Meet the Founders

 

The visionaries behind a movement where every BODY should be represented.

The Skin I’m In movement was created from a deeply held belief that every person deserves to be seen, valued, represented, and given access to opportunities that allow their gifts to grow.

 

What began as a bold vision to challenge narrow standards of beauty and representation has grown into a movement that brings together fashion, media, storytelling, creative education, community service, awards, and purpose-driven impact.

 

At the heart of this movement are co-founders Sonyia Baring Graham and Ferrell E. Phelps Jr., whose shared passion for people, creativity, visibility, and service helped shape Skin I’m In into a platform where every BODY should be represented.

 

How the Movement Began

The Skin I’m In movement began with a bold belief shared by co-founders Sonyia Baring Graham and Ferrell E. Phelps Jr.: every BODY should be represented.

Before the Foundation, that belief first came to life through Skin I’m In Model & Talent Agency, which was created to challenge narrow standards of beauty and expand visibility for talent often overlooked in fashion, media, and entertainment. Through their work with models and creatives of different abilities, ages, skin tones, body types, and lived experiences, Sonyia and Ferrell saw firsthand the power of representation — and the greater need for access, education, confidence-building, and opportunity.

 

That vision grew into Skin I’m In Fashion Week, a public platform created to celebrate representation, storytelling, creativity, purpose, and meaningful recognition through awards such as The Overcomer Award, The Universal Humanity Award, and The Damus N. Wynn Memorial Scholarship Award.

 

Today, Skin I’m In Fashion Week proudly serves as the annual fundraising benefit for The Skin I’m In Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to carry the mission forward year-round through creative education, career-pathway exposure, participant access, and community service.

 

Through the Foundation, the movement now expands beyond visibility into hands-on learning and impact — offering beginner-friendly, expert-led opportunities for youth and adults to gain exposure in front of and behind the camera, stage, and runway, while also supporting community outreach initiatives such as the Annual Sock & Blanket Drive, established in January 2020 to serve unhoused neighbors with dignity-driven care.

 

Please note: Skin I’m In Model & Talent Agency and The Skin I’m In Foundation operate as separate entities. The Foundation is focused on charitable education, access, community service, career-pathway exposure, and year-round community impact.

 

Sonyia Baring Graham

Co-Founder | CEO & Executive Director | Visionary Leader

Sonyia Baring Graham is the Co-Founder of Skin I’m In Fashion Week and serves as CEO and Executive Director of The Skin I’m In Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access, opportunity, representation, creative education, career-pathway exposure, and community service.

 

As a purpose-driven leader, author, coach, and advocate for visibility, Sonyia’s work is rooted in helping people uncover their gifts, build confidence, and step into spaces where they may have once felt unseen, excluded, or underestimated.

 

Her vision for Skin I’m In was born from the belief that representation should never be limited to one look, one ability, one age, one size, one skin tone, one body type, or one background. Through Skin I’m In Fashion Week, Sonyia has helped create a platform that celebrates people of all abilities, ages, skin tones, body types, lived experiences, and unique stories.

 

Through The Skin I’m In Foundation, that vision now extends year-round through beginner-friendly, expert-led workshops, career-pathway exposure, sponsored access, and community outreach initiatives. Her leadership continues to drive the movement forward with one central message:

Every BODY belongs. Every BODY has value. Every BODY should be represented.

 

Ferrell E. Phelps Jr.

Co-Founder | President & Creative Director | Photographer | Visual Storyteller

Ferrell E. Phelps Jr. is the Co-Founder of Skin I’m In Fashion Week and serves as President of The Skin I’m In Foundation. He is also a celebrated photographer, creative leader, and visual storyteller whose work has helped bring the Skin I’m In mission to life through powerful imagery, creative direction, and representation.

 

With a strong eye for beauty, humanity, and authenticity, Ferrell has used photography and creative production to help people see themselves differently — and to help the world see the beauty, strength, and individuality in people who are too often overlooked.

 

His creative leadership has been central to shaping the visual identity of Skin I’m In, from photography and media storytelling to runway imagery, talent development, and production experiences. Ferrell’s work reflects the belief that every person carries a story worth honoring and that images have the power to shift perception, build confidence, and open doors.

 

Through his role in Skin I’m In Fashion Week and The Skin I’m In Foundation, Ferrell continues to help create spaces where participants can gain exposure both in front of and behind the camera, stage, and runway — building confidence, exploring creative pathways, and seeing what is possible.

 

A Shared Vision

Together, Sonyia Baring Graham and Ferrell E. Phelps Jr. built Skin I’m In as more than an event, agency, or creative platform. They built it as a movement.

 

Their shared vision has always been to create spaces where people are not asked to shrink, hide, conform, or wait for permission to be seen. Instead, Skin I’m In invites people to show up fully — in their skin, in their story, in their gifts, and in their purpose.

Today, that vision continues through:

 

Skin I’m In Fashion Week

An annual purpose-driven fashion, art, media, performance, awards, and creative experience celebrating representation, accessibility, confidence, storytelling, and community impact.

 

The Skin I’m In Foundation

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing year-round creative education, career-pathway exposure, sponsored access, and community service initiatives for youth and adults.

 

Creative Education & Career-Pathway Exposure

Beginner-friendly, expert-led opportunities that introduce participants to real-world pathways in front of and behind the camera, stage, and runway, including photography, videography, directing, lighting, sound, editing, production support, performance, presentation, and related creative industry roles.

 

Community Service & Outreach

Dignity-driven service initiatives, including the Annual Sock & Blanket Drive, established in January 2020 to support unhoused neighbors with practical care and compassion.

 

Awards & Recognition

Meaningful recognition through The Overcomer Award, The Universal Humanity Award, and The Damus N. Wynn Memorial Scholarship Award, honoring courage, resilience, humanity, service, and creative promise.

 

Founder Statement

“We believe every BODY should be represented — not as a trend, not as a moment, but as a standard. Skin I’m In was created to make room for people to be seen, celebrated, developed, and connected to opportunity. Through Fashion Week and the Foundation, our work is to turn visibility into access, confidence, creativity, and impact.”

— Sonyia Baring Graham & Ferrell E. Phelps Jr.

 

Be Part of the Movement

Skin I’m In continues to grow because of people who believe in representation, access, creativity, service, and purpose.

Whether you support the Foundation, sponsor Skin I’m In Fashion Week, volunteer your time, attend an event, share the mission, or help open doors for others, you become part of a movement working to ensure that every BODY is represented and every person has access to create and thrive.