Home

About Us

Models

Book Us

Become A Model

Nominate Your Hero

Fashion Show 2011

Volunteer

Sponsor and Support

Merchandise

Media

About Us

Shortstack™ is a teen driven fashion and modeling program. Its goal is to allow young girls who do not fit the "normal" model standards to be a part of charitable fashion events. For years, girls have been rejected from the modeling industry because they are too short. Shortstack was created by teens under the guidance of Windows of Opportunity, Inc. to give these "short" girls a chance at achieving their dreams as models and empower them to love themselves for who they are. Shortstack has created many opportunities for its youth, such as meeting former America's Next Top Model contestants Kim Stolz, Bianca Golden and Claire Unabia, being featured in The Bayside Times, The NY Daily News, on the cover and in a 7-page spread of A&U Magazine, and more, and walking in the Spring 2012 New York Fashion Week! The models of Shortstack participate in community service/charity events, photo shoots, workshops, trainings, rehearsals, field trips, and fashion shows to become a family and change the standards.Shortstack's™ 6th Annual Charity Fashion Show is set for June 2012. Proceeds will be donated to Windows of Opportunity, Inc.'s Youth Development Programs, such as the HIV Empowerment and Leadership Program (HELP), "The Inner You" Program for Eating Disorders, and more. In our 6th year, 24 girls have been chosen to walk our runway and appear in our photo shoots.

Breaking the rules...

Setting new standards...

About Us
Testimonials
WOO Who
Staff
A Letter From Shortstacks Founder

Want to receive news

& updates from Shortstack?

Click here to join our mailing list!

Testimonials
293130_10150295871959281_39089459280_7391306_2327652_n.jpg

Testimonials

295902_10150295865644281_39089459280_7391213_7309187_n.jpg

"If you were to say that every agency has a heartbeat, then Shortstack is our heartbeat. It has given WOO life, inspired the birth of other programs, led the way to the success of many young ladies, and taught me to believe that the vision I had for WOO could actually be obtained. To be a part of Shortstack and to see its growth and impact, truly makes it a "model" program, pun intended! It is by far the most innovative and impacting program I have had the pleasure of being a part of. I see Shortstack in every fashion capital in the world and many other places, inspiring hope and making dreams come true." ~ Hal Eisenberg, Executive Director of WOO"Before Shortstack, I was too afraid to try anything new. This experience made me the confident person I am today, and I am eternally grateful for it. I cherish every moment that spiritually and mentally helped me grow up into a young adult. I can finally say I am proud of myself, as well as the girls I now call my sisters." ~ Denise Camacho, past Shortstack model"Before Shortstack, my mirror never smiled back. Now I walk with my head high and a better understanding of who I am mentally and physically. I can say that I am proud of who I've become and where I'm going and know that I have a set of sisters who will always be there for me. No matter what." ~ Olympia Zipitas, past Shortstack model"I grew up in a world where I allowed myself to be largely influenced by society, both physically and mentally. We live in a "beauty" culture that can have a huge burden on a person's self-esteem. I allowed myself to think "what the media says must be true" and assumed I was worthless unless I was skinny and perfect. I allowed the modeling industry's standards to shatter my dreams, and I was unhappy with myself for years; that is until I found Shortstack. Shortstack showed me that being who you are is what makes someone beautiful, not artificial attributes and airbrushing. Thanks to the support and education of Shortstack and my sisterhood in the agency, I finally can be proud of who I am and no one can change that." ~ Danielle Schull, past Shortstack model"I believe and know that Shortstack is an amazing program/charity. One day, it will be world-wide and I can't wait to tell people that I have helped and still am helping Shortstack. It saves my life more and more everday by meeting new girls, who aren't just models for Shortstack, but my sisters." ~ Nina Theophanous, Shortstack volunteer"I have been a part of Shortstack for 3 years and counting. I started out as a volunteer but once I experienced the fashion show and saw the good causes Shortstack stands for, I immediately wanted to get more involved. I became a model the following year and now Shortstack has become an important part of my life. I have met amazing people and learned so much through this program. You can see that everyone truly cares about each other and tries to help one another through any situation. Shortstack has become a huge chapter in my life, and I couldn't imagine my life without it." ~ Michelle Jia, Shortstack model"I have been in Shortstack one full year and this is my second year in returning. I came back because not only was I invited back into the program but I realized that this is something I needed in my life to help me grow as a person as well as connect with others. As I reflect back on my previous year I can say that I didn't expect the experience to be life changing, but it was. In this I've realized whether you have the greatest self-esteem or the worst everyone can use a boost of encouragement and whether you have the greatest walk or worst walk you will learn the cat walk with confidence while having fun at our annual fashion show. It is because of Shortstack that along with two other models in the program I had the opportunity to walk in New York Fashion Week. Walking in New York Fashion Week was truly an amazing experience and I would say for anyone who is considering breaking into the fashion industry Shortstack is a great opportunity." ~ Rukeyah Jones, Shortstack modelMore coming soon!
296479_10150295871699281_39089459280_7391302_2678766_n.jpg

296479_10150295871699281_39089459280_7391302_2678766_n.jpg

To send us your testimonial, e-mail us!

About Us
Testimonials
WOO Who
Staff
A Letter From Shortstacks Founder

WOO Who

Innovative, Inspiring, Impacting, Interactive, Inclusive.

We are creating a shift in what is possible for youth in the areas of leadership, empowerment, self esteem, school performance and career planning. A shift from dis-empowerment, differences, and indecision to possibility, acceptance and opportunity. WOO believes that the key to building and empowering our youth to be the leaders of tomorrow is through innovative programs that address all the compartments of ones life, while building their self-esteem.Windows of Opportunity (WOO) is a tax exempt 501©3 non-profit organization. It was formed to provide young people who are ages 6 24, with a healthy, safe, supportive, & positive environment in which they can be encouraged to discuss themselves as persons of infinite worth & potential. We currently provide services to the New York Metropolitan area and Long Island, but are available and expanding to outside this region as well. We move forward to design workshops and programs that assist youth from the elementary level to the university level in achieving positive outcomes in self-esteem, school performance, career planning, linking their lives today with future success, and addressing issues significant to young people.With a team of professionals that have over 50 years of combined youth development experience, we have created and are excited to bring you WOO; a combination of innovative programs and services to the youth of the communities we serve.For more information, visit www.wooinc.org.
blackline

About Us
Testimonials
WOO Who
Staff
A Letter From Shortstacks Founder

Staff

Directors

Hal S. Eisenberg, LMSW

WOO Board Member; Executive Director

Founder of WOO, Inc.

Photographer (Infinity88 Photography)

hal_wooinc.org

Olivia Mignone

WOO Board Member

Founder of Shortstack™

Executive Program Director

olivia_wooshortstack.org

View Portfolio

Tracy Mignone

WOO Board Member; Director of Special Events

tracym_wooinc.org

Tanya Rios

Program Director

tanya_wooshortstack.org

Gabriella Neglia & Julia Volpe

Program Directors

gabriella_wooshortstack.org / julia_wooshortstack.org

For more information on how to contact any of us, visit our Contact Us page.

34062_1467346840109_1126696932_1344101_3268628_n

Volunteers Sophia LiuAssisant to Executive DirectorCharley UkwubiweAssisant to Director of Special Events____________________________________ Scott EisenbergJennifer Feldman, L.C.S.W.-R.WOO Board of Director MemberAlyson Brann GuralStephanie HenryMakeup Artist - The Phoenix Makeup CompanyKate HermanAlbina KhayrulinaPhotographerAmelia MerkerPhotographerTanya MignoneChristina MorganMakeup Artist - The Phoenix Makeup CompanyPeter MrozikDebbie NotoWOO Board of Director MemberMiryam OquendoMakeup ArtistBianca RebeccaHair StylistRegina Rossi, L.M.S.W.Jill Sheehan Tara SheridanNina TheophanousJennifer Workman Head of Stage Crew

Want to volunteer for Shortstack?

Be a part of the team! Visit our Volunteer page

or e-mail us at info_wooshortstack.org !

About Us
Testimonials
WOO Who
Staff
A Letter From Shortstacks Founder

A Letter From Shortstacks Founder For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to model. The glamorous life of traveling the world, wearing designer clothing, meeting thousands of people and having your face plastered on billboards and magazines - sounds exciting, right? I believe most of the world has thought about this career choice at least once in their life, but for many, like myself, it becomes a passion. Yet years ago, I learned more about this world and industry, and why I couldn't be a part of it. And now let me tell you - it's not really as glamorous as it seems at first glance. In order to model, there are strict rules and requirements which everyone must oblige to. According to Ford Models - one of the top modeling agencies in the world - as a 14 to 15 year old female, you must be 5'7" to 6'0" tall; a 16 to 22 year old female must be 5'8" to 6'0" tall and a 15 to 35 year old male must 5'11" to 6'3" tall. Plus, for all of these ages and heights, you are contracted to maintaining a certain weight at all times. In fact, anything above a dress size of 4 is considered plus size by many. Now how realistic can this really be? Or for that matter, how fair? When the average height and weight for a woman in the United States is about 5'3" and 165 pounds, as measured by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, what kind of image is the world-wide modeling industry sending to our society? We cant deny that the images magazines and media impose on us have an effect on us. How many times do you look through a magazine, see an advertisement of a super-tall, super-skinny model wearing Prada shoes or an Armani outfit and say to yourself "I wish I looked like that" or "I wish I had that"? Truth is, we all may do it at some point or another, but there are those who are affected by such images much more than others. According to Professor Sarah Murnen from Kenyon College, "The promotion of the thin, sexy ideal in our culture has created a situation where the majority of girls and women don't like their bodies, and body dissatisfaction can lead girls to participate in very unhealthy behaviors to try and control weight." Such unhealthy behaviors include eating disorders, which is a growing epidemic among adolescents, not only female, but male as well - and models. In addition, these media images are causing low self-esteem, low confidence, and bad body image among society. Now don't get me wrong, I understand why designers choose to use size 0 models - they only make one sample size and must find a "mannequin" to fit into it, and just because this is the size they portray on the runway or in advertisements, it doesnt mean they won't sell larger sizes. But still... why not just make a different sample size? Why is it absolutely necessary for your sample dress to be a size 0 and fit a 5'8" tall woman? In fact, I believe that designers would save money, materials and possibly time by making sample sizes for the shorter, more average woman. Why not have an "average" male or female walk down the runway? Doing so may save a lot of lives among models and young girls trying to live up to these ridiculous standards. And yet, there's also the argument that such actions and media images aren't the reason for low self-esteem or eating disorders. True, eating disorders are a mental disorder that some people cannot control, and some even believe it to be genetic in certain cases, so we can't put the blame entirely on the fashion industry. As Katie Ford, Chief Executive Officer of Ford Models once stated, "Both obesity and anorexia stem from numerous issues, and it would be impossible to attribute either to entertainment, be it film, TV, or magazines." However, as much as we can argue and prove that not all body image issues stem from media's images, we can argue and prove just as much that there are many body image issues that do attribute to media. August 2006 - 22 year old model Luisel Ramos died during Fashion Week because she reportedly lived on lettuce and diet drinks alone. November 2006 - 21 year old model Ana Carolina Reston who was modeling to help her family with finances, died from kidney related problems due to anorexia and bulimia. Then, again in 2006, Ramos's sister - also a model - died due to malnutrition. November 2007 - model Hila Elmalich died of heart failure. She was the average weight of a seven year old at the time of her death. The list goes on. Thousands upon thousands of adolescents look up to these models, and fantasize to look like them or be them. And yet, designers still continue to hire models who are suffering with eating disorders, and if not, models who portray that image. The bottom line is - this industry is unfair and unhealthy for our society. True, there have been enactments passed around the world, and here in America by the Council of Fashion Designers of America that have tried to help - such as not allowing any models younger than 16 to walk the runway, or that all models must fall into a certain BMI (Body Mass Index) calculation. But more needs to be done. It seems as though designers are always hesitating to take that extra step. Everyone should have an equal chance at obtaining their dreams; is it really necessary to have such unjust physical requirements? We cannot control our heights or appearances, and yet we are being punished for them. Our entire world is run by advertisements and media, yet how often do we stop to really think about them - what they are trying to promote, who is it really meant to target, and what kind of effects do they have on us? Society cannot live up to the images and standards placed by the fashion and modeling world, and so people die trying. The fashion industry must change its standards. In 2006, I took the initiative towards change by starting a charitable program called Shortstack. In an attempt to promote healthy habits, better body image and self-esteem and to create confidence, Shortstack allows young girls who have always wanted to model, but don't meet the industry standards, a chance to accomplish their dreams. Through workshops, rehearsals, charity events, photo shoots and fashion shows, these girls become the types of models our society should look up to. I challenge designers to take this same initiative; to allow models of all shapes and sizes to walk their runways. I challenge all designers to put my Shortstack models to the test - put one of the Shortstack girls on your runway, and I guarantee they can do just as good of a job as any other model you may hire. You may not only save a lot of lives, but a lot of dreams, as well. So... who's going to be the first? - Olivia MignoneShortstack's Founder & Program Directorolivia_wooshortstack.orgSources:• Another fashion model dies of anorexia the world yawns. The-F-Word.org. The-F-Word.org, 2007. Web. 3 May 2010. • FASTSTATS Body Measurements. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. • Ford Models. Ford Models, 2010. Web. 3 May 2010. • The Skinny on Models. Current Events. Platinum Periodicals, Proquest, 2007. Web. 26 Apr. 2010.
blackline

Photo by Amelia Merker

A Letter from Shortstack's Founder

About Us
Testimonials
WOO Who
Staff
A Letter From Shortstacks Founder

HomeModelsBook UsBecome A ModelNominate Your HeroFashion Show 2011VolunteerSponsor and SupportMerchandiseMediaContact Us