Kai Schreiber, 16, opened the Jason Wu show on the opening day of New York Fashion Week, taking a central role in the designer's COLLAGE Spring 2026 collection, which paid tribute to artist Robert Rauschenberg's 100th birthday. The appearance marked a notable public milestone for the model, who is the daughter of actors Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber.
Schreiber walked the runway in a white bralette and an abstract-patterned skirt paired with white heels, presenting a pared-back makeup look and straight blonde hair. The appearance followed an interview she gave to Interview magazine in June, in which she spoke about her gender identity, career aspirations and influences within the fashion world.
In the Interview profile, Schreiber said she had "struggled with gender identity from a young age" and described studying how earlier generations of transgender people navigated the fashion industry. She named a series of figures she admires — Alex Consani, Hunter Schafer, Hari Nef, Dara, Richie Shazam and Colin Jones — and said the visibility of transgender models in fashion provided important role models.
Schreiber also recounted a breakthrough earlier this year while working for Valentino, saying that the experience clarified her intention to pursue modeling. "That job made me realise, 'OK, this is what I want to do. I want to be a supermodel.' Period," she told the magazine. She described ongoing practice and preparation, saying, "I've been practising my walks in the kitchen for years; my mom can show you all the videos I forced her to film."
Her comments included reflections on personal style. Schreiber described herself as "basic, but in a chic way," and said she favors low-rise jeans and a black cardigan as a go-to outfit. She told Interview that she admires distinct personal style, adding that when people present themselves in a unique way it draws attention and sparks curiosity.
Schreiber's runway appearance comes amid a wider industry trend of increased visibility for transgender models and performers on major fashion stages. Designers and brands have in recent seasons included transgender and nonbinary models in high-profile shows and campaigns, and fashion publications have noted a growing, though still contested, presence for transgender creatives and models in mainstream fashion.
Jason Wu's COLLAGE Spring 2026 collection, presented at New York Fashion Week, drew on mixed-media and abstract motifs as part of its homage to Rauschenberg. Schreiber's placement at the opening of the show highlighted the continuing interconnection between rising young talent and established fashion houses seeking to project both heritage and contemporary relevance.
Representatives for Schreiber and for Jason Wu did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Schreiber is not the first child of well-known actors to enter fashion, but her public statements about gender identity and her early runway role underscore the ways in which personal narrative and professional ambitions are increasingly intertwined for young models. Her appearance at New York Fashion Week will likely increase public and industry attention as she continues to build a profile in modeling and fashion.