NYFW S/S 26: The Hidden Truth About Child Models Paying to Walk Runways

From the history of New York Fashion Week to today’s shocking child model industry practices, here’s what’s really happening behind the scenes of NYFW.

Yesterday, September 8th, I kicked off my first show for the NYFW S/S 26 season, and honestly, it felt like a reunion. Fashion week is always the time I run into my “fashion friends” — the people I only see during this wild season. I even bumped into some of my model mom friends, and that’s when things took an unexpected turn.

They pulled me aside and said, “You need to write about what’s happening with child models right now.” And when I tell you my jaw dropped — it dropped.

Let’s rewind for a second. If you grew up in the ‘90s or early 2000s, you probably remember model recruiters hanging out at malls, handing out flyers, and telling you, “You’d be a great model!” I remember going through the process myself — fill out an application, sit through an orientation, and then… here comes the fee. Back then, it was pricey for the era, but nothing like today. Now those fees can be in the thousands. I thought those companies had disappeared thanks to the internet and “YouTube University,” but nope — they’re still around.

But here’s the kicker: the model moms told me that some designers are actually charging parents $1200–$1500 (or more) just to let their kids walk in a show. Let me repeat that: instead of designers paying models to showcase their collections — the standard practice in the industry — parents are being asked to foot the bill. That’s upside down!

Think about it: Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Gisele Bündchen — the legends weren’t paying designers to walk. They were paid to work. Because walking in a show is work. Models bring clothes to life, they sell the fantasy, and they help put a designer’s vision on the map. So why are parents being charged for their kids to do the very same thing?

To put this in context, here’s a quick rundown of how NYFW itself has evolved:

• Pre-1993: Designers held intimate shows in their own showrooms or scattered venues.

• 1993–2009: CFDA consolidated shows under big white tents in Bryant Park, branded “7th on Sixth.”

• 2010–2015: Shows moved to Lincoln Center — until lawsuits over public space forced them out.

• 2015–Present: Shows became decentralized again, with venues like Spring Studios and Skylight Clarkson Square hosting events.

That decentralization gave rise to other large-scale shows outside of CFDA’s official calendar — like Runway 7, where multiple designers show back-to-back in one venue. It’s more accessible for up-and-coming designers, but now it looks like the model industry has picked up some problematic practices in these spaces.

To me, charging child models to walk in shows is beyond troubling. Not only does it prey on parents’ dreams for their kids, but it also distorts the very foundation of fashion week. A runway spot should be earned based on talent and professionalism — not purchased.

I’m going to dig deeper into this, but if you’ve experienced this or know someone who has, please reach out. You can comment below or email me directly at info@quitalks.show. I’d love to interview you and shine more light on what’s really going on with child models during NYFW or other fashion weeks.

Fashion should be about artistry, opportunity, and expression — not exploitation. And if designers are flipping the script and charging kids to model, we need to start talking about it.