Paris Fashion Week has come and gone, leaving behind another season of unforgettable moments on the runway. This Spring/Summer 2025 season, much like those before it, saw plenty of viral-worthy highlights. From veteran Hollywood actor Willem Dafoe walking for Miu Miu to Bella Hadid’s runway comeback at Saint Laurent, the world’s largest fashion event was definitely full of unforgettable pop culture moments.
One moment that captivated the internet was supermodel Anok Yai’s “runaway bride” moment at Vetements’ Spring 2025 show. Clad in a voluminous wedding gown, the American supermodel closed the Swiss streetwear brand’s ready-to-wear show. After initially walking with grace, Anok reached the end of the runway, took a turn, and suddenly bolted backstage.
Watch the video here to see how she pulled it off:
LOOK: American Supermodel Anok Yai on Her “Runaway Bride” Moment for the Vetements Spring 2025
Soon after, Anok took to Instagram to explain the spontaneous moment. Interestingly, she revealed that running was never part of the plan. "The plan was to elegantly enter the runway representing his vision. Pause for the cameras, [and] hold for dramatic effect," she shared. However, she had only tested the gown’s weight minutes before the show. [I] completely forgot to ask for a higher heel to hold the dress higher off the ground," she confessed.
When she stepped onto the runway, her heels kept catching on the gown, forcing her to lift the skirt while walking. "All elegance and grace [went] out the window," she remarked. In that moment of panic, Anok had to think fast. "I needed to come up with a way to make it appear as if all my ‘mistakes’ were on purpose," she explained. And so, the whole "defiant bride" persona was brought to life. "I decided to go from elegant to defiant bride, hoping the character switch would work," Anok said in the Instagram post.
She paused for the cameras at the runway’s end, but right at that very moment, the embarrassment began to creep in. "The embarrassment I already felt was enough and [I] couldn’t take more. Only one word was going through my head: Run. So that’s what I did, Lord," she explained.
Her split-second decision threw the backstage production crew into a frenzy. According to Anok, they began to scream "ANOK IS RUNNING OFF THE RUNWAY! WHY IS SHE RUNNING?!" repeatedly as she was making her hurried exit.
The original plan was for Anok to finish her walk, and then return with creative director Guram Gvasalia, Gigi Hadid, and Travis Scott for the final bow. But with Anok unexpectedly gone, Guram, Gigi, and Travis had to proceed on their own. "Travis and Guram [were] basically walking blind because of the glasses and flashing lights while Gigi stayed in the middle guiding them," Anok narrated.
Afterwards, Anok rushed backstage in tears, seeking out Guram to apologize. "I ran backstage in tears looking for Guram so I could explain myself and beg for his forgiveness for ruining the show," she recounted. But much to her own surprise, Guram’s reaction was unexpected. The designer replied with, "How did you think of that?!”
And just like that, an iconic pop culture moment was born.
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