So what does a lesbian look like?

Major catwalk wedding to dispel stereotypes

“Does a woman have to have a stereotype look to fit the gay mould?”
This is the question New Zealand based fashion designer, Annah Stretton asks as she aims to quash stereotypes associated with female same-sex couples. 
Through her campaign, Come on Oz, Say I Do, Annah has offered one female couple the opportunity to join in her crusade to celebrate the new legalisation that enables same sex couples to marry in New Zealand from the 19th of August this year and encourage the politicians to make the same law change in neighbouring Australia. 
Brooklyn Edwards and Nicole Dean have been announced as the winners and will be married on the catwalk as part of Annah’s New Zealand Fashion Weekend show.
The couple were picked from a huge entry pool of same sex women and on September 7^th will be married in front of 1000 guests at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.
“In choosing Brooklyn and Nicole, amongst other things, I wanted to dispel the stereotypes around what a female gay couple should look like,” Annah explains. “Brooklyn and Nicole look like any other girly girls – they do not take on a masculine and feminine role as is often believed of gay female couples.”
Brooklyn agrees saying, “We have been criticized by people for not looking ‘cliché gay’. We think it’s ridiculous to follow stereotypes. Gay people can present themselves any way they wish. There isn’t a code that dictates how we should look! For example people think it’s odd that we are both feminine.”
Annah believes that with these stereotypes there are often preconceived ideas around why women choose to be in same-sex relationships.
“Some people think that women ‘turn gay’ because of a bad experience with a male or men simply finding them unattractive. Brooklyn and Nicole are the perfect couple to dispel this. 
We were looking for a couple that had been in a relationship for a good length of time, who were committed and had a strong future ahead of them. Brooklyn and Nicole are perfect ambassadors for what we are wanting to achieve both with the fashion show and the messages we want to send. Any man would be more than happy to be in a relationship with either of these gorgeous women.”
Victoria based, Brooklyn owns modelling agency, Brazen Talent and her American fiancé, Nicole, who works in client services at a finance company have been together for nearly 3 years.
“We actually fell in love before we saw each other in person,” says Brooklyn who tells how the couple met on the same-sex American dating site, Pink Cupid.
In March 2013, despite not being legally permitted to marry in Australia the pair became engaged.
“Both of us dated guys our whole lives and tried very hard to make that work but deep down we both knew we were meant to be with women,” Brooklyn explains. “We were miserable with men as we tried to be people we weren’t. Both of us were scared of what people would think and we wanted to be ‘normal’.
With the help of Brooklyn and Nicole, Annah’s absolute goal is to change the stigma that attaches to gay females in relationships.
“I have worked alongside women who have chosen to keep their sexuality a secret because they know they will be disadvantaged in their business and life connections. Gay men simply don’t have this problem. They are accepted for their same sexual preferences yet many women still find it very difficult to come out fearing the prejudices 
“It’s time to change these preconceived ideas that attach to gay women in relationships – across their social circles, workplaces and families.”

About Come on Oz, Say I do
'Come on Oz, Say I do,' is a campaign launched by New Zealand fashion designer Annah Stretton in-conjunction with Fashion Weekend, to help Australia say 'I do' at this year’s coming election. In a wedding to top all weddings, Annah is giving one lucky female same sex Australian couple a wedding of their dreams on the catwalk at Fashion Weekend in front of a crowd of 1000 fashionistas and supporters of same sex marriage this coming September 7th.   
For more information visit www.comeonoz.com
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For more about Annah Stretton visit: www.annahstretton.com
View Annah on the catwalk here http://bit.ly/14XQWxH