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When we heard that Beyoncé opened the Balmain Spring 2022 show at Paris Fashion Week, our little hearts couldn’t take it. We were overcome with emotion (read: pure excitement) at the thought of seeing Queen Bey strut her stuff on the catwalk. However, that wasn’t exactly what happened…
While the 40-year-old Crazy in Love singer did indeed appear at the Balmain show, she didn’t actually walk the runway. We’ll leave that to Dua Lipa, for now. She did, however, give the audience the thing she is perhaps best known for – the thing that made her the female musical icon she is today. Yes, we’re talking about her voice! Bey opened the historic SS22 show via voiceover, as she paid tribute to Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing, who was celebrating his 10-year anniversary with the Parisian fashion house. Beyoncé has worn Balmain for many, many years, so we don’t think the brand could have chosen a better or more iconic person to do the honors. Especially as Beyoncé has one of the most instantly-recognizable singing and speaking voices of all time.
“You brought a new mindset to help persuade fashion to finally begin to reflect the real true beauty of today’s streets, the beauty that you and your team see daily on the diverse impressive boulevards and avenues of your beloved Paris,” Bey’s heart-warming tribute began. “And from day one, you did the right thing. You knew from the start that actions speak so much louder than words. So you’ve taken a stand, made the commitments and followed through at every step of the way.”
Rousteing is one of three Black men to head a French fashion house, and he has used his position at the helm of Balmain to increase diversity and inclusivity in the fashion world for an entire decade. Just last year, he supported the Black Lives Matter movement at the Balmain couture show, and Beyoncé continued to reference the groundbreaking and trailblazing work he has done during his tenure. She also recounted some of their legendary collaborations together, including her history-making Coachella performance in 2018, her private visit to the Louvre in 2019, and voting in the U.S. presidential election in November last year, adding: “We showed the world what is possible when two perfectionists get together — just remember we are both Virgos.”
She continued: “Does anyone have any idea how many times I’ve worn a special Olivier x Balmain creation? There have been so many events and so many beautiful moments. You helped me make my musical statement. You helped me amplify my message, your designs have made me feel powerful. Thank you.”
"Balmain is your amazing tool for both beauty and change," she concluded. "Your outlook, your convictions and your talent have affected and moved all of us. I’m so proud to call you friend. Happy anniversary. We’re all looking forward to the next ten years."
Wow! We don't think there was a dry eye in the room following Beyoncé's speech! And that emotional tribute wasn’t Beyoncé's only inclusion in the show, as “Halo” played on the amphitheatre's speakers as Naomi Campbell walked the catwalk in the label's brand new collection. Other models included in the iconic and historic show were Adut Akech, Imaan Hammam, Milla Jovovich, Natalia Vodianova, Precious Lee, and Carla Bruni, to name just a few.
Congratulations to Rousteing for what he has achieved over the past ten years – now here's to the next ten!
