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The Most Surprising Models of Fashion Week Spring 2025

by Carolyn Twersky
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US-born Italian actor Willem Dafoe presents a creation by Miu Miu
GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP/Getty Images

During fashion month, the runways are filled with models wearing the newest trends that’ll be coming to a store near you. But wait, is that Alexa Chung at Tory Burch? And did recently crowned Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles just stomp down the Kim Shui catwalk? Some designers love casting unexpected names in their shows every once in a while—others, like Miu Miu (which had Willem Dafoe, Chung, and Hilary Swank on its Paris Fashion Week spring 2025 runway) host cameos regularly. This season, two themes emerged from the stars moonlighting as models: Olympians, fresh off the plane from France, and family and friends of Madonna, with both her son and ex hitting the runway in New York. In Paris, meanwhile, actors and nepo babies are taking over the catwalk, including some scion debuts you won’t want to miss. We’re keeping track of every unexpected model of the spring/summer 2025 season below.

Sunday Rose Kidman Urban

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Per usual, the Miu Miu runway was filled with famous faces. Miuccia Prada’s spring/summer 2025 presentation kicked off with Sunday Rose—the daughter of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban—making her runway debut at just 16 years old.

Alexa Chung

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Urban was followed by Alexa Chung, who seemingly has been bitten by the modeling bug after making her runway debut at Tory Burch earlier this fashion month.

Little Simz

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Also on the runway was British rapper Little Simz.

Minnie

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In fact, Mrs. Prada pulled a few people from the world of music for this presentation. The designer also invited Thai singer Minnie from (G)I-dle onto the runway.

Hilary Swank

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All industries were represented at Miu Miu, with Hilary Swank leading the acting contingent.

Willem Dafoe

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The Miu Miu show was closed out by Willem Dafoe, who returned to the runway for the first time since he walked in the Prada “Villains” show during the fall 2012 season.

Romeo Beckham

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The son of David and Victoria Beckham made his runway debut at the Balenciaga fall/winter 2025 show.

Travis Scott

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The rapper held his own alongside Gigi Hadid at the Vetements spring/summer 2025 presentation.

Marcia Cross

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Also on the Vetements runway was Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross, who returned after she made an appearance in Guram Gvasalia’s fall 2024 presentation back in March.

Alexa Chung

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It’s kind of surprising to hear that until this season, Alexa Chung never stepped up to the runway, but she did, in fact, make her debut at the Tory Burch show, held at the former Domino Sugar Refinery on the Williamsburg waterfront.

Tinashe

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The models at Elena Velez moved so fast, it was easy to miss them, but everyone took notice when “Nasty” singer Tinashe hit the runway.

Offset

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Offset put down the mic and donned an oversized leather trench for his walk at the 30 Rock-set Luar show.

David Banda

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While Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes Leon, has walked the runway a handful of times, the singer’s son, David Banda, also a musician, made his debut at the Off-White show on September 8.

Carlos Leon

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Meanwhile, Lourdes’s father, Carlos Leon, was busy working the runway at the Willy Chavaria show.

Mahmood

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Chavaria’s runway was filled with unexpected faces, including Italian singer, Mahmood.

Noah Lyles

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And while Noah Lyles may no longer be in the Olympics, he still put on some high-fashion running gear to make his runway debut at the Willy show.

Jordan Chiles

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Lyles wasn’t the only Olympian to hit the runway. Jordan Chiles’s walk at the Kim Shui show was as gold medal-worthy as her floor routine.

The Green Lady of Brooklyn

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Many were very pleased to see the Green Lady of Brooklyn pop up in her favorite color at the Collina Strada show on September 6.

Mara Hoffman

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Designer Mara Hoffman got to experience fashion week from the model’s point of view when she walked for Collina Strada.

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