Meet The Model Who Trucked Through Milan with Chris Brown

Model Cindy Bruna, Photo: @cindybruna/instagram.com

Most fashion shows aren’t the grand spectacles seen in Zoolander.

Then there’s Phillipp Plein.

The German designer has already put Naomi Campbell, Rita Ora, and Azealea Banks on his runways, but tonight, he went all-out, using a giant warehouse to frame his over-the-top vision for Fall / Winter 2016. The whole place was lined with reflective aluminum panels. Men wearing construction safety gear stood ready by the front rows. And before the show got started—45 minutes late, because: fashion—the style set whispered to each other, “what the hell is going on?”

At 9:50 pm, we found out: Plein sent three Mack Trucks down his massive set, hauling singer Chris Brown, his entire musical team, and 49 brand new looks to his actual audience and, of course, his digital one. (The label’s chosen hashtag, #PleinHero, boasts over 1500 tags from the past few hours.)

The clothes were made from laser-cut black leather, referencing Thierry Mugler’s superhero sexpots of the early ‘90s, especially Catwoman—who blazed across a skateboard carried down the catwalk by Pyper America Smith. (She has pink hair now. It’s cute.)

And then there was Cindy Bruna, the French fashion star who first rose to fame in 2012, when she became the first-ever black model to book a Calvin Klein exclusive. Now she’s a runway veteran, posing with Cara Delevingne in the Saint Laurent Beauté ads and scoring a coveted slot as a Victoria’s Secret Angel.

Tonight, she was dancing front and center with Mr. Brown (and later, Kendall Jenner, who snuck out from backstage to join the exclusive after-show dinner that happened—not kidding—on top of the runway bleachers.)

We grabbed the 21-year-old to discuss her crazy job, her surging career, and how to dance if everybody’s watching.

Cindy Bruna and friends on stage at Chris Brown performance, Photo: @cindybruna/instagram.com

Yahoo Style: You just rode out on a moving truck with Chris Brown… while modeling a sequin dress. How?
Cindy Bruna:
I’m not sure if you noticed, but I was wearing sneakers! That’s part of why I loved the show so much; because it was very sexy but also really fun. We knew the audience was having fun, and we were loving it, too. It was the best time!

How many times did you have to rehearse modeling in a moving truck?
We did three run-throughs right before. It took 40 minutes, total… But when you move to a big city, like New York [or] Paris, you learn to balance on the subway right away, because it can move—and stop—so fast. Plus, a lot of modeling is about having good balance. So the truck was nothing. It was very cool, though. Definitely a “moment.”

At the end of the show, you had to go dance with Chris Brown. What would be your advice for people who are shy about dancing when everyone’s watching?
Just go for it. Remember that your friends don’t care how you dance; they care who you are. Have fun with them, and enjoy yourself. And you’re probably not a bad [dancer]! Everyone thinks they are worse at things than they are. Go for it.

What’s your favorite part of ‘Fashion Month?’
Oh, Paris Fashion Week is always my favorite because I’m French, so it’s when I get to go home. My apartment. My food. My friends. I look forward to it every season.

Is your family in Paris, too?
No, they are in the South of France. But I get to [see them] after. They can watch Paris Fashion Week online. And have the best seat—from their house!

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