September — NYFW SS 25 TAC
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My Totally Unbiased, Perfectly Reasonable Ranking of Runway Nepo Babies
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By Giselle Acosta
As New York Fashion Week draws to a close and high fashion Twitter becomes flooded yet again with runway photos, I couldn’t help but wonder: how many of these models actually deserve to be there? The New Yorker declared 2022 “the year of the nepo baby,” but I think a more accurate title is “the decade of the nepo baby.” It seems like every year a new crop of unqualified, A-list progeny trips onto the runway to make their debut. A few of them, however, have managed to stick around and carve their own niche in their parent’s shadow. Therefore, I feel it is only right to judge these fashion legacy admissions on their walks. After all, isn’t this the equal treatment they’ve been asking for?
But first, a few disclaimers. I am only focusing on these women’s runway walks, not their IG photos or print appearances. I am looking for grace, dexterity, consistency, and a signature style. In other words, I’m hopelessly seeking the magic of ’90s runways, which are widely considered the golden age of fashion.
Second, I will not be judging their appearance. No one can change their genes. Besides, all these girls come from wealthy families, so I’m assuming they helped themselves to cosmetic procedures that gave them a leg up on self-made models.
Third, with the exception of clips from the most recent NYFW, half of my analyses are based on video compilations of the models’ “best moments.” The other four models (ranked #4 to #8) haven’t worked enough to merit such montages. I think this selection is the only way to correct for the “unfair prejudice” insert eye roll nepo babies experience. It’s also the easiest way to judge runway skills to the fullest extent. If even their best is severely lacking—well, let’s just say they should go the extra mile on Mother’s and Father’s Day.
8. Lila Grace Moss
Nepo Connection: her mother is Kate Moss, the famous ’90s supermodel
The younger Moss made her runway debut at Miu Miu three years ago, and she doesn’t seem to have improved since then. Her walk isn’t bad, per se—it’s just entirely forgettable. Her mechanical stride makes your eyes glaze over as she passes. Whether you remember her at all entirely depends on the quality of her clothes, which defeats the whole point of a model. A good model should capture everyone’s attention even in something as bad as Balenciaga Fall 2024 couture.
To be fair, she seems like a nice girl who actually cares about fashion. If modeling really is her dream, she should use some of her mom’s connections to get lessons before she heads back out on the runway.
7. Deva Cassel
Nepo Connection: her mother is Monica Belluci, the actress and famed Italian beauty
Deva is pretty new to her career. At least, she’s too new for her own “best of” runway compilations. Her expressions on the runway are consistently sultry. Her walk is also pretty good and identifiably “high fashion,” but it’s not memorable. Cassel is about as skilled as the average runway model, which for a nepo baby still says something.
6. Iris Law
Nepo Connection: her father is Jude Law, the actor and early 2000s heartthrob
Iris also hasn’t done many shows yet, but she’s performed well in the ones she was in. Her walk is an attention-grabbing strut instead of the default plod of most nepo babies. Her “model face” is clearly refined. Law’s castings are still too few and far between to judge her consistency and versatility, but as far as inexperienced nepo babies go, she’s one of the best.
5. Amelia Gray
Nepo Connection: her parents are both actors, and her mother, Lisa Rinna, stars on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
According to The New York Times, Amelia Gray is “one of the most booked models of the moment.” That was news to me. Her walk is polished and gives the impression that she’s practiced extensively, which is more than you can say for most nepo babies. However, she constantly has the same blank expression, and she doesn’t offer anything we haven’t seen before. She could very well be the next big thing, but she needs to hone her signature style first.
4. Kendall Jenner
Nepo Connection: she’s a member of the infamous Kardashian-Jenner clan, but you probably knew that already
Kendall walked for Alaïa in this September’s New York Fashion Week. She has a confident stride, swings her hips in a dynamic way, and has already proved that she’s capable of navigating obstacles like stairs with poise.
Nevertheless, she loses points for her blanker than blank expression. She has what I call “Dead Eye Syndrome,” which is a great affliction in the Kardashian-Jenner family. It can be identified by the impression that if you peered into their brain, all you would find is an Ozempic-thin hamster struggling to keep up with its wheel.
3. Kaia Gerber
Nepo Connection: her mother is Cindy Crawford, another legendary ’90s supermodel
Kaia’s walk was surprisingly great. Controversially, I think it’s even better than Kendall’s, even though Gerber is slightly afflicted with the same “Dead Eye Syndrome.” Her walks are energetic and eye-catching, a far cry from the robotic strut of the average nepo baby.
Her style is somewhat inconsistent and can look messy at times, but she makes up for this by moving in a way that melds with and highlights the clothes. Her Moschino runway is the best example of this.
2. Gigi Hadid
Nepo Connection: her mother, Yolanda Hadid, is a former model and star on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Unsurprisingly, Gigi Hadid is one of the rare breed of models who can balance versatility and charm. Her range of captivating expressions (bye bye robot eyes!), comfort with various props (even a live dog!), and practiced, powerful walk make an impact even when she's wearing flats.
Who can forget her iconic hair flip at Jacquemus FW20? Any model who can improvise a viral moment like that without interfering with the show deserves her spot on the runway.
1. Bella Hadid
Nepo Connection: the same as Gigi Hadid. They’re sisters!
Bella Hadid’s runway presence can be described in one word: fierce. Over the years, she’s developed her own signature walk like the supermodels of old. She incorporates a serpentine swing of the hips, earth-shattering steps, and an expression that dares you to question why she deserves to be there.
What makes her the best is her ability to serve while accommodating the theatricality of high fashion. She’s done cartwheels for Mugler and had a dress sprayed onto her by Coperni, yet her supermodel aura hasn’t slipped for a second. That consistency and seamless execution of iconic runway moments is what defines fashion’s #1 nepo baby. And her name…is Bella Hadid.