A new era of Black designers and entrepreneurs has emerged, taking the initiative to create opportunities and access for future generations.

Here’s what it feels like to be young, black, and fly in fashion.

“I have really, really thick hair, so it has been a hit-or-miss type thing, because most people don’t want to touch it,” says 20-year-old model Sharahya, who is learning to navigate the industry with natural hair.

“The editor in chief for British Vogue [Edward Enninful] was there, and that was something that kind of threw me off guard,” says Kree, who modeled in NYFW for the first time ever in September.

“The casting directors already have the look in their head of what they want when these girls are walking in, so it’s nothing against my face or my look. There’s only one of me, so I have that against everyone else,” says Briana, who just walked in her third season at NYFW.

“The Pyer Moss show was very iconic. I didn’t understand what I was getting myself into until I was walking the runway. It was basically all black empowerment,” says 22-year-old model Cozy, who walked for Kerby Jean-Raymond’s Pyer Moss in September.