by Meg Hansen
Many VDC readers know me through my 2020 campaign for Lieutenant Governor, my time as president of the Ethan Allen Institute, or my other work in Vermont’s political and policy spheres. Today, I would like to tell you about an initiative that carries deep personal significance for me.
RISE supports survivors of sexual violence – children, women, and men. The nonprofit played an instrumental role in drafting, championing, and passing the federal Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act of 2016, which established concrete legal protections regarding forensic examinations, the preservation of rape kits, notice before the destruction of evidence, and access to information. Since then, it has helped establish similar protections through 120 state laws nationwide, including in Vermont and New Hampshire.
RISE has held a “Survivor Fashion Show” during New York Fashion Week for several years, where survivors walk the runway to challenge the stigma around sexual assault and the notion that what someone was wearing provoked the violence they endured. This year, it is also the charity partner for a national public-vote competition called “Next Runway Star,” whose grand prize winner will walk in the RISE Fashion Show. The contest expands the message of reclaiming one’s body beyond survivors of sexual violence. That’s where my personal journey comes in.
I lost my mother to cancer when I was very young and grew up in an abusive family where I was parentified and made responsible for managing my father’s emotions. At the age of 18, I was sent out of the country to study medicine in rural India. Although the university is well regarded, I found that pervasive unhealthy competition and hostility towards women are deeply embedded in that society. I was forced to live a life that violated my identity, dreams, and values.
It took me five years to muster the courage to seize the reins of my life. I forged an independent path even though it led to contemptuous family rejection, financial deprivation, and long stretches without a place to call home. These hardships left behind wounds of profound shame about my past and chronic self-protection.
I escaped by working hard and retreating into a life of the mind (writing, producing ideas, or advocating for others), but the very adaptations that had helped me to survive began holding me back. Excessive self-reliance, perfectionism (trying to get everything right so nothing goes wrong), and constant striving to prove my value through competence left me perpetually self-defensive. To keep the fear of vulnerability at bay, I also controlled my body so that it stayed undemanding and predictable. This often meant suppressing physical signals of hunger, exhaustion, and sickness.
I reached a point where I had to decide. I could either allow an obsolete survival mode to determine my future or stop it. Real change requires real action. This is what prompted me to enter the Next Runway Star competition. It is a public and pertinent way to reclaim a body that I spent years training into silence. I am also using this opportunity to raise awareness of the lasting and often hidden impact that unresolved complex trauma can have on the body.
This contest feels like the right avenue because fashion was integral to changing how I related to myself. During my nearly five years in India, I was forced to dress in a manner that was alien to my identity. Being denied such an intimate personal choice made an inescapable situation feel even more dehumanizing. When I finally changed the trajectory of my life, I sought refuge in the world of fashion where I was able to explore and discover my individuality and creative voice. Studying at the Polimoda Institute cemented my love of Italian art and design, while my subsequent internships taught me to value simplicity and sustainability.
I am delighted to share that I made the finals and I am now competing with 50 other candidates. I would like to ask for your support to win this competition.
To vote for me, please scroll to the bottom of my contestant page: https://nextrunwaystar.com/2026/meg-hansen. You can cast one free vote a day. You can also purchase “Charity Votes.” Each dollar counts as a vote for me (e.g., $25 = 25 votes).
Lastly, while this is a challenging personal initiative, I am excited about reaching people and building a campaign that is both meaningful and enjoyable. The finals end on Wednesday, September 9. Every vote is a small act of witness and I would be very grateful for yours.
