Meet the Model Who Wore Balenciaga’s Most Fantastical Couture Gown

We all witnessed the magic that was the Balenciaga haute couture fall 2022 show. With the likes of Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, and Dua Lipa walking the runway, it was impossible to avoid hearing about what’s arguably the spectacle of the season. But amongst the sea of very famous faces was a star on the rise: Inti Wang.

The Colombian-Norwegian model and visual artist had the honor of wearing one of the voluminous ballgowns that went viral in the latter half of the show. “Demna made the dress especially for me, which makes it that much more special,” Wang tells Vogue. “I accidentally stepped on the tulle in the beginning, though, and realized I had to carry the dress or I was going to fall over. But it all worked out beautifully in the end and walking in the same-sized gown after Naomi Campbell—or *‘mother’—*was also a moment in itself.”

This isn’t Wang’s first rodeo with Balenciaga. In 2019, the model was scouted by the brand on Instagram for its social content. This subsequently ended with an invitation to walk the spring 2020 show. Since then, Wang has been involved in myriad Balenciaga projects. “I’ve done it all—been in a music video, a video game, a snowstorm, a couture salon… It’s kind of crazy,” says Wang. “For my first show, I wore a suit and in this latest collection I wore the most gorgeous, fairytale dress of my dreams—it feels full circle and totally represents me as a person.”

Growing up in a home where both parents are artists, self-expression was always encouraged. “My earliest memory of fashion is going to a Red Cross charity shop with my mother. I found this purple puffy dress in satin and I tried it on with some crystal princess heels, which is funny because it’s very similar to what I wore in the Balenciaga show,” Wang laughs. “I was seven years old when that happened, and both of my parents have never questioned how I dress since.”

When asked what advice they’d give to an aspiring model today, the Balenciaga muse responds with a chuckle: “Aim high, but have low expectations.” The future is promising, and we eagerly anticipate what else Inti has in store for us.