BY JA’KORI MADISON, The Acadiana Advocate
September 15, 2026
Lafayette designer known as Romey Roe walked down a New York runway alongside Miss America 2027 Regan Hutsell, who had just closed his New York Fashion Week presentation in a custom Romey Roe gown.
The show took place at Gotham Hall during The Bureau at New York Fashion Week, where Walker debuted his latest collection, “Botanical Armor.” Hutsell’s red gown served as the finale.
Regan Hutsell of Texas was crowned Miss America 2027 on Sept. 6, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The gown was custom-made for Hutsell in a matter of days leading up to the show after she tried on several Romey Roe designs.
Walker said the red gown ultimately stood out because of how comfortable Hutsell felt wearing it and because it represented the brand’s identity through its signature red, hand-beaded details and classic silhouette with a reimagined structure.
The collection was inspired by the idea of walking through a beautiful garden that is both living and dying at the same time, representing the flow of life.
“You walk through a garden, and you see beautiful patches, and then you’ll see mud and messy patches, and maybe a tree kind of dying,” Walker said.
The show was also about demonstrating what Louisiana creatives could accomplish on a national stage.
Much of the team that traveled to New York, including models and hair and makeup professionals, came from Louisiana, with some from Acadiana and New Orleans.
“Louisiana really being a part of our identity and the identity of this show is really something that’s important to me,” Walker said.
The Miss America partnership was not Walker’s first connection with the organization. He previously designed a gown for Cassie Donegan, Miss America 2026, who wore a custom Romey Roe design to the Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert in New York City.
Walker’s designs have also appeared on some of entertainment’s biggest red carpets.
He made his Grammy Awards debut in 2026 after designing a custom gown worn by Billboard artist Robin Barnes Casey, marking the first time the Romey Roe brand was represented on the Grammys red carpet.
His work also reached the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, where actress Liz Fenning wore a red silk satin, lace and sequin gown designed by Walker.
Now, two years into presenting collections at New York Fashion Week, Walker said he wanted to show what Southern talent could accomplish on a national stage.
“I really wanted to show what a small-town Louisiana boy can do,” Walker said. “If you just keep dreaming, keep being determined.”
Read the article here: https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/entertainment_life/lafayette-designer-romey-roe-closes-new-york-fashion-week-show-with-miss-america-2027/article_f5c76eb1-5c00-405e-be86-b7f26decfdb8.html