The Run-Through with Vogue

Episode: Vivian Wilson on Walking Gucci and The “Ozempic Apocalypse” | PLUS The Devil Wears Dries
Date: March 5, 2026

Main Theme

This episode takes us inside Paris Fashion Week, with editors and producers narrating behind-the-scenes moments before shifting to a candid, intimate interview with model Vivian Wilson, who recently made waves walking in the Gucci show. The conversation explores the highs and pressures of modeling at the top tier, body image in fashion (with an emphasis on the so-called "Ozempic Apocalypse"), Vivian’s personal journey from language student to fashion star, her thoughts on diversity, drag, internet culture, and balancing fashion’s glitz with global reality.

Paris Fashion Week – Editor Dispatches

(00:00–07:47)

Highlights from Paris

• Backstage Buzz: Editors share lively perspectives on shows by Saint Laurent, The Row, Courreges, and Balmain.
• Shifts in Balmain: New creative direction at Balmain is dissected—less maximalism, more subtle "minimal opulence" (04:02), with anticipation about client reception after Olivier Rousteing's departure.
  • “There was a lot of workmanship and craft put into the clothes, but in a much… more subtle register than the kind that we were used to from Olivier.” — (D, 04:20)
• Dries Van Noten as a Dream: Enthusiasm around attending Dries Van Noten, described as “my hero, my dream” (E, 05:52).

Vogue Community Moments

• Description of Vogue Café, designed by Anna Wintour, as a gathering point for editors worldwide (E, 06:29).
  • “It was such a treat because I don’t usually meet all of our international colleagues… and this has been a delight.” — (E, 07:18)

Vivian Wilson Interview: On Walking Gucci, Body Image, and More

(11:08–42:28)

Introduction: A Breakout Moment

• Interview opens with Vogue’s Arden Fanning Andrews welcoming Vivian Wilson, highlighting her show-stopping walk at Gucci, her unique ‘Venus’ hair, and status as a rising voice in the industry.
• Vivian’s recent transition from university student in Tokyo to cover model and runway star is underscored.

Walking for Gucci: Inside the Experience

(12:12–15:48)

• Casting the Show– Vivian describes being cast and her “Venus” inspiration:
  • “For my character inspiration, I was told to act like Venus, the Roman goddess of love. So my walk was supposed to be… lots of hips, slow, sensual.” — (B, 14:31)
• Fangirling at Fashion Week:
  • Dishes on sitting near K-pop idol Lee Know (Stray Kids) and being sandwiched between Kate Moss and Maria Kadla:
     “That was wild when I found that out. But we did it.” — (B, 15:17)
• Memorable Casting:
   “The casting was fucking insane. The budget is infinite, seemingly. Holy shit… when I saw the casting, I was gagging. I was losing my fucking mind. Also, they put me in front of Kate Moss. Oh, my God.” — (B, 14:53)

Life, Style, and First Fashion Influences

(17:20–20:00)

• Books and Reading– Vivian’s current reads and literary tastes surface (gay romance, airport bookstores).
• Early Fashion Memories:
  • “I had a wig that I would wear around the house... and then one day, I never saw it again. And then the wig died. The mystery of the wig.” — (B, 18:59)
  • Credits “Drag Race” as early fashion inspiration, admiring Monique Heart’s creative looks.

Fashion Wishlist and Aspirations

(20:03–21:45)

• Aspirations Over Purchases:
  • “One is I would love to be in Vogue… Number two is I want to go to the Met Gala… and I’d love to walk for Schiaparelli. I love Schiaparelli.” — (B, 20:11)
• Discusses Schiaparelli’s “structural motif…they’re very cunty. And they always just do whatever the fuck they want.” — (B, 21:05)

Current Style and Paris Fashion Plans

(22:14–25:43)

• Describes a bold, mesh-heavy, “overtly whorish” look intended to “make the lesbians gag” for an upcoming Paris show—emphasizing playful provocation and personal expression.
• Vivian is prepping to walk for “Trashy Clothing,” a queer-owned brand (24:59).

Modeling Realities: Chaos and Body Image

(25:43–34:12)

• Casting and Scheduling– The unpredictability of modeling schedules:
   “None of the models know what they’re going to walk, literally until… two days before.” — (B, 25:38)
• Rapid Rise: Reflects on fast career ascent post–Teen Vogue cover and the transformative power of visibility.
• Body Image in Fashion:
  • “Do you feel like everyone is skinnier backstage?”
    “Yes… it’s the Ozempic Apocalypse, girl.” — (E & B, 33:28–33:31)
  • “We need more body diversity in castings because let the girls have body. Not everyone should look like Slenderman, okay?” — (B, 33:35)
  • Denounces weight-loss drugs as dangerous and antithetical to well-being:
     “I am so fucking over this… I would rather lose my career. Because with Ozempic, you can’t stop doing it… it fucks with your mood…” — (B, 34:33)

Personal Details: Language, Spreadsheets, and Social Media

(29:04–31:30)

• Academic Roots: Vivian started as a linguistics major in LA, intended to become an ESL teacher. Loves Duolingo and conlanging (“making up your own fake language”).
• Excel Spreadsheets:
   “This is gonna be the nerdiest fucking thing… There is this thing called ‘clonging’... It’s an abbreviation for conlanging, which is making up your own fake language… I made like a little Excel spreadsheet… organizing my vocabulary.” — (B, 31:55)

On Social Media, Drag, and “Plans, Machinations, and Schemes”

(31:30–41:02)

• Late to Instagram and TikTok, Vivian’s following grew rapidly despite her “really bad upload schedule.”
• Drag Evolution:
  • “We have plans, machinations, and schemes, darling. I always have plans, machinations, and schemes. You never know what I’m going to do next because Neither do I.” — (B, 38:48)
  • Describes first drag performance and love for “maximalist” drag aesthetics.
• Dream Drag Outfits: Fascinated by “crazy, edgy silhouettes that go way off the body,” though acknowledges they aren’t practical for performance.

Real Life, Real World

• Acknowledgement of global turbulence (e.g., Iran, Jerusalem, Dubai) juxtaposed with the surreal bubble of fashion week:
   “It does feel a bit weird to be here doing this while there’s all of that going on.” — (B, 26:28)
• Family Fun Fact: Vivian’s mother is a black belt in Taekwondo (41:02); lighthearted riffing follows.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On walking Gucci:
  “They put me in front of Kate Moss. Oh my God … I was shaking in my boots ... But we did it.” — Vivian Wilson (15:07)
• On body image:
  “It’s the Ozempic Apocalypse, girl… We need more body diversity in castings because let the girls have body. Not everyone should look like Slenderman, okay?” — Vivian Wilson (33:31–33:35)
• On modeling’s unpredictability:
  “None of the models … know what they’re going to walk, literally until … the week of or like, two days before.” — Vivian Wilson (25:38)
• On aspirations:
  “One is, I would love to be in Vogue… Number two is I want to go to the Met Gala… and I’d love to walk for Schiaparelli. I love Schiaparelli. They have this really cool structural motif. They’re very cunty.” — Vivian Wilson (20:11, 21:05)
• On Excel and language:
  “I just like how you can organize everything … There is this thing called ‘clonging’… making up your own fake language. And I did that when I was, like, 17 or 16.” — Vivian Wilson (31:34, 31:55)
• On drag and plans:
  “We have plans, machinations, and schemes, darling. I always have plans, machinations, and schemes. You never know what I’m going to do next because Neither do I.” — Vivian Wilson (38:48)
• On family:
  “Your mom is a black belt in Taekwondo. — What the fuck? How do you know this?” — (41:02)

Memorable Moments

• Vivian’s open disdain for “Ozempic Apocalypse” and her rally for genuine body diversity.
• Backstage nerves being sandwiched between industry icons and managing to keep composure.
• The “mystery of the wig” and discovering drag as a fashion awakening.
• Holding space for the surreal fashion world against global unrest.
• Playful debate over how to eat a chocolate Eiffel Tower (42:03–42:16).

Practical Info & Flow

• Adds value for listeners by moving from high-level editor discussions (scene setting, trend analysis) into a personal journey—Vivian’s road from academia to high fashion, moving through identity, activism, and candid, often irreverent humor.
• The episode’s language is candid, affirming, and frequently explicit, matching the voice of a new-gen fashion world prioritizing openness, wit, and authenticity.

Suggested Listen-by-Topic Timestamps

• Paris Fashion Week Editor Insights: 00:00–07:47
• Vivian Wilson Feature: 11:08–42:28
  • Gucci Story: 12:12–15:48
  • Fashion & Drag Beginnings: 17:20–20:00, 38:48–39:56
  • Body Image / “Ozempic Apocalypse”: 33:28–34:33
  • Excel, Language, and Nerdiness: 29:04–31:55

Conclusion

This episode seamlessly weaves Vogue’s authoritative editorial gaze with Vivian Wilson’s irreverent, self-aware, and at times deeply serious reflections on fashion’s future. From inside intel on design shifts to probing discussions about body politics and identity, it’s essential listening for anyone following the changing face of fashion, both on the runway and behind the scenes.