Elon Musk’s Daughter Vivian, 21, Makes NYFW Runway Debut During Pageant-Inspired Presentation Involving Trans Rights

NEED TO KNOW

• Vivian Wilson made her New York Fashion Week debut in Alexis Bittar’s Spring-Summer 2026 show on Sept. 12; it was also the 21-year-old model’s first-ever runway show

• The estranged daughter of Elon Musk portrayed Miss South Carolina in the pageant-themed show that highlighted states “where trans rights are currently being stripped away in”

• The presentation was “a story about misogyny, unchecked predators, objectification and trans rights,” according to Bittar

Vivian Wilson just walked in her first New York Fashion Week show.

The 21-year-old model — and daughter of Elon Musk and Justine Wilson — made her NYFW debut on Friday, Sept. 12 in Alexis Bittar’s Spring-Summer 2026 show, themed “MISS USA 1991: a Dream Sequence,” according to the Brooklyn-based designer’s Instagram.

In the joint Instagram post with Vivian, the designer thanked her for “honoring” him with her first NYFW show, which was held at the Abrons Art Center. Vivian wore a glittering, floor-length red gown in the presentation, as well as a satin sash that read: “Miss South Carolina.”

It’s a state the Los Angeles native has “never been to in my life,” she joked backstage at the show while speaking with Nylon. “This is my first show,” the model told the magazine, then adding that she’s “a little bit nervous,” but “did some good prep work” — and “got a full night’s sleep.”

“The states we are representing are states where trans rights are currently being stripped away in,” she added of the Bittar collection. Others in the pageant and ‘90s-inspired show represented West Virginia, Florida, Utah, Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana.

“The one message is that we all have to kind of make a stand against that together,” Vivian told Nylon. “Fashion and art is a great way to go about that.”

Bittar revealed more about the collection — which was also modeled by director-actress Tommy Dorfman — in his joint post with Vivian.

The collection, the designer wrote, “is a story about misogyny, unchecked predators, objectification and trans rights,” and features “a strong sense of surrealism.” The designer also said the show — which featured models in pageant-inspired looks — had several film inspirations, including Blue Velvet, Carrie and “a sprinkle of” The Virgin Suicides.

“Thank you for trusting me @vivllainous and for honoring me with your first show as Miss South Carolina,” the designer wrote of Vivian.

The daughter of Musk, 54, and Justine described her pageant-inspired “character,” Miss South Carolina, to Nylon as “the mean, bitchy one.” Joked the model: “My heart is black as an abyss, so I just have to, like, activate the, you know, evilness.”

Vivian also shared some behind-the-scenes NYFW posts on Instagram Stories, documenting her inaugural experience.

“First fw show done, very slay,” the model captioned an up-close selfie shared after the showcase. And, over another selfie, she later celebrated, “One show down!”

This year has been one of firsts for Vivian, as the model also gave her debut drag performance as Vivllainous in L.A. earlier this summer. She rocked a skintight black bodysuit and futuristic makeup look, and held up a transgender pride flag, during her slot in Pattie Gonia Presents SAVE HER! – An Environmental Drag Show on June 13.

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Vivian also recently shared that she’s interested in returning to college this fall to continue her study of foreign languages in an interview with The Cut published Sept. 2. However, she admitted in the same interview that “college is expensive” and that she doesn’t “have that inheritance.”

Earlier this year, the model opened up about her identity — and her parents’ differing reactions to her coming out as transgender — in a cover story for Teen Vogue. At the time, she shared that her mom was more supportive than her estranged dad when she confirmed her gender identity to them in 2020.

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