CECILIA COLEMAN-FINNEY is the founder of the “Mother’s Day Extravaganza.”
Event is May 11 at 2 p.m. at Hotel Indigo, East Liberty
by Genea L. Webb
For New Pittsburgh Courier
Approximately nine years ago, Cecilia Coleman-Finney took her passion for fashion, music and elegance and created CC’s “Mother’s Day Extravaganza.”
“I get joy and happiness out of doing this,” explained Coleman-Finney with glee. “The models like doing it—many of them are mothers themselves and mothers like to get dressed up and have some place to go. This event makes them all feel special.”
The Mother’s Day Extravaganza attendees receive a buffet dinner, fashion show with fashions showcased by four female, Pittsburgh-based designers, and vendors selling and promoting various goods and services from jewelry to life insurance.
Since its inception, Coleman-Finney has added another element of surprise to keep her audience coming back for more. This year, throne chairs will be on deck for picture-taking and memory-making.
“In 2015, I decided I wanted to have a fashion show and Don Patterson pushed me to do it and go for it,” she told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “People enjoyed it so much that they said, ‘see you next year.’ I said, ‘next year?’ I thought it was going to be a one-hit wonder. I was like a deer in headlights, but I decided to do it again and it started to become more well-known and attended,” said Coleman-Finney.
Now the Mother’s Day Extravaganza has evolved into a must-attend occasion of the year.
She estimates that 140 people came to the Mother’s Day Extravaganza in 2024. For the third consecutive year, this year’s show will be held at East Liberty’s Hotel Indigo. The show will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 11. Deryck Tines will serve as the co-host for the afternoon festivities while DJ Tuffy Tuff will be spinning the hits. This year’s fashion designers are Jamela Creations, Laura Luzier, Melissasade and S. Moye’ Fashion.
“I love how it’s become a staple. It’s an event that everyone looks for and serve mothers and non-mothers on Mother’s Day,” Coleman-Finney said. ward to. It’s just to honor
That recognition for women is why fashion designer/hair stylist Stephanie Moye’ has supported the Mother’s Day Extravaganza as the fashion coordinator and as a designer for the last six years. “It’s a beautiful annual event for mothers at a beautiful location. The atmosphere is positive,” said Moye’. “They don’t have to cook or their families don’t have to cook for them; they can sit and relax and enjoy the fashion show in the process. I hope they like the clothes and walk away with some of the designers’ clothing, which will be available for purchase.”
In addition to her love for the Mother’s Day Extravaganza, Coleman-Finney credits her family, the media and other supporters for its consistent success. “I had the first show at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Then I had the shows at the Sherwood Events Center. The last three have been at Hotel Indigo. I really want to give shoutouts to them for giving me the chance to go on this journey,” said Coleman-Finney, who is the daughter of Pamela and Dr. James Johnson of the Afro-American Music Institute, in Homewood.
“I like classy venues that are safe and open to the public. I like having my brand affiliated with that. My family has been a big help. My husband, Henry, does a lot of the heavy lifting. I just thank everyone for all of the support over the years.”
Coleman-Finney has no thoughts of slowing down the momentum of the Mother’s Day Extravaganza. In fact, she is already formulating plans for the 2026 show.
“The ambiance is what I’d like to keep and welcoming people with southern hospitality,” she said. “They get a little music, a good meal and it’s something for people to do together. We can all be under the same roof and have fun.”
(For ticket information, call 412-583-2649.)