See Julia Lemigova's "Iconic" Return to the Runway After 24 Years: "It's a Big Deal"
"I feel so proud of myself," The Real Housewives of Miami cast member said after walking the runway.
Julia Lemigova recently made her epic return to the runway.
On Season 6, Episode 12 of The Real Housewives of Miami, Julia prepared to walk in a Miami Swim Week show for the first time — more than two decades after she last strutted down a catwalk.
Julia Lemigova opens up about walking in a Miami Swim Week show
"I'm so excited to be here. I've never watched Miami swim week so it's going to be a total surprise," Julia told the team at swimwear and resort-wear brand, Shan. "Is it inside? Outside? The last runway I did was about 24 years ago."
In an interview during the episode, which aired on January 17, Julia explained why it was the right time to return to runway modeling. "When Martina got diagnosed with cancer, I put pretty much everything in my life on hold," she said. "I stopped everything, including all personal and professional plans. But now, my first show [back] is nothing else but Swim Week."
Although she joked she was "trying to remember" her "moves from 24 years ago," the team was clearly impressed, and asked her to close their show.
Julia gasped at the news. "Even when I was 18 years old, I never closed a show," she explained. "To see that we live in a society today that allows women of all ages, all sizes to feel great about themselves, it's a big deal. I'm so excited."
On the night of the show, Julia had mixed emotions before she walked the runway. "This is crazy. It's swim week. It's just exactly the same just like when I left. Nothing changed. New faces, new girls, but the energy and the thrill is exactly the same," she shared. "I am nervous. Very nervous."
However, once it was finally time to model the swimwear, Julia left her castmates and friends floored. "I'm so, so proud of her on so many levels," Adriana de Moura said. "You gotta be brave. I mean, it takes guts."
Alexia Nepola added, "I am super proud of Julia. She is owning it with that fierce '90s model walk. She still has it in her." Kiki Barth, who also walked in a show (more on that below), declared, "Kudos to you, Julia. You did great."
Julia was also thrilled with how the "incredible, iconic" experience experience went. "50 years old, and I'm walking the runway. do you know how amazing it is?" she asked. "I never thought [I would] be back."
She concluded, "I feel so proud of myself."
Kiki Barth opens up about her modeling career
Kiki was also walking in a Miami Swim Week show, something that has been a continuous career highlight for her over the years. "I've been walking Swim Week since I was 15 years old," she explained. "It was actually my debut in the fashion industry because, coming from Haiti, I landed directly in Miami, and Swim Week is where it all started."
In an episode interview, Kiki shared more details on how she came to be a model. "When I came to America, I started contacting local photographers and [taking] photos," she shared. However, because her stepmom and dad didn't approve of her modeling, she explained, "They kicked me out at 15."
"I had to go and find ways to survive," she continued. "I struggled. I didn't have anything. I was, like, staying with friends and going to school, started working at Burger King. It's not like they neglected me, they just kicked me out for something that I really wanted to do. It was tough."
The RHOM ladies were also there to see Kiki walk in a show for the first time, and they were thoroughly impressed. "Kiki is Kiki. She's born to be a model," Alexia said. "It's like when she comes out, it's like woosh." Guerdy Abraira declared, "I mean, my Haitian sensation. love it."
After the show, Kiki gushed about the modeling job. "The minute I hit that runway, I'm just floating," she said. "I'm over the moon. All I see is camera, camera, flash, flash, flash It's a very amazing situation to be in."
