As the event began, Cobb Great Hall filled with students and community members supporting their classmates, spouses and acquaintances, some bringing flowers and capturing the night on their phones and digital cameras. 

In a speech before performances, APASO co-presidents Megan Krippner and Maya Fukumori described navigating a climate of fear, silence and administrative pressure — particularly compliance orders tied to federal funding that forced the removal of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) language, restricted funding and recognition. They called on the administration to do more. 

"Michigan State University should be a place where all are seen and heard, not at risk of ceasing to exist," Krippner said. 

The APASO co-presidents said APASO remains committed to supporting its community, continuing advocacy efforts and moving forward with resilience, solidarity and empowerment.

"We’re fearful, but fear should not be a filter or a shadow to hide behind," Fukumori said. 

The idea behind Cultural Vogue, said Lin and Qurashi, is to honor origins by sharing stories and artistry. They also said that by equipping ourselves with the confidence to lead, create and thrive, we empower the community. 

The 23rd annual event highlighted various student organizations, such as the Thai Club, APASO e-board, Indonesian Student Association (Permias), Iris, CTRL+A, Japanese Student Association, Taiwanese Student Association, Pilipino American Student Society, Vietnamese Student Association, Chinese Student Coalition, Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, Spartan Diabolo and the Korean Student Association. 

Each of these performances was introduced by master of ceremonies Donald Kim and Blossom Lor, who used jokes and puns to connect with the audience. 

Human biology sophomore Gaeun Kwon said she was excited to come to Cultural Vogue and see other people’s culture. She was most fond of Formosa, which was performed by the Taiwanese Student Association. 

The performances highlighted culture primarily through movement, with dances featuring modern interpretations of traditional forms. Some organizations performed songs, used traditional fans, swords and even Chinese yo-yos to empower the audience. 

For psychology sophomore Farra Lie, her favorite performances were those with larger dance groups, such as Iris. Lie said she appreciates the effort that went into choreographing with that many people. 

Right after intermission, APASO played a video featuring their "empowered alumni," who offered the audience words of encouragement, highlighting their journeys, impact and their continued efforts to uplift and inspire the community. 

One of these alumni was Kaya Chakrabortty, who described her journey from figure skater to Miss Universe Japan, and all the ups and downs that came with it. 

"You don’t need to be fearless or perfect. You just need to be willing to take that first step," Chakrabortty said in the video. "That’s where empowerment begins."