A Tear On A Runway Model’s Face

Runway models trip and fall on fashion shows and that’s normal. But a tear on a runway model’s face while hitting the catwalk is something new.

At a Jil Sander Fashion Show last Friday, Lithuanian model Auguste Abeliunaite was seen hitting down the catwalk with tears flowing down her cheeks. She was on the catwalk twice and the audience spotted her crying both times.

What could have happened to this teary-eyed model? Some of the audience in the fashion show suspected that the crying model’s moment was part of the show. After all, it was a new gimmick that will probably make publicity now that falling down on the runway is no longer new. Others, on the other hand, assumed that it was the effect of the global economic crisis (whew!)

According to reports, even Jil Sander's publicist was not aware that a model was crying on the runway. When the spokesman saw the picture of the allegedly crying model, he said "I did not see it, can’t see it in the video and no one has asked about it to anyone in the press offices."

So, what really made her cry? Is it because her boyfriend has called prior to the event to split up with her? Or she has not eaten any food in the last two days to prepare herself for the show? Or she was overwhelmed by the wonderful creations of Jil Sander?

According to one backstage worker at the show, the model was crying because her shoes were extremely uncomfortable and high.

"She had broken her foot a while back and she had a bad cramp in one of her feet whilst walking on the catwalk. She was scared that she would fall because of the high and uncomfortable shoes. I can imagine the pain and the fear of falling made her cry."

Reports had it that the model herself, Auguste Abeliunaite, claimed that the tears on her face during the fashion show was because the lights were too strong on the runway. If this was the case, why is it that the other models not affected by the lights? And was she new to runway modeling, which normally has strong lights?

Whether or not the crying model was telling the truth, the fashion industry may never know. What's there to observe is that despite the tears flowing down Auguste Abeliunaite's face, she just looked straight ahead and walked on, trying not to show emotion – a professionalism expected from runway models like her.