On the pink carpet of the September 2025 Teen Vogue Summit in Los Angeles, all eyes were on the 21-year-old trans icon, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who delivered high drama and high fashion in a striking black silk outfit that instantly became the talk of social media.

A fan comment dated September 21, 2025 | Source: Instagram/enews
Wearing a strapless satin top with layered ruffle details paired with sleek, tailored black pants, Wilson stunned as she posed with a confidence that was both defiant and dazzling. Her long auburn hair cascaded past her waist, pin-straight and gleaming under the flash of cameras.

Vivian Jenna Wilson attends the 2025 Teen Vogue Summit at NYA WEST in Los Angeles, California on September 20 | Source: Getty Images
A jeweled choker necklace glinted at her throat, adding just the right touch of rebellion to the otherwise classic ensemble. Strutting against Teen Vogue’s signature pink backdrop, Wilson embodied modern glamor with a cause, claiming space not only as a model but as a voice.

Vivian Jenna Wilson at the Teen Vogue Summit at NYA WEST in Los Angeles, California on September 20, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Wilson Opens up About Life as a Trans Woman and Painful Stereotypes
Later, the scene shifted from the pink carpet to the main stage, where Wilson sat down for a raw and emotional conversation with Editor-in-Chief Versha Sharma and Politics Editor Lex McMenamin.

Versha Sharma and Vivian Jenna Wilson attend the 2025 Teen Vogue Summit at NYA WEST in Los Angeles, California on September 20 | Source: Getty Images
In front of a packed audience, the model tackled the most painful parts of her truth, “There’s this widespread misinformation and demonization where, especially right now, they’re painting us all as violent mass shooters. I’m not going to shoot anyone. I’m a model. I don’t even know how to hold a gun.”

Vivian Jenna Wilson speaks onstage during the Teen Vogue Summit at NYA WEST in Los Angeles, California on September 20, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Her father might be billionaire Elon Musk, but Wilson made one thing crystal clear: she’s forging her path without relying on his fortune. “I’m financially independent,” she said. “I’m making money now. Pre-Teen Vogue [cover], no. People have a lot of assumptions, and you just kinda have to deal with that.”

Elon Musk is in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on May 30, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
But public applause didn’t come without backlash. The striking images and video from the event quickly circulated online, sparking a firestorm of comments — some admiring, others chillingly cruel.
“So uncomfortable,” one person sneered. Another criticized, “Poor thing is trying too hard.” A third chimed in, “What in the awkward posing is all this?” Yet another went so far as to speculate, “Something Wrong with That Arm & Hip 🤔.”

Vivian Wilson poses at the 2025 Teen Vogue Summit at NYA WEST in Los Angeles, California on September 20 | Source: Getty Images
Still, fierce defenders of Wilson’s confidence came rushing to her side. “She vogues and isn’t trying to hard she is literally naturally extra like she should be [sic] 😂❤️,” one fan posted, celebrating her dramatic flair. Another declared, “She is gorgeous and is slaying and will only get better with time 👏👏👏👏 werk.”
If the critics hoped to shake her, they failed. Wilson has long refused to sanitize her social media presence to please the masses, saying, “My social media page is kind of me just doing what I feel like and people watch it sometimes. It’s kind of just things that I find funny or entertaining.”
And that might be the secret to her rising power: she doesn’t ask for approval — she takes the spotlight anyway.

Vivian Wilson, Corree Sinkwitz, Becca Brazil and Aaron Bryant visit the Clinique pop-up booth during the 2025 Teen Vogue Summit in Los Angeles, California on September 20 | Source: Getty Images
The summit appearance came on the heels of Wilson’s breakout runway season at New York Fashion Week, where she modeled for Prabal Gurung and Alexis Bittar.

Vivian Wilson is at the Teen Vogue Summit held at NYA West in Los Angeles, California on September 20, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Wilson commanded attention at Bittar’s Spring/Summer 2026 show, held on September 12, 2025, at the Abrons Theater in New York City. The rising model and outspoken trans rights advocate lit up the runway in a shimmering red gown with flirty ruffled sleeves, a dark-toned Scissor clutch, dramatic gold earrings, and a bold sash that read “Miss South Carolina.”

Vivian Wilson steps onto the catwalk at New York Fashion Week on September 12, 2025 | Source: Instagram/alexisbittar
The show drew its inspiration from the 1991 Miss USA pageant, but with a surreal and subversive twist. Bittar’s casting was no accident. Models — all trans women — wore sashes bearing the names of states such as West Virginia, Florida, Utah, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Vivian Wilson takes the stage with fellow models at New York Fashion Week on September 12, 2025 | Source: Instagram/alexisbittar
The designer revealed the motive behind the casting. “I purposely casted all trans women who represented states where trans rights were being stripped [sic],” he explained.

Vivian Wilson takes the stage at New York Fashion Week on September 12, 2025 | Source: Instagram/alexisbittar
Wilson did not hold back as she spoke in a behind-the-scenes interview, blending dry humor with palpable nerves. “Hi, Nylon, this is Vivian Wilson. We’re here backstage at Alexis Bittar and I am Miss South Carolina, a state I have never been to in my life [sic],” she said.

Vivian Wilson steps onto the catwalk at New York Fashion Week on September 12, 2025 | Source: Instagram/alexisbittar
Explaining her role in the pageant, she continued, “My heart is black as abyss, so I just have to, like, activate the, you know, evilness. This is my first show. I’m a little bit nervous, but I did some good prep work for it. Got a full night’s sleep. I’m hyped, I’m ready to get out there.”

Vivian Wilson steps onto the stage at New York Fashion Week on September 12, 2025 | Source: Instagram/alexisbittar
With calm conviction, she added, “The states that we are representing are states where trans rights are currently being stripped away in. The one message is that we all have to kind of make a stand against that together. Fashion and art is a great way to go about that [sic].”
Bittar’s concept — equal parts beautiful and disturbing — was summed up in his own words, “Stepping into a dark surreal dream, Miss USA 1991: a touch of Carrie, Virgin Suicides and Blue Velvet. A tale of objectification, predators, and the anxiety of reaching for perfection [sic].”
It was high fashion with a sharp political edge — and Wilson was at the center of it all.
A Softer Stride, a Harder Truth
Less than 24 hours later, Wilson was back — this time trading bold red for dreamlike white. At Gurung’s Spring/Summer 2026 show held at St. Bartholomew’s Church, she floated down the aisle in a sheer cable-knit turtleneck dress with billowy sleeves, layered over a flared mesh skirt, nude heels, and minimal makeup.
The look was ethereal, powerful, and quietly defiant.

Vivian Wilson walks the runway during the S/S 2026 Prabal Gurung fashion show during New York Fashion Week at St. Bartholomew’s Church on September 13, 2025 in New York City | Source: Getty Images