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“Express Your Worth”: L’Oréal Paris Puts Women Center Stage
Paris Fashion Week delivered plenty of spectacle this year, but L’Oréal Paris created one of its biggest moments beneath the Eiffel Tower.
The 2026 edition of Le Défilé by L’Oréal Paris took place Sept. 28 at Place Joffre, bringing together prominent names from fashion, film and culture for a runway built around the theme “Express Your Worth.”
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Simone Ashley, Viola Davis, Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda, Andie MacDowell and Cara Delevingne were among the women who took part, while Céline Dion delivered a surprise finale with a performance of “I’m Alive.”
Watch L’Oréal Paris Le Défilé 2026
South Asian Stars Take Their Place on the Global Stage
For South Asian audiences, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Simone Ashley brought two different generations of representation to one of fashion’s most visible stages.
Aishwarya has spent decades building an international presence that stretches from Indian cinema to Cannes, global beauty campaigns, and major fashion events. Her appearance at Le Défilé continues that long-standing role as one of the most recognizable Indian figures in global entertainment and fashion.
Simone represents a newer generation of South Asian talent reaching international audiences through film, television, and fashion. Together, their appearances reflect how South Asian women are increasingly part of major cultural moments that extend far beyond one industry or market.
Their presence also adds another dimension to a runway designed around individuality. Rather than presenting one definition of beauty, Le Défilé brings together women with different backgrounds, careers, and personal styles.
Fashion Has No Age Limit
One of the most compelling aspects of Le Défilé is the range of generations represented on the runway. Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, and Andie MacDowell shared the stage with younger stars including Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne, creating a lineup that pushed against the idea that fashion or beauty belongs to a particular age group.
The contrast also gave the show some of its most interesting style moments. Beauty looks, hairstyles, and fashion choices varied from polished and classic to bold and contemporary, offering plenty of inspiration without requiring every woman on the runway to fit the same aesthetic.
Céline Dion Delivers the Surprise Finale
Then came the moment few viewers expected.
Céline Dion appeared at the end of the show for a surprise performance of “I’m Alive,” turning the runway finale into a full-scale music moment beneath the Eiffel Tower.
The performance brought another layer to the evening’s message. A song built around resilience and embracing life became a fitting close to a show centered on confidence and self-expression, as cast members joined Dion for the finale.
It was the kind of Paris Fashion Week moment that moved beyond clothes and beauty and into pop culture.
A Runway With a Message
Now in its ninth edition, Le Défilé continues to use the scale of Paris Fashion Week to spotlight women from different generations, backgrounds and industries.
There was plenty to watch from a fashion and beauty perspective, but the broader idea was just as visible. Confidence did not have one age, one style, or one definition on this runway.
For Sanskar Savvy, seeing South Asian women such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Simone Ashley take their place within that global lineup gives us even more to Celebrate, Explore, Connect! as fashion, entertainment, and culture continue to create space for more voices and perspectives.
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