Beautiful beasties: Donshey is the designer and creative director of Monstruosite: seasonal ready-to-wear collections, couture millinery (hats and headpieces), limited-collection luxury Ts, and authentic, custom corset collections.
Hat lady: The Best of the Bay winner started out in fashion studying under Jan Wutkowski, alumna of the Melbourne School of Millinery in Australia.
A touch modest: Donshey doesn’t sashay the catwalk to receive applause at the end of her shows. Instead, she’ll peer out from behind the curtain to wave or might approach the stage to give out awards ahead of time.
Embracing the eccentricities:“Being a little weird is just who I am, and I have always been this way even when I was little. It wasn’t until I started in fashion that I really realized that it’s okay to be exactly who I am because there are so many people out there who identify with my personality and brand.”
Guilty pleasure: She has an indomitable sweet tooth and has served cupcakes at her shows.
Her guiding force:“As cliché as it probably sounds, my mother is my role model. She adopted my brother and I when we were older and as a single mother, so I grew up knowing that she has always gone without to give us the best life possible.”
Favorite cause: Donshey donates proceeds from Monstruosite events to the nonprofit organization RAINN (the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, rainn.org).
Up next: The Spring/Summer 2014 Monstruosite line will be featured during Fashion Week Tampa Bay in September. A trunk show is scheduled for Oct. 26 at Don Me Now boutique in Hyde Park VillageMore details at monstruosite.com.
Fashion designer, 22, Tampa
by Julie Garisto