 2025 Was More Than a Festival. It Was a Cultural Force.

Each summer, New Orleans becomes the epicenter of Black culture, music, entrepreneurship, and style as thousands gather for the ESSENCE Festival of Culture. In 2025, the festival once again delivered unforgettable performances, powerful brand activations, and cultural moments that reminded the world why ESSENCE remains one of the most influential celebrations of Black excellence.

Sept 2025

The DMV Community Awards and Fashion Show Celebrated More Than Style. It Celebrated Impact.

On July 17, 2025, the DMV Community Awards & Fashion Show brought together community leaders, cultural icons, and emerging designers for an evening that blended recognition, fashion, and regional pride—celebrating the people shaping the future of Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Sept 2025

Nineteen Years Later, Models Inc. Still Understands the Power of Presence

Longevity in fashion and modeling is never accidental. It is built through consistency, discipline, reinvention, and the ability to stay relevant without losing identity. That is exactly why the Models Inc. 19th Anniversary was more than a celebration. It was a statement.

Sept 2025