provided by Children's Cancer Research Fund
The last time the fanfare of Minneapolis’ Glamorama event (formerly known as Fash Bash) filled the walls of the historic Dayton’s building, it was 2015. And yet, many Twin Citians still remember it like it was yesterday—the iconic designer brands, the celebrity appearances that included everyone from Bruno Mars to Robin Thicke, and of course, the $5.5 million its runway helped raise for Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF), the longtime beneficiary of the event.
Flash forward 11 years, and the legendary fashion fundraiser is getting a reboot—this time not anchored by the glamour of a high-fashion department store, but instead, by the extraordinary resilience and boundless imagination of five childhood cancer survivors.
Led by Twin Cities creative director and stylist Grant Whittaker, the night’s runway was created in collaboration with five Glamorama ambassadors—all cancer survivors between the ages of 10 and 16. Through in-depth, exploratory conversations with Whittaker, each ambassador conceived a dream world that is uniquely their own— think: vibrant pink florals, sand dunes of golden chocolate, dragon-scale pearls, and seas awash in deep red. Whittaker then harnessed these limitless visions into five cohesive runway collections, each narrating the resilience, joy, and fearless individuality of the young survivors.
“Children’s Cancer Research Fund likes to call me the Willy Wonka of Fashion, because I’ve spent so much time with these kids, digging into their imagination and their stories,” says Whittaker. “A lot of that was done by asking questions like, ‘What’s your favorite candy?’ or ‘If you could create a closet of dreams, what would it look like?’ And then I took all of these answers and created a world that was dedicated just to them.”
For Whittaker—who was tapped by CCRF’s CEO Elizabeth Allen for the role—the project feels like a full-circle moment. Largely credited with shaping the creative vision of Glamorama’s later years, Whittaker has been involved with the event since he first moved to the Twin Cities from Germany in 2000, seeing the fundraiser through 12 ionic years. Whittaker’s career eventually led him in new directions, but he couldn’t shake the longing to return to cancer research, a deeply personal cause for him.
“My mother and my sister have both experienced cancer. My mom died of cancer,” shares Whittaker. “So, before Elizabeth had even reached out to me, I already knew it was going to be my next mission. I knew I wanted to give my time to cancer and help make a difference.”
provided by Children's Cancer Research Fund
The event’s reimagining brings that conviction to life in a powerful way, threading real, hard-earned survival stories into the layers of sequin and lace. For one ambassador, 13-year-old Isaac Rief-Jackson, the experience transcends art, presenting him with a rare opportunity to empower other children and families facing similar struggles.
“I hope people feel proud of what science has done in helping me beat cancer. And I hope I can inspire them to just keep going and follow their dreams,” says Isaac.
Whittaker describes Isaac’s designs as edgy and sculptural, with a distinctive street-style sensibility—inspired by a mystical world filled with deep-red oceans and towering geometric sculptures. Viewers can expect plenty of sneakers, sportswear, and elevated comfort, punctuated by a handful of edgy statement pieces reminiscent of Micheal Jackson’s “Thriller.”
“Isaac is sort of like the football player of the bunch. He loves his hoodies and his sneakers,” says Whittaker. “On our first day meeting, I filled a rack with all of these clothes from my existing wardrobe, and he immediately picked out this red leather motorcycle coat that was completely studded with red stones.”
In addition to Isaac’s collection, the show will spotlight nine others, including the color-saturated dream worlds of his fellow ambassadors Anikah, Alice, Fritz, and Valerie, alongside five thematic segments loosely inspired by the history and grandeur of downtown Minneapolis’ department store heyday.
Provided by Children's Cancer Research Fund
Dreamt up by Whittaker, these additional segments were created in collaboration with a range of local brands, boutiques, and even, interior design firms, including Martha Dayton Design. From a reimagined bridal couture collection to a faux fur–adorned, après-ski–inspired moment, each collection reflects Minnesota’s distinctly northern perspective on fashion and design—culminating in a grand finale presented by MartinPatrick3, which was recently named MR Magazine’s 2026 Retailer of the Year.
But, as Isaac’s mother, Jennnifer, ardently hopes, the glitz and glam of it all will serve as a mere vehicle for something much larger. A shared sense of purpose, commitment, and hope that empowers the community to imagine a brighter future for children living with cancer.
“I’m excited for everybody to be there to support the research that is being done for all of these children,” says Jennifer. “The five ambassadors wouldn’t be ambassadors without the research, and the funding for that research.”
Glamorama returns to Minneapolis at the historic State Theatre (805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis) on Friday, May 15, from 6-11:30 p.m. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, with proceeds directly supporting CCRF. (VIP tickets sold out.) Visit childrenscancer.org to stay up to date on regular volunteer and donation opportunities.
“Glamorama, for me, is hope,” says Whittaker. “Hope, of course, for children’s cancer research, but also for a city that no longer has events of this sort. It’s hope for the fact that we are bringing an audience to downtown Minneapolis, which really needs it right now. And it’s hope for the people who remember what this event was—to finally come back and experience the joy, and also sprinkle that into a new audience.”
Provided by Children's Cancer Research Fund
