WASHINGTON — As New York Fashion Week begins to wind down, get a look at look at the diversity on the runway, behind the scenes and in the streets.
Among those who participated were breast cancer survivors, activists, a basketball star’s ex-wife and even one of the very first African-American models to walk the couture runways.
See photos below.
![Mama Cax, an amputee and activist for body acceptance, heads backstage to prepare for her walk down the runway at the CHROMAT show at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-7-836x1254.jpg)
ShannonFinney Photography
![Erika Hart, breast cancer survivor and activist, heading in to walk the CHROMAT runway show at New York Fashion Week. Mama Cax, an amputee and activist for body acceptance, heads backstage to prepare for her walk down the runway at the CHROMAT show at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-37-1567x1254.jpg)
ShannonFinney Photography
![Natural hairstyles were both on and off the runway at New York Fashion Week. Erika Hart, breast cancer survivor and activist, heading in to walk the CHROMAT runway show at New York Fashion Week. Mama Cax, an amputee and activist for body acceptance, heads backstage to prepare for her walk down the runway at the CHROMAT show at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-46-1003x1254.jpg)
ShannonFinney Photography
![Make-up artist Aja Lorin pauses for a quick break between shows. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-102-837x1254.jpg)
ShannonFinney Photography
![A fun fashion moment off the runway during New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-229-837x1254.jpg)
ShannonFinney Photography
![Fashion bloggers and influencers of color attending New York Fashion Week: sisters and fashion bloggers FabFourFashion; fashion and lifestyle blogger TheFashFoodie; Midnight2Dawn fashion blogger; make-up artist Scoobie West; fashion blogger LaShoundra Young. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-260-1880x1254.jpg)
ShannonFinney Photography
![Shailah Edmonds, one of the first African-American women to walk the couture runways, attends New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-266-837x1254.jpg)
ShannonFinney Photography
![On the way to a runway show during New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-511-704x1254.jpg)
Shannon Finney Photography
![Model Tierra Benton backstage at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-744-835x1254.jpg)
Shannon Finney Photography
![LaLa Anthony pushes her way through the crowds on her way to a runway show during New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-891-835x1254.jpg)
Shannon Finney Photography
![Model Ese Otobo leaving Spring Studios after walking a runway show at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-930-835x1254.jpg)
Shannon Finney Photography
![Mama Cax, an amputee and activist for body acceptance, heads backstage to prepare for her walk down the runway at the CHROMAT show at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-7-260x174.jpg)
![Erika Hart, breast cancer survivor and activist, heading in to walk the CHROMAT runway show at New York Fashion Week. Mama Cax, an amputee and activist for body acceptance, heads backstage to prepare for her walk down the runway at the CHROMAT show at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-37-260x174.jpg)
![Natural hairstyles were both on and off the runway at New York Fashion Week. Erika Hart, breast cancer survivor and activist, heading in to walk the CHROMAT runway show at New York Fashion Week. Mama Cax, an amputee and activist for body acceptance, heads backstage to prepare for her walk down the runway at the CHROMAT show at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-46-260x174.jpg)
![Make-up artist Aja Lorin pauses for a quick break between shows. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-102-260x174.jpg)
![A fun fashion moment off the runway during New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-229-260x174.jpg)
![Fashion bloggers and influencers of color attending New York Fashion Week: sisters and fashion bloggers FabFourFashion; fashion and lifestyle blogger TheFashFoodie; Midnight2Dawn fashion blogger; make-up artist Scoobie West; fashion blogger LaShoundra Young. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-260-260x174.jpg)
![Shailah Edmonds, one of the first African-American women to walk the couture runways, attends New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-266-260x174.jpg)
![On the way to a runway show during New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-511-260x174.jpg)
![Model Tierra Benton backstage at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-744-260x174.jpg)
![LaLa Anthony pushes her way through the crowds on her way to a runway show during New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-891-260x174.jpg)
![Model Ese Otobo leaving Spring Studios after walking a runway show at New York Fashion Week. (Courtesy Shannon Finney/<a href="https://www.shannonfinneyphotography.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shannonfinneyphotography.com</a>)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018NYFWSEPT-930-260x174.jpg)