The annual fashion show from An Affair to Remember is back. The exhibition empowers local young women and female leaders in local businesses and non-profits.

Kathy Jensen, the founder of An Affair to Remember, Pageant and Formal Wear, started the show eleven years ago. When community members approached her about a fashion show to highlight upcoming trends, she wanted to highlight women and girls in town instead.

Then, four years ago, the community presented the idea of highlighting local women in business and non-profits, "Women of Power" in Fayetteville. These "Women of Power" would not only receive recognition, but they would also be able to talk to and inspire young women in high school.

"It is one of the things we do as a business that if you are in high school and you buy a dress from us, you have the opportunity to walk the runway because there were so many pretty girls in here, but they didn't think they were pretty," Jensen told Up & Coming Weekly.

Jensen hopes that the women in her shows present as role models and help set the tone for girls finding their place in the world.

"My generation was a man's world. And as a young girl, you would be blessed if your parents thought you could be more than a housewife," Jensen said. "Young women are trying to figure it out. But when they see and meet women that are doing that, they look up to them and say, 'I can do that.'"

"Women of Power" was met with success that a non-profit organization called "Women of Power" Society of N.C was born from the concept. Last year, they partnered with the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development (CEED) to host a "Women of Power" brunch, which sold out and was another resounding success. As a result, they are now looking to create an endowment fund to help women access financing for their businesses, especially during this time of financial uncertainty with the pandemic.

Organizers hope that the endowment, set up with CEED, will help upcoming businesswomen know how to access government grants.

"Empower them by knowledge," Jensen explained.

This year's fashion show is themed "I'm Unstoppable."

This upcoming show will be the tenth fashion show that An Affair to Remember will be hosting; they took one year off. This year, there will be two different shows. The first show, "Unstoppable Little Ladies," will feature girls from the elementary and middle school age ranges. That show will start at 2 p.m. with doors opening at 1:30 p.m.

The second show will feature high school-aged girls and the "Women of Power." They will be wearing the latest prom and pageant dresses from top fashion designers. This show will start at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Overall, there will be 100 models this year and 20 featured "Women of Power."

Jensen says that this show is a perfect girls' night out - especially for mothers and daughters.

"It's a great night out. It's a great thing," Jensen said. "We have mothers and daughters that come every year. We have a group of girls that dress alike and come every year. We have people that dress up."

Tickets for the "Unstoppable Little Ladies" show are $20, and tickets for the "Women of Power" show range from $20 to $400. Both shows will occur at the Crown Expo on Sunday, Jan. 23.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect the new dates/times of the shows due to inclement weather.