Who says fashion is just about the clothes? This season, it was the women wearing them who made jaws drop and social media explode. In the middle of flashing cameras, bold shapes, and silly after-party rumors, a few electric personalities left an imprint nobody can ignore. They strutted past clichés, ripped the script, and set the tempo for what it means to stand out. It was more than modeling. It was storytelling with every step, spin, and wink on the catwalk.
Unforgettable Catwalks: The Faces That Ruled The Week
From the moment the lights switched on in Paris—always the troublemaker of the Big Four—we saw familiar faces and exciting newcomers jostling for attention. But it wasn’t just legacy names like Bella Hadid and Anok Yai causing a stir. 21-year-old South Korean sensation Sora Choi clocked the most show opens by a single female model this season, nabbing the honor at Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Off-White. That alone says a ton: designers bet on her magnetic stage presence. Then there was America’s Paloma Elsesser, who’s rewritten what top model shapes look like. Paloma didn’t just walk; she floated, radiating confidence at Fendi and Altuzarra. Even backstage staff had to gush—one Fendi stylist called her "the soul of the season." And a personal favorite moment? Malika Louback twirling in that neon-green Courrèges number—everyone’s still posting those replays.
Who could forget Alex Consani? She’s got Gen-Z charm and 80s glam vibes—a tricky combo, but it’s working. At Miu Miu, she winked at Vogue’s camera crew, and Instagram nearly melted. In fact, data tracked by The Impression shows Consani gained over 400,000 followers the week following her Miu Miu walk—proof that personality now moves product as much as high cheekbones. Of course, models have always needed versatility, but this year, designers wanted more: less robot, more real. At Chanel, South African model Thuso Mbedu ditched her script, blowing kisses and laughing at the golden runway’s end. While some old-guard editors clucked, TikTok’s #RealRunwayMoments exploded. These unscripted flourishes became the season's secret weapon. So if you’re aspiring to stand out, take note: authenticity isn’t optional anymore. Trend tip? Practice emotive micro-expressions, not just your walk!
And here’s something wild: this spring’s Milan runways saw the largest-ever number of first-time female faces, with over 160 debuts. Is that risky? For brands, maybe, but shoppers want to feel like they could see someone like themselves up there. There’s an actual quote from Donatella Versace herself, "I want girls with character. Not mannequins, muses." And one last jaw-dropper: for the first time, more than 50 percent of headlining models in New York identified as Black, Hispanic, or Asian. That’s not PR fluff. It’s a long-overdue turn toward actual inclusivity. Turns out, being bold isn’t about just what you wear—it’s who you pick to show it off.
Behind The Spotlight: Stories, Surprises, and Smarts
A killer walk might get you on the “best-of” pages, but brains and stories keep you there. The audience barely saw the work these models put in behind the scenes, but it’s there if you scratch beneath the surface. Sora Choi famously spends hours before every show reviewing tapes of her previous seasons, treating her catwalk like a sport. She credits her stamina and confidence to marathon Muay Thai sessions—proof that it’s not all green juice and Pilates. Want a real edge? Study your own moves like athletes review game footage; make friends with the mirror, seriously.
Elsesser is just as strategic. She publicly talked about negotiating her campaign terms to include size diversity everywhere her image is used—billboards, websites, you name it. The cool thing? Her agency confirmed that since she started this, five other major runway faces have done the same. That level of negotiation and advocacy is a power flex many overlook. This means today’s fashion week stars do so much more than just fit samples—they’re rewriting the conditions for the next wave. If you ever get a shot to model, remember: confidence offstage matters as much as confidence onstage.
And let’s talk about Sofia Steinberg. In an industry obsessed with fleeting trends, she spun a viral moment at Loewe just by pausing, locking eyes with the judge, and then swapping her stilettos for sneakers on the runway. It wasn’t in the show notes, but it fit the brand’s "wear what you love" message and even sparked a #SofiaSwitch challenge online. Models don’t just wear the clothes; sometimes, they co-write the runway story. If you want a tip for going viral or leaving an impact? Be ready for small improvisations. Brands love a risk-taker—but only if you nail it.
Then there’s the professional hustle nobody sees. Data from Model Alliance says most leading models visit an average of 22 casting calls per week during peak season, before even landing one gig. The high-profile faces can score 12–15 walks per Fashion Week, which leaves very little time to eat, call home, or sleep. Paloma Elsesser is open about her ritual: prepping playlists for every show, energy bars in her bag, and vitamin C shots. So next time you scroll past a "model-off-duty" look, remember it’s probably a caffeinated survival outfit.
Changing The Game: Diversity, Representation, and Real Impact
Fashion Week 2025 proved the old model mold is gone. Just look at the lineup. Alongside industry icons and viral it-girls, we saw standouts like Precious Lee, who shattered at least five industry "firsts" by being the first Black plus-size model to close Vivienne Westwood’s London show. For every "new face," there’s a backstory about perseverance or breaking old taboos. One viral interview had model Sabina Karlsson recalling how she was told to lose weight or quit during her early Paris years. She didn’t just stay; she became the face of five major campaigns this season alone.
More shows are also prioritizing models with disabilities. Jillian Mercado, who uses a wheelchair, headlined for Chromat and Collina Strada, and was met with a five-minute standing ovation. It was the longest in Fashion Week’s recent history, according to attendee data. And while this may sound like common sense, designers didn’t always listen—one Milan casting agent shared that 2025 marks the first time all his casting calls required accessibility information. That’s real progress, not just lip service.
The stats don’t lie. This season, 54% of major city runway models identified as people of color, up from 43% in 2022. The share of plus-size models doubled since 2023, and models representing neurodiversity appeared in multiple high-impact shows for the first time. Check this out:
| Runway City | % Models of Color | % Plus-Size Models | Models with Visible Disabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 52% | 8% | 5 |
| Milan | 48% | 7% | 3 |
| London | 58% | 12% | 4 |
| New York | 63% | 14% | 6 |
Inspirational tip: true coolness is making room for yourself and others. No matter your background, there’s a place (and tribe) in today’s fashion culture if you’ve got drive and a touch of boldness.
How To Sparkle: Tips From This Year’s Showstoppers
Take notes if you’re dreaming of the runway or even just want more style confidence in daily life. Many of the brightest stars this year swear by personal rituals—mindset as much as mascara. Sora Choi listens to power playlists backstage; Elsa Hosk spends five minutes practicing gratitude before walking; Precious Lee calls her mom for a pump-up speech every single show. It’s not about luck. It’s about micro-prep: mental, physical, and emotional.
If you want to build charisma, try this backstage trick: pick one detail of your outfit—color, cut, movement—and exaggerate it when you walk. That deliberate energy usually catches the front row’s attention (and the camera’s lens). Another hack many successful faces share? They write their own affirmations, sometimes right on their mirror. Even veterans like Bella Hadid rehearse a power pose before stepping onto the catwalk.
Social media remains the underground test-lab. Anok Yai revealed she reviews TikTok comments from the previous season to spot what fans love or hate. She uses it to tweak her walk, style, or smile—basically, letting the audience be a secret performance coach. Want an insider tip? Curate your human side. Post behind-the-scenes fun, share lessons from missteps, and highlight the people who lift you up. Authenticity sells now more than old-school perfection.
Fashion Week always brings a new wave of energy, but this year, it’s clear being memorable isn’t just for the genetically blessed or perfectly styled. The models who steal the show are those who carve their own lane, break the ice backstage, and let their personalities amplify the fashion. If you’re looking for the real secret sauce, it’s blending skill with spirit and soaking up every moment in the spotlight—whether you’re walking the runway or just heading out the door in your favorite outfit.
