At only 17 years old, Kai Schreiber is already making a name for herself in the fashion world. The teenager recently attended the Balenciaga Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026 show in Paris alongside her mother, actress Naomi Watts. Photos from the event, published by WWD, captured the two posing for photographers outside the venue before the show got underway. It was the kind of high-profile appearance that signals a serious entry into the industry.
Kai arrived dressed in a coordinated all-black look that fit perfectly with the aesthetic that Balenciaga has long been associated with. The outfit featured a structured ensemble and a bold belt from the brand, paired with a small black clutch bag. Her makeup leaned into a dramatic smoky eye, and she wore her long blonde hair loose. The overall effect was polished and confident, drawing plenty of attention from those in attendance.
Standing beside her, Naomi Watts kept things equally sleek in a strapless top and tailored trousers, finished with heels and her own clutch bag. The mother and daughter made for a striking pair with their matching dark outfits as they arrived together. Their coordinated looks felt intentional and worked well as a unified fashion moment. It was a strong showing from both of them on one of the biggest stages in fashion.
Kai is the daughter of Watts and actor Liev Schreiber, who appeared together in films before their relationship ended in 2016 after more than a decade together. In 2024, Kai publicly shared that she is transgender and has since been working toward building a career in modeling. Her growing presence at major fashion events suggests that those efforts are gaining traction. Being photographed at a show of this caliber puts her in front of the people who shape the industry.
Her father, Liev Schreiber, spoke about Kai earlier this year in an interview with Variety, offering a window into how the family navigated her transition. He was candid about how natural it all felt for them as a family. “Kai was always who Kai is,” he said, adding that “the most profound moment was her asking us to change her pronouns.” He also noted that the process felt relatively smooth given how openly Kai had always expressed herself, saying “it didn’t feel like that big of a deal to me only because Kai had been so feminine for so long.”
Kai herself has been vocal about her ambitions and the kind of career she wants to build. In a 2025 conversation with Interview magazine, she laid out her goals without any hesitation. “I always wanted to grow up and be a beautiful, glamorous, influential woman, like Marilyn Monroe,” she said. “I want to be a supermodel. Period. I’ve been practicing my walks in the kitchen for years, my mom can show you all the videos I forced her to film.” She also named several figures in fashion and culture she looks up to, including Alex Consani, Hunter Schafer, Hari Nef, Richie Shazam, and Colin Jones.
This is Hollywood actress Naomi Watts with her Transgender son…
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) March 8, 2026
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Her presence at events like Paris Fashion Week puts her exactly where she wants to be. These shows are not just about the clothes on the runway but also about who is sitting in the audience and walking through the doors. Designers, photographers, and agencies pay close attention to new faces at major events, and Kai is clearly positioning herself to be noticed. With her natural ease in front of the camera and a clear sense of personal style, she appears to be a strong fit for the modeling world.
Paris Fashion Week is one of the four major international fashion weeks, held twice a year alongside those in New York, London, and Milan. The February/March edition traditionally focuses on womenswear for the fall and winter season. Balenciaga, founded in 1919 by Cristóbal Balenciaga, is one of the most influential luxury houses in the world and is currently known for its avant-garde and often provocative aesthetic under creative direction. The brand has a history of pushing boundaries in both design and casting, frequently using its runway and surrounding events to introduce unconventional faces to a wider audience. Transgender models and public figures have become increasingly visible in high fashion over the past decade, with names like Hunter Schafer, Hari Nef, and Alex Consani helping pave the way for young talents like Kai Schreiber.
At 17, Kai Schreiber is still at the very beginning of whatever path she chooses to take. But her confidence, her clarity of vision, and the support of her family suggest she has a solid foundation to build from. It will be fascinating to watch how her story unfolds in the years ahead. Share your thoughts on Kai Schreiber’s debut on the Paris Fashion Week scene in the comments.
