11-Year-Old Fashion Week Star Has Passed Away
A little girl who fulfilled her dream of being a fashion model at age 11 has died.
Stylist Mary Alice Stephenson announced the death of Trinity Faith Moran on Instagram Tuesday, writing, “My heart is broken. It is with great sorrow that I share this with you today. My beautiful, inspiring friend and shining light Trinity passed away. She went to heaven two weeks ago after a very brave battle.”
A few years ago, Trinity Faith Moran of North Richland Hills, Tex., was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that affects the body’s embryonal cells. Chemo and radiation treatments didn’t work, so in January 2016 Trinity’s family sought the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps arrange unique experiences for kids with life-threatening medical conditions.
The tween’s top wish: to be a fashion model in a runway show. “Trinity said, ‘I want to do a fashion show. A real one, with real models like Gigi Hadid. I want someone to design outfits for me, and I want it to be somewhere like New York or Paris,’” Kimberly Rasmus told Today of her fashionable daughter. “As her mom, it scared me. I had no idea if something like that would be possible. I didn’t want her to be disappointed.”
However, Make-A-Wish and an organization called Glam4Good arranged for Trinity to attend New York Fashion Week in 2016, working the red carpet and then walking in Indian-American designer Naeem Khan’s show. “In walks this tiny, frail girl — so pretty, so sweet. And I was so happy to see her, but so sad inside,” Khan told Today.
The designer and the fifth grader sat on the floor and collaborated on designs for Trinity’s dress, which needed to accommodate the medicine she wore strapped to her chest. After deciding on red, Trinity’s favorite color, Khan whipped up the gown in less than 24 hours.
Backstage, Trinity got her makeup done alongside the other models. “A lot of people tell me that I’m really pretty. That really helps my self-esteem, and I really want to do modeling, and as a baby I used to always run around in dresses and try to do my makeup,” Trinity told a reporter backstage. “I just really wanted to be a model, and that’s what’s happening right now.”
According to Teen People, Trinity perfected her walk by practicing with her mom. During the big moment, she strutted down the runway past her family, which was cheering her on in the front row. During the show’s finale, Trinity walked arm in arm with Khan, and then the two took a final bow on the runway, while Trinity waved to her fans.
Rasmus says the glamorous experience gave Trinity hope for the future, and it changed Khan’s perspective too. “It all means nothing if we don’t give back in a meaningful way,” he told Today. “I want to see more and more things like this happen in the fashion industry.”
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