A Crowded Runway
Previously on NYFW…
In an unvexed turn of events, this past September reintroduced the highly anticipated New York Fashion Week back into the media's attention. Designers relished in their creations, models dominated in their struts, audience members gazed in awe, and influencers well…they did a little bit of everything. With the heavily inflated consumer attention that social media influencers have been able to grab ahold of in the past decade, NYFW saw a marketing opportunity in placing the personas that have gained the media's sought-after approval on the runway alongside the professional models.
Internet reaction…
Running to take the opportunity was a given for any influencers requested to act as a model, although one influencer took the term ‘run’ quite literally. The influencer in question, Paige Neimann, has amassed a whopping 10 million followers on TikTok through her uncanny appearance to pop star Ariana Grande. TikTokers were sparked into a debate frenzy on NYFW’s marketing strategy as a video circulated of Neimann walking rather strangely down the runway, and then making a brisk run-like movement as she reached the end. Many viewers cringed at the awkward and surprisingly unprofessional impression it left on the fashion show as the internet innately chose to fixate on this moment of the untrained model. Online uproar rose in the name of New York Fashion Week, seeming to lose its powerful presence in the midst of influencers, while others argued that the exclusivity of high-end fashion shows such as these was long overdue for an adjustment.
In defense of the professional models…
Upon scourging for an agency, perfecting a humble yet confident walk, and networking through a cutthroat industry, it is no secret that being a runway model is no walk in the park. Hours spent on correcting facial expressions, fighting for a job in a highly competitive environment, and mentally preparing for the grueling work hours that are to come. Professional models are endlessly admirable for having recognized their dream and fighting for it tooth and nail to make it into the modeling world that they currently find themselves in. High-end shows such as the New York or Paris Fashion Weeks are an exhilarating goal and dream that many seasoned models fight for. So it is not difficult to imagine the turmoil that an influencer with a heightened number of followers can cause when they are being freely given runway spots that many professional models have only dreamed of. While a seemingly backward point, the limited accessibility of the high-end shows is what has given them their charm and “wow” factor as the show is placed on a pedestal of aspiration for all those viewing. With influencers in the potential mix, there is a definite hit to the confidence of a flawless show. And that is what the world wishes to see, isn't it?
In defense of the influencers…
With any platform, there are bound to be personalities that gain more traffic than others and these people, these influencers, have become highly skilled at marketing themselves meticulously to get that next follower, like, or view. They are a direct voice to the people and an opportunity for a parasocial relationship offered to anyone looking for an internet personality to trust and attach to. Fortune follows influencers as brand deals rightly give them a big enough check to create product incentives that their followers will be captivated by. Although, this is only successful through the genuine vulnerability of an influencer allowing fans into their lives and giving them a glimpse at the daily struggles that feel wholly relatable. In this perspective, these personas being welcomed into the sacred New York Fashion Week space can be viewed as modernization and self-awareness of the changing times and consumer shift in attention. While the ‘Neimann run’ is being overused as ammunition in a case against influencers walking there have been countless influencers such as Kim Kardashian, Aimee Song, and Caroline Daur who have made strong appearances on runways in the past few years. Simply going to show that, given the correct professional walk training, influencers have the power to step up and exude a professionalism that shows respect for the hard-earned work of trained models while also utilizing their brute pull of attention to the show by their name alone. Flaws are expected in the presence of influencers on the runway, but is that just the kind of cultural shake-up that this new age of face-tuned society is craving?
New York Fashion Week has undoubtedly livened up the conversation about what a model is called to be exactly. On one hand, there is the calm, cool, and collected, fought-for confidence of a professional model, while on the other hand, there is the personability, realness, and relatability of an influencer. The singular question remains: is there enough room on the runway for both of them?
Written by Logan Hansen, Photography: Maha Afzal, Design: Alyssa Lazarchik, Social Media: Aliya Mahesania, Videography: Tristan Nigos