Paris Fashion Week is no stranger to spectacle, but this September, it was L’Oréal Paris that commanded the city’s attention. Against the dramatic backdrop of the Hôtel de Ville, the global beauty giant staged its annual Le Défilé, an open-air runway that blurred the line between fashion show, performance, and cultural statement.
A Show with Global Reach
Unlike the exclusivity that often defines fashion week, this show unfolded in the heart of Paris and invited the world to watch, both in person and via livestreams on TikTok and Instagram. Yet being there in person carried a magic no screen could capture. The Hôtel de Ville glowed against the night sky, music pulsed through the square, and each model’s entrance drew a collective gasp that rippled through the crowd. L’Oréal framed Le Défilé as a show for everyone.
Kendall Jenner
“Liberté. Égalité. Sororité.”
This year’s theme, “Liberté. Égalité. Sororité” (Liberty, Equality, Sisterhood), reimagined France’s national motto in L’Oréal’s own voice. It tied seamlessly to the brand’s iconic mantra, “Because you’re worth it.” The message carried through the entire evening: that beauty, in all its diversity, is an act of empowerment.
Eva Longoria
Icons on the Runway
The line-up was nothing short of dazzling. Helen Mirren, radiant at 80 in silver sequins, embodied timeless sophistication and drew thunderous applause. Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson, Andie MacDowell and Cindy Bruna each brought their signature presence, reminding the crowd that this runway was as much about identity as it was about clothes. Brazilian singer Anitta lit up the night with a live performance, her energy spilling off the stage and into the crowd. And one of the most touching moments came when footballer Mary Fowler made her catwalk debut. Fresh from an injury comeback, her confident stride resonated as a powerful symbol of resilience. The finale belonged to Kendall Jenner. In a custom white gown - corset, sheer skirt, daring thigh-high slit - she glided down the runway as the square erupted in camera flashes. It was one of those moments where fashion, beauty, and star power aligned perfectly.
Aishwarya Rai
South Asian Presence and Cultural Ripples
One of the most powerful aspects of Le Défilé 2025 was its embrace of South Asian representation, a striking reminder that the global stage of Paris Fashion Week is beginning to reflect the world it speaks to.
- Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, a long-time L’Oréal ambassador, brought gravitas to the runway, her presence reaffirming the power of legacy and visibility on a global stage.
- Simone Ashley, the London-based actress known for Bridgerton, lit up the catwalk with her elegance, bridging cinema, culture, and couture.
- Aditya Madiraju, the US-based beauty influencer, added a fresh and modern edge, showing how digital voices are increasingly shaping luxury narratives.
- Dhivya Sri, standing for a new wave of South Asian talent, walked with a quiet poise that resonated as powerfully as the biggest names of the night.
Their inclusion was more than symbolic; it was a statement. For South Asian audiences around the world, seeing women and men from their communities at the centre of such a global spectacle felt like recognition long overdue. And for L’Oréal, it anchored sisterhood as a theme that must stretch across geographies, identities, and industries.
Anjna Kaur
Fashion Meets Beauty
Visually, the show was a feast of bold silhouettes, metallic sheens, corsetry, and gowns in a palette of black, white, red, and gold. Glitter caught the floodlights, sequins shimmered like starlight, and every look was anchored by flawless beauty styling. It was a reminder that this was more than a fashion show, it was L’Oréal Paris demonstrating how beauty and couture exist in dialogue, shaping a lifestyle as much as a look.
L’Oréal Paris did not just open Paris Fashion Week 2025; it set its rhythm. Dazzling, empowering, and expansive in its embrace of global voices, Le Défilé proved that fashion is never fixed; it evolves, disrupts, and redefines. For those of us who stood in its glow, the memory lingers like a spark, carrying with it the hope that next season the runway will not just expand, it will truly belong to everyone.
Heidi Klum
