The best celebrity runway cameos of all time
Icons only!
Fashion month is the equivalent of the Oscars for us fashion folk. Twice a year, editors, designers, models and fashion lovers will travel from New York to London to Milan and Paris (plus, Copenhagen, with the Scandinavian city quickly emerging as a style destination to note) to see the latest looks and the forthcoming season's trends from the biggest fashion houses going.
But designers aren't solely relying on their clothing to steal the show. While a celebrity-packed front row is one way to create commotion, arranging an A-list runway cameo is as close as you can get to guaranteeing a collection's success. Like when Madonna walked the Jean Paul Gaultier runway in 1994, or when Jennifer Lopez recreated her iconic barely-there jungle print dress at the Versace 2019 show. More recently, we've seen a handful of incredible celebrity runway cameos from the likes of Paris Hilton, Dua Lipa and former RHOBH star Lisa Rinna, proving just where her supermodel daughter Amelia Gray gets it from.
We can't decide what we love more about these catwalk cameos: the full-circle nostalgia when Y2K icons stomp back to the forefront of fash-un, or how refreshing it is to see famous folks step out of their comfort zone and try something new. Of course, this ain't a roundup of celebrities who have actively pursued careers in modelling, no sir. We're talking about actors, artists and athletes who surprised us all (in the best possible way) when they set foot on the runway.
Journey with us as we look back at the most amazing A-list modelling moments ever, along with some more recent starry-eyed sightings from this September's London Fashion Week'sAW26 season, in which team Cosmo was in attendance.
London Fashion Week transport kindly provided by Blacklane, door-to-door premium global chauffeur services.
Jemima Kirke
Actress and known to most of us as Jessa from Girls, Jemima Kirke took to the stage for jewellery brand Completedwork's show on the third day of London Fashion Week AW26. Performing a micro-play written by Laura Waldren, Kirke played a TV cooking show host, who was joined by a cast of 'close personal friends' to help her prepare bouquets, chop fruit and veg, and even watch her exercise in a pair of ASICS GEL-KAYANO™ 20 custom sneakers.
Mel B
Having a Spice Girl walk the runway? Major. Mel B closed designer Natasha Zinko's underground, tunnel based show on Friday night of London Fashion Week AW26, skipping down the runway in a tartan, bubble skirt dressing-gown-cum-dress, only to pull it aside and reveal a leopard print bra worn underneath. Talk about iconic.
Rose McGowan
Actress Rose McGowan walked the runway for designer Marie Lueder's eponymous label at London Fashion Week AW26. In a red embellished bomber jacket, leggings and black sunglasses, the former Charmed star was the epitome of cool.
Lola Young
For H&M's during September 2025 LFW show, Lola Young joined a star-studded cast, including Amelia Gray, Paloma Elsesser, Iris Law, Lila Moss, Alex Consani and Romeo Beckham (below), wearing the high street brand's new autumn/winter collection. She returned to the runway in a second H&M outfit to close the show with a surprise set. The Cosmo team were in attendance and you bet we were singing along!
Josephine de La Baume, Jerry Hall and Raven Smith
Icon Jerry Hall was joined by French actress Josephine de La Baume and columnist and Instagram personality Raven Smith to become the stars of the show at Completedworks SS26 presentation during LFW, which saw the trio enact a live shopping set-up showcasing the brand's gorgeous jewellery.
Pixie Geldof
Pixie Geldof was unrecognisable in a pink wig to walk Ashley Williams' LFW SS26 show. Her appearance in the show could signal a new trend of colour-matching your handbag to your hair which we're acutally quite into, tbh.
Tommy Cash
Tommy Cash is the Estonian artist and former Eurovision entry, perhaps best known for collaborating with Charli XCX and Diplo. He made a surprise appearance during LFW's SS26 season when he walked the runway during Natasha Zinko's show, appropriately hosted at London's The Box nightclub.
Kylie Jenner
She's a regular on the front row, but Kylie Jenner officially made her Paris Fashion Week runway debut when she closed the Coperni SS25 show. The beauty brand mogul looked like a gothic princess in a strapless black ballgown and opera gloves, fitting as the show was held at Disneyland Paris. Yep, the fashion house closed down the theme park with the runway stretching beneath Sleeping Beauty's iconic castle. We're sorry to say Kylie was *not* wearing glass slippers... An opportunity missed, IMO.
Willem Dafoe
In a truly unexpected runway finale, Willem Dafoe – the actor famous for his roles in Spider-Man, American Psycho and Platoon, plus not forgetting the fact he voiced Gill in Finding Nemo– closed the Miu Miu SS25 show during Paris Fashion Week.
Emma Corrin
The Crown star, Emma Corrin, just repped the 'underwear as trousers' trend on the Miu Miu runway at Paris Fashion Week. Safe to say, this is quite a different look for the same actor we saw channel Princess Diana's iconic style, but we're here for stars mixing things up!
Jon Gries
In an unexpected turn of events The White Lotus star, Jon Gries (AKA Greg) swapped Sicily for New York Fashion Week, walking the runway for Eckhaus Latta.
Lisa Rinna
Here's Lisa Rinna's viral runway moment for Rotate, wearing a bodysuit and leopard print coat.
Ziwe
Ziwe knocked it out of the park while walking (and performing) at Mugler's Paris Fashion Week show last month.
Lucas Bravo
Emily in Paris star Lucas Bravo (AKA Gabriel) casually walked for LGN Louis-Gabriel Nouchi with what appears to be blood splattered across his face.
Paris Hilton
Ahhh yes, Paris' hot pink glitter dress, worn for Versace's 2022 show, is peak Y2K revival goodness.
Lourdes Leon
Madonna's daughter, Lourdes Leon, wore Marine Serre's signature print in catsuit form for the designer's 2022 Paris show.
Dua Lipa
Versace tapped Dua Lipa to walk in their 2021 show and, unsurprisingly, she absolutely nailed it.
Jodie Turner-Smith
Actor Jodie Turner-Smith looked 100% the part in Gucci's Love Parade back in 2021.
Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens looked almost unrecognisable in Rihanna's 2021 Savage x Fenty show.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus took to Marc Jacobs' 2020 runway like a natural, wearing this micro crop top and trousers combo.
Natasha Harding is the former Fashion Editor (Digital & Print) at Cosmopolitan & Women's Health UK. Working in fashion journalism for just under ten years, she’s covered over 30 international fashion weeks, hundreds of red carpets and religiously scours the runway every season to create the brand’s bi-annual trend report. Joining Cosmopolitan back in Australia, Natasha moved to London a few years ago and is now the resident expert for celebrity style and industry news, fashion features and e-commerce. Follow Natasha on Instagram
Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
Rebecca Jane Hill is the Senior Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan UK. She has previously contributed to publications including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Refinery29, The Face, Glamour and Stylist. She started her own magazine, Sister, in 2012 whilst at university. Focused around feminism, fashion and culture, it went on to produce 12 globally stocked print issues, as well as countless events and partnerships. She closed the magazine in 2023.
Rebecca has been an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion since 2018, where she teaches on the Fashion Journalism course. She is a passionate second-hand shopper and is constantly on the lookout for new design talent.
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