ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Orlando International Fashion Week (OIFW) has officially announced its Fall 2025 event lineup, promising an extraordinary week of fashion, art, and entertainment across Downtown Orlando. Known for merging creativity, culture, and community, OIFW will showcase local and international designers, celebrity hosts, and captivating live performances at some of Orlando’s most iconic venues.

Sunday, November 9, 2025 – Opening Night at CityArts

Location: CityArts, Downtown Orlando
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Sponsor: Downtown Arts District

Event Host:

• Chad Pitt – Radio Personality, “Chad and Leslye in the Morning Show,” Magic 107.7

Fashion Designers:

• Tenique Designs

• Ellie Paisley Art

• Avor + Pazniak

Entertainment:

• K.She’ – Singer/Songwriter

• London Simone – Contortionist

OIFW kicks off opening night at CityArts, bringing together the best of Orlando’s visual and fashion arts scene in a creative fusion of color, texture, and performance.

Saturday, November 15, 2025 – Rooftop Fashion Experience

Location: Altira Rooftop Pool + Lounge, Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, Autograph Collection
Time: 1:00 p.m.

Event Host:

• Christina Carmona – Award-Winning Actress and Filmmaker

Fashion Designers:

• Betta Novais Designs

• Sim Allure

Event Highlights:
Guests will enjoy a luxurious rooftop day party and fashion showcase, complete with live music, curated runway presentations, and the city’s trendsetters mingling under Orlando’s skyline. Drinks and food will be available for purchase.

Sunday, November 16, 2025 – Family and Finale Fashion Events

Location: Eola View, Downtown Orlando
Times: 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

3:00 PM Event Host:

• Mimi Mala – Radio Personality, Model, and Host

Fashion Designers:

• My Little Matilda

• Dillard’s Children

• Davenport Fashion Lab

• Dillard’s Youth

Celebrity Style Showcase Models:

• Pao Pati | Mayra Uribe | Azela Santana | Julia Goolia | Kairy Lopez

Entertainment:

• Alyssa Herrera – Singer/Songwriter

• Moova Dance – Dance Studio Performance

6:00 PM Event Host:

• Sierra Rainge – Media Powerhouse and Brand Strategist

Fashion Designers:

• Roszuar | Culture Trees | Artelio | Constella Designs | Dillard’s | Jezra | BAmoryProductions | Sim Allure

Celebrity Style Showcase Models:

• Bethany Worley | Mimi Mala | Azela Santana | Daniela Droz | Anntwan Fredrick

Entertainment:

• Zaycuatro – Singer/Songwriter

• Scott Barnhill – Singer/Songwriter

These closing events at Eola View highlight both family-oriented fashion and Orlando’s rising stars in music, art, and design, offering a grand finale to an unforgettable fashion week.

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J Willie David, III | News@FloridaNationalNews.com

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts unveiled a stunning new bronze relief sculpture honoring Chairman Emeritus James H. Pugh, Jr., the visionary leader whose commitment and leadership helped turn the dream of a world-class performing arts center into reality. The piece, created by world-renowned sculptor Paul Day, was revealed during a heartfelt ceremony attended by community leaders, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, both of whom shared remarks celebrating Pugh’s remarkable contributions.

A Visionary Who Shaped Orlando’s Cultural Landscape

From 2003 to 2022, James H. Pugh, Jr. served nearly two decades as chairman of the Dr. Phillips Center, guiding the project from concept to completion. His leadership, expertise, and steadfast vision were instrumental in creating one of Orlando’s most iconic cultural institutions.

Alongside his wife, Alexis Pugh, he became the first donor to the project, helping establish the 294-seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, a beloved venue that has hosted thousands of regional artists and performances. Under his direction, the Center also opened the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater and the acoustically acclaimed Steinmetz Hall, which Architectural Digest named one of the 11 most beautiful theaters in the world.

A Masterpiece by Renowned Artist Paul Day

Commissioned by longtime friend and arts center donor Neal Dempsey, the bronze relief sculpture was crafted by internationally recognized artist Paul Day, whose works include The Meeting Place at St. Pancras Station in London and A Beautiful Day for a Neighbor at Rollins College.

This new artwork captures the essence of Pugh’s leadership, perseverance, and dedication to the arts, symbolizing the collective effort that brought the Dr. Phillips Center to life. “Jim has been instrumental in bringing this dream and our promise of Arts for Every Life to the region,” said Kathy Ramsberger, President & CEO of the Dr. Phillips Center. “His vision and generosity shaped every step of our journey. This sculpture ensures he will always remain part of our story.”

A Lasting Legacy for Future Generations

During the unveiling, Ed Timberlake, Chairman of the Dr. Phillips Center Board of Directors, emphasized the importance of Pugh’s contributions: “Today, we celebrated three powerful forces—transformative vision, unwavering perseverance, and the magic that happens when a community rallies behind a dream. Jim proved that with enough determination and heart, you can turn an ambitious dream into a living, breathing cultural cornerstone.”

Ticketed guests can now view the sculpture on the first tier of the Della Phillips Lobby. The installation was made possible through generous support from Jan & Neal Dempsey, with additional contributions from Valeria & Jim Shapiro and Bill Forness.

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J Willie David, III | News@FloridaNationalNews.com

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) – The numbers are in, and they speak louder than Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue.

More than 6.2 million people tuned in to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the night of his return: the highest single-night viewership the show has pulled in over a decade. That’s not just impressive; it’s exceptional for a late-night program in today’s fragmented media environment.

But to read this as a mere “ratings win” for Kimmel would miss the real story. What the numbers actually reflect is a surge of public momentum driven not by promotion, not even by controversy alone, but by audience power. This wasn’t about the man with the microphone. It was about the people on the other end of it.

It’s clear now that this wasn’t just an act of viewership, it was a collective show of force. The audience didn’t just watch Kimmel’s return; they validated it. They turned a late-night broadcast into a national media moment, forcing the issue back onto the cultural agenda through sheer participation.

What makes this more than a one-night bump is the way the episode resonated beyond TV. The monologue was clipped, reposted, debated, and dissected – generating tens of millions of views online within hours. The broadcast became a viral node not because of shock value, but because people felt invested in what it represented.

For ABC, this moment underscores both the reward and the risk of public responsiveness. Yes, controversy generated attention but it was the threat of losing consumer trust that truly moved the needle. The spike in ratings proved that viewers weren’t bluffing. Their voices weren’t just loud, they were measurable.

Whether the show sustains those numbers in the weeks ahead remains to be seen. But the September 23 ratings event wasn’t about longevity. It was about leverage. And in this case, the viewers — not the network, not the advertisers, not even the host — held it.

The night will be remembered not for what was said behind the desk, but for what millions of viewers shouted through their actions: we are watching and we expect to be heard.

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Kareen Kennedy is the Assistant Editor for Florida National News
kareen.kennedy@floridanationalnews.com