HARLEM, NY — MAY 12, 2025

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, Myrdith Leon-McCormack, founder of World Bride Magazine (WBM), presented the inaugural installment of the Legacy Ball of Harlem. The celebratory gala event was held on Monday, May 5, 2025, at a luxurious West 125th Street venue in the heart of the vibrant neighborhood the namesake event celebrated.

The message of the event was to highlight and celebrate the influence those hailing from this storied neighborhood have had on global art, music, and fashion. Resilience is central thread of the story of Harlem — once farmland, later home to migrants during the Great Migration, and eventually a beacon of Black excellence. This tradition of excellence continues to inspire the world today.

“The glamour and creativity of Harlem and the Harlem Renaissance inspired my desire to build a wedding business in the early 2000s, and later in 2006, a bridal magazine. I’m proud to celebrate how this iconic era continues to shape my vision and creativity,” states Myrdith Leon-McCormack. “It was an honor to be able to honor living legends who contribute to my success and that of our community.” 

The inaugural edition of the Legacy Ball of Harlem counted as its supporters a seemingly endless list of leaders, designers, philanthropists, and influential citizens. The City of New York Agencies of Tourism, represented by Markly Wilson, the Harlem Economic Development, represented by Curtis Archer, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams represented by Gina Williams, Group 868, represented by Ivan Meza, and Harlem One Stop, who partnered with the event organizers to provide the musical talent, were all in attendance to lend their support, with some offering official citations and proclamations.

In the middle of the program, a fashion show was staged to the great joy of those in attendance. The salon style presentation was a nod to the historical manner that fashion shows used to be staged in the early days of what has now grown into New York Fashion Week. Designers showing in the show were Yumi Katsura of Paulette Cleghorn, Carlton Jones of the Carlton Jones Collection, Brooklyn Bespoke by Rody McDonald, Yemi of Kosibah, Elizabeth Salassie (the great, great granddaughter of Emperor Salassie of Ethiopia) founder of Designer Loft, and Ivan Mesa the owner of the Sample Room Bridal Salon, as well as legendary designer and long-time Harlem affiliated designer Mark Ingram, a celebrated anchor of the NY Bridal Fashion Week calendar.

Notables in attendance included fashion industry representatives such as, editors from Essence Magazine, Vogue.com, and Black Enterprise magazine, as well as LaChanze, who represented Broadway’s brightly lit marquees.

The evening Gala event supported World Bride Magazine’s initiatives to sponsor paid internships for 10 students in a wide range of creative endeavors from publishing and film to journalism, fine arts, and fashion. The fundraising initiatives that began with the staging of the Legacy Ball of Harlem will continue until the end of the year. The internships that are able to be funded from this event, as well as other initiatives set into motion by World Bride Magazine, directly foster the next generation of Harlem’s creatives. In order to support this and all of World Bride Magazine’s supportive efforts, simply download the latest copy and donate to the cause.  Those who donate will have their businesses listed in the concierge section of the magazine as a value added benefit.

“The Legacy Ball of Harlem was more than just a celebration — it was a call to action,” says Leon-McCormack. “By supporting this event and the ongoing initiatives of World Bride Magazine, you’ll be helping to preserve Harlem’s vibrant history while empowering the next wave of artistic and entrepreneurial talent.”

DANIEL QUINTANILLA