Rain Hashimoto walked a red carpet, attended a gala and took in the sights in the fashion mecca of New York this week — all because she believed in herself.
Hashimoto, a student at Arizona State University, was honored in New York on Nov. 4 for her recent selection as one of Glamour magazine’s 2025 College Women of the Year. One of six students chosen from around the country, she is majoring in fashion merchandising at ASU FIDM in Los Angeles.
“It is such a gratifying experience, especially as someone who struggles with imposter syndrome and being a perfectionist,” said Hashimoto, a junior who also is earning a degree in international relations through The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
“It’s a motivator to keep on going as well as a sign from the universe that my hard work meant something. When I saw all the other ladies who were on the list, I felt a deep sense of gratitude to be among them.”
When she got the email that she was chosen, she was at first suspicious.
“I thought it was a scam,” she said.
“I was checking the email address and running it through scam checkers. Then I was like, ‘Oh, this is real.’”
Glamour magazine started the feature in 1957, when it published “The 10 Best-Dressed College Girls in America.” Over the years, the contest evolved to recognize women’s accomplishments, variously focusing on historically Black colleges and universities, athletes and community colleges. This year, the magazine said, it went “back to its roots” by choosing fashion students.
Glamour highlighted Hashimoto’s journey, in which she grew up in a small town in Oahu, Hawaii, and had fun styling her friends. She got an associate degree from FIDM in 2024 and returned to Hawaii, where she got a good job as a marketing coordinator for a jewelry company. But she wanted to push herself, and she realized that she could pursue a bachelor’s degree at ASU FIDM.
She told Glamour: “It was the biggest risk, leaving something that was stable and comforting for the unknown. But it was honestly so worth it. … I love being in school, so that’s something I don’t regret doing.”
Her career goal is to be a creative director or marketing director for a luxury brand, and she’s now a marketing intern at Mina Baie, which makes bags.
“I want to start my own nonprofit to help communities that are affected by harsh labor conditions and sweatshops in the fashion industry,” she said.
“I would like to work overseas as well, which is part of the reason I started studying international relations.”
Hashimoto said her favorite fashion designer is Iris van Herpen, who creates avant-garde, sculptural designs. For the Glamour gala, she was a bit more practical though, buying a dress from the House of CB, a British brand.
“It’s very Audrey Hepburn-inspired and classy,” she said. “It’s a black dress you could wear multiple times.”
She also likes a vintage vibe.
“I love to go thrifting and I’m still trying to find good thrifting spots in LA since I moved back,” she said.
“A lot of my pieces are from my mom’s closet and my family’s closet. I feel like that’s my store. I go in and I’m like, ‘I’m gonna take this, thank you.’
“Fashion is so circular. There are pieces where I’m like, ‘That’s so ugly.’ And then a year later, I’m like, ‘I actually want that.’”
Hashimoto says she’s grown a lot from the 17-year-old who started classes in Los Angeles.
“My favorite thing to say is that anyone is capable of change,” she said.
“I was extremely overwhelmed, emotional and immature. I was not the best student and felt a lot of imposter syndrome.”
She struggled academically before catching up and finishing her associate degree with good grades and three internships.
“I want people to know that it’s OK to not be perfect and struggle, but to also know that you’re brave enough to make a change in your life,” she said.
“You just have to trust yourself. Don’t let other people’s perceptions of you make you scared to grow and evolve.”
