As one immature feline demonstrated, models are not the only ones who can walk the runway with style.
An unexpected showboat entered the stage as models were showcasing a collection by designer Göksen Hakk Ali at the Emaar Square Mall in Istanbul, Turkey, during the Esmod International Fashion Show.
A self-assured cat appeared on stage and started walking down the runway, immortalized in a video that was uploaded on October 25, 2018, and went viral. It sauntered down the stage to the surprise and joy of fashionistas in the audience without showing any signs of stage fright or anxiety, and did so with the poise and assurance of a modern-day Naomi Campbell or Cindy Crawford.
The cat stayed on the runway as models passed it one by one, perhaps a touch too enamored with the attention. The cat relaxed down and started grooming itself while the audience watched in astonishment.
The Dodo quoted Hakk Ali as saying, “Everybody was in shock.”
The chirpy cat reached out and attempted to grab two models by the leg with both of its paws while still in the middle of its impromptu bath. But the experts maintained their composure and moved forward without stopping to placate the attention-seeking cat.
When grooming was complete, it left the stage and was succeeded by another model. The playful cat showed little attention as she trudged down the runway until she passed it. It then used both of its paws to grab hold of the leg of her jeans. A slight smile could be detected on her face as she was unable to maintain the emotionless model façade.
The cat then proceeded downstage after growing weary of the performance and gave a small nose kiss to a spectator before making a clean getaway. What a class act, or possibly a class cat.
This small creature wasn’t the first unexpected presence to appear on a runway. In the 1990s and 2000s, when fur was still a major trend in fashion, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) members sometimes interrupted performances. Brazilian beauty Gisele Bündchen was being followed down the runway at the 2002 Victoria’s Secret fashion show when she was confronted by Peta protesters with placards that said, “Gisele: Fur Scum.” Later, she claimed that the experience had altered her viewpoint on animal abuse in the workplace. In June 2018, she stated to Vogue:
“All of a sudden, it hit me. I was stuck in the hamster wheel, telling myself to just go out there and be a good girl and follow the instructions of my agency. It wasn’t until that shock, which completely halted me. These films were all sent to me. I was devastated since I had no idea what was happening. I responded, “Listen, I’m not doing campaigns for fur,” It gave me my first real driving position. The cosmos approaches you and says, “Hello, perhaps you should pay attention to this.” You must accept responsibility for the decisions you take.
On April 29, 2019, another self-assured cat walked the stage, this time for Dior’s Resort 2020 show at the El-Badi Palace in Morocco. The Turkish cat may have paved the way for all cats to make a splashy entrance into the world of fashion. The cat tottered calmly as a line of models walked by, though it was less clumsy than its Turkish counterpart. It waited patiently for them to walk away before crossing the catwalk and appearing in front of the audience members’ cellphone cameras. Before saying goodbye, it sprayed a stunning tulle gown, leaving one last impression on the fashion industry.
Watch the video here:
