Kai Schreiber Steals the Spotlight at Balenciaga's Paris Fashion Week Show
Naomi Watts' daughter, Kai Schreiber, commanded attention at the Balenciaga Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026 show during Paris Fashion Week on Saturday, outshining her famous mother. The 17-year-old rising fashion model, who has been making waves in the industry since publicly coming out as transgender last year, wore a chic black ensemble as she posed alongside her mother, 57.
Fashion and Family on Display
Kai accessorized her look with a Balenciaga belt and a black clutch bag, opting for a smoky eyeshadow palette for the event. Meanwhile, Naomi matched her daughter in an all-black outfit, stunning in a black strapless top with a curved neckline and matching trousers. She completed her look with heels and a mini black clutch. The actress appeared in great spirits, beaming at her daughter as they arrived at the show.
Kai's Journey and Inspirations
In June last year, Kai opened up about her struggles with gender identity from a young age and her coming out journey in an interview with Interview Magazine. She explained, 'I always wanted to grow up and be a beautiful, glamorous, influential woman, like Marilyn Monroe.' Kai praised stars such as Alex Consani, Hunter Schafer, Hari Nef, Dara, Richie Shazam, and Colin Jones for inspiring her 'as a young trans girl' navigating turbulent times for the community.
'I'm always going to look up to the older generation of transgender people, especially in fashion,' Kai told the magazine. 'It's so great that there's a strong community of us in the fashion world; it's really a doll takeover.'
Aspirations and Craft
The second-generation star had a breakthrough earlier this year while working for Valentino, realizing, 'OK, this is what I want to do. I want to be a supermodel.' Period. Kai also shared details about honing her craft, noting, 'I've been practicing my walks in the kitchen for years; my mom can show you all the videos I forced her to film.'
In terms of fashion preferences, Kai joked she's 'basic, but in a chic way,' favoring low-rise jeans and a black cardigan as her go-to outfit. She emphasized the importance of personal style, stating, 'If you're presenting yourself in a unique, cool way, people are immediately drawn in and want to know more. If every person was walking around in the same outfit, fashion wouldn't be a thing.'
Family Support and Insights
In May, Kai's father, Liev Schreiber, praised his daughter for coming out as transgender. 'Kai was always who Kai is. But I suppose the most profound moment was her asking us to change her pronouns,' Liev told Variety. He added, 'To be honest with you, it didn't feel like that big of a deal to me only because Kai had been so feminine for so long.'
Liev applauded Kai's strength and bravery, expressing, 'Kai is such a fighter. It's important that she goes, "Hey, I am trans," and, "Look at me," and, "F*** you. F*** off."' Regarding advice for parents of trans kids, he stated, 'I don't know the answer for your kid,' noting every circumstance is unique. He also commented on raising teenagers in general, saying, 'Teenagers are a f***ing headache. They're hard,' regardless of whether they are trans or not.
Other Celebrities at the Event
The Balenciaga show also featured other notable attendees. Josh Hutcherson and Jordan Firstman were spotted leaving their hotel hand in hand, while American actress Rachel Sennott put on a leggy display in a chic black satin mini dress. Bill Skarsgård and his girlfriend Alida Morberg cosied up en route, and Barbara Sprouse looked chic in a black leather bomber jacket and denim jorts. Elizabeth Debicki oozed class in a white shirt with a dramatic train, French footballer Hugo Ekitike wore a vibrant yellow leather jacket, and Winona Ryder cut a smart figure in a brown suit, smiling alongside Scott Mackinlay Hahn and Gianfranco Gianangeli.
In addition to Kai, Liev and Naomi, who split in 2016, share a 17-year-old son named Sasha.
