During New York Fashion Week, Foot Locker and Nike hosted The Muse in Residence, an intimate evening celebrating the spirit of the Air Max Muse — a sneaker silhouette created exclusively for women. The gathering brought together 15 women shaping culture, business, and the arts in New York and beyond, creating a space for play, indulgence, and connection.
Conceptualized by the women-led Word Agency, the event unfolded as a multi-sensory journey. Guests enjoyed private styling sessions with Mecca James-Williams, who curated looks from Foot Locker’s in-house brands COZI and LCKR with her signature sharp, effortless eye. At a customization station led by Amanda Tate, attendees added personal touches, underscoring the night’s theme of individuality and creativity.
Dinner was another highlight. Chef Magdalena O’Neal prepared a six-course meal while cocktails from Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo flowed. Between courses, conversations moved easily through craft, entrepreneurship, and the many ways women continue to shape cultural influence.
The evening honored a dynamic mix of women shaping culture, media, and entrepreneurship in New York and beyond. Among them: Annya Santana, founder of Hood Health; April M. Rivera, director of partner marketing at Foot Locker; April Walker, trailblazing founder of Walker Wear; Bonnie Humpherys, athlete and writer; D’ana Nuñez, multidisciplinary artist and founder of COVL; Djali Brown-Cepeda, founder of Nueva Yorkinos; Karen Vidangos, founder of Latinx Art Collective and senior social media manager at The Met; Kayla Greaves, beauty expert and journalist; Kecia Kae, East Coast reporter for Hollywood Unlocked; Khleo Armstrong, creative and storyteller; Loren LoRosa, television and digital media personality; Rae Witte, journalist and writer; Samia Grand-Pierre, marketing strategist and co-founder of Snobette; Soo-Young Kim Abrams, founder of SYK Skin; and Tecla Esposito, entrepreneur, sommelier, and owner of Heaven & Earth Bar in Greenpoint.
The evening was hosted by Zoila Darton and Darian Harvin, with Lindsay Eshelman and Thalia Perez providing creative support—each woman embodying the event’s spirit of mentorship, storytelling, and community. Together, their presence reinforced the night’s purpose: to celebrate women not just as muses, but as creators, leaders, and visionaries in their own right.
