Who was the model with the most shows at PFW?

Back in 1980, the iconic trio of Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Naomi Campbell launched the era of supermodels, elevating the profession to an art. Today’s models are far from mere bodies displaying collections; they have become stars in their own right. In an era where the Hadid sisters (with Bella's unexpected runway comeback), Vittoria Ceretti, and “nepo babies” like Lila Moss dominate the spotlight, some emerging faces are becoming more familiar each season. One such name is Apolline Rocco Forher, who walked no less than 17 shows during the 2024 Paris Fashion Week, according to Tagwalk, which tracked each model’s appearances and ranked them. During the nine days of Paris Fashion Week, not one day went by without Appoline on the runway.

She made her grand entrance at the Saint Laurent show on September 24, dressed in a black power suit accessorized with a striped tie, her blonde hair perfectly positioned to the side, hands deep in her pockets. The following day, she appeared on the brand’s official Instagram page, a rare honor given only to a select few models. She followed this with appearances for Courrèges, Dries Van Noten, and Rabanne, kicking off the morning of September 26 with Chemena Kamali’s second collection for Chloe. Schiaparelli, Chanel, Miu Miu, Stella McCartney, and Coperni in the idyllic setting of Disneyland, saw the 21-year-old model in action.

Represented by Premium Models, Appoline has been everywhere for three seasons. From the runways of Prada, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Dior, and Valentino, she’s not just a runway star but has also appeared in 2024 ad campaigns for brands like Fendi, Saint Laurent, and Louis Vuitton. She’s also graced the covers of prestigious fashion magazines, including Harper’s Bazaar. Nominated in 2023 for the “Model of the Year” award at the annual Models.com Model of the Year Awards, she has solidified her status as a rising star in the fashion world. Could she be the next French supermodel set to conquer the international scene?

However, the industry she’s in is far from stable, and offers little guarantee of a secure future. Social media is the new casting ground, where a simple vacation photo can launch the career of an androgynous-looking young woman, rendering established models replaceable in an instant. Even with an established career, it takes more than just beauty and a steady walk to thrive in this field, which often requires workdays of up to 20 hours. Appoline certainly knows this all too well, as do many models who have to walk in a high number of shows within a short span. During Paris Fashion Week FW24-25, Canadian model Agel Akol walked 39 shows, American Lulu Tenney 33, and South Sudanese Achol Ayor 31. These are just a few examples from a long list of models who push themselves to participate in as many shows as possible, often at the expense of their well-being, which is clearly not a priority during Fashion Month. Should we normalize this race to the runway? Is the ever-increasing number of shows justifiable due to the short-lived nature of Fashion Weeks? In any case, Appoline Rocco Forher doesn’t seem to be complaining yet. Time will tell if she’s headed for a career like Laeticia Casta; she’s certainly off to a great start.