As Dominican model Dilone frankly stated, “They need models like us.” And Louis Vuitton and creative director Nicolas Ghesquière certainly delivered at its Cruise 2019 show!
The show, which was held yesterday at the Fondation Maeght in St. Paul-de-Vence, France, featured a bevy of iconic and history-making Black models. This included Dilone, who walked in over 50 shows in her debut modeling season; Janaye Furman, the first Black model to open for Louis Vuitton; our favorite breakout model Anok Yai, who was first discovered at Howard University’s homecoming– and many more.
In an interview with WWD, Ghesquière described his inspiration for the label’s Cruise 2019 collection. “This cruise show is about eccentricity for me. It’s about how an individual can have his own proper style and can start a movement. I love this idea of someone eccentric that mixes things in her own way,” said Ghesquière.
Janaye Furman, who made history last year for becoming the first Black model to open for Louis Vuitton at its Spring 2018 show, naturally hit the runway.
Egyptian model Anok Yai, who made history earlier this year for becoming the first Black model to open for Prada in over twenty years (Naomi Campbell was the first!), also appeared in the show. Selena Forrest, who’s been outspoken about diversity on the runway and even backstage, also walked the show and even opened for Dior’s Cruise 2019 show in Paris this weekend.
Other Black models who graced the runway included Theresa Hayes who landed a Louis Vuitton worldwide exclusive in 2016, up-and-coming Gambian model Oumie Jammeh who had her whirlwind breakout season last year (she walked in over 25 shows!), Madisin Rian and Adesuwa Aighewi, who are of Nigerian, Chinese and Thai descent.
As Jammeh said on Instagram, “This was just a dream [one] year ago and look at me now?! Out here living my best life.”
Legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath was the master behind the gorgeous makeup looks. After the close of the show, Aighewi posted the following video of the models, which gave us all the feels!
Watch a snippet of Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2019 show below, and watch the entire show here.