Chanel Runway Highlights: Kaya Wilkins on Walking With the World’s Youngest Model

Chanel made a bold statement on inclusivity in high fashion this week by featuring a visibly pregnant model on its Resort 2027 runway. Kaya Wilkins, a Norway-based model, musician, and first-time mother, walked the show in southwestern France while five months pregnant, marking a rare moment for the luxury brand and the industry at large.

Chanel’s Runway Moment for Maternity Fashion

The decision to include Wilkins was intentional, according to Chanel’s creative director Matthieu Blazy. The model wore a black-and-white tweed suit—a signature Chanel silhouette—paired with a knit bra, high-waisted bikini pants, and red chili pepper earrings. The ensemble required minimal alterations to accommodate her pregnancy, reflecting Blazy’s vision to normalize maternity in high fashion. The styling even extended to the accessories: a handbag adorned with miniature children’s shoes, evoking a playful yet poignant family narrative.

Wilkins, who was born in Jersey and now resides in Norway, described the experience as “really nice,” praising the creative and supportive atmosphere backstage. “I only got the call a few days ago, and was quite surprised as I’m five months pregnant,” she told Vogue. “Matthieu and Anita [Bitton], the casting director, were looking for someone pregnant, so I was quite lucky to have a little bump on me.” Her agents, she added, were “quite chuffed” by the opportunity, which also introduced her to what she playfully called “the world’s youngest runway model”—her unborn child.

A Shift in Fashion’s Approach to Motherhood

While maternity wear has long been a staple in mainstream retail, its presence on luxury runways remains uncommon. Chanel’s choice to spotlight Wilkins aligns with a broader, if gradual, shift in the industry toward greater representation of diverse body types and life stages. The Resort 2027 show, held against the backdrop of France’s southwestern coastline, leaned into a familial aesthetic, with Blazy’s styling evoking images of beachside strolls and relaxed elegance.

Wilkins’ appearance also underscored the logistical realities of modeling while pregnant. She noted that the Chanel team’s flexibility and the show’s “chill” vibe made the experience enjoyable, even down to the “tasty backstage catering.” Her ease on the runway—despite the last-minute casting—highlighted how small adjustments, such as minimal alterations to the outfit, can make high fashion more accessible to expectant mothers.

Wilkins’ Multifaceted Career

Beyond modeling, Wilkins is a multidisciplinary artist with a growing presence in music, and acting. Her casting in the Chanel show reflects her rising profile in the fashion world, though she remains relatively new to the brand. The Resort 2027 appearance marked her first runway walk for Chanel, adding another milestone to a career that has already seen her balance creative pursuits across industries.

The show’s audience included notable figures like rapper A$AP Rocky, who was photographed with a distressed pink flap bag and matching miniature shoes—a detail that mirrored the child-friendly accessories featured in Wilkins’ look. The presence of such high-profile attendees further amplified the show’s cultural resonance, blending luxury fashion with contemporary pop culture.

What This Means for the Industry

Chanel’s decision to feature a pregnant model arrives at a time when the fashion industry is under increasing scrutiny for its lack of inclusivity. While brands like Savage x Fenty and Chromat have long championed body diversity, luxury houses have been slower to embrace maternity on the runway. Wilkins’ appearance may signal a turning point, particularly for a brand as influential as Chanel, which sets trends for the global fashion market.

For expectant mothers and fashion enthusiasts alike, the moment was a celebration of style without compromise. As Wilkins put it, “I just had a really nice experience being around a lot of creative, really chill people.” Her words capture the essence of the show: a blend of innovation, inclusivity, and the joy of self-expression—regardless of life’s stages.

The Resort 2027 collection, with its emphasis on family-friendly aesthetics and maternal representation, suggests that Chanel is redefining what luxury fashion can—and should—look like. Whether this marks a lasting shift or a one-off statement remains to be seen, but for now, Wilkins’ walk down the runway stands as a landmark moment in fashion history.