South Sudanese model Abuk Yurr has attracted widespread attention after appearing in one of the most theatrical moments of Paris Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2027 season.

Yurr featured in the finale of avant-garde fashion label Matières Fécales’ Spring/Summer 2027 presentation in Paris, appearing in a metallic gold outfit with two figures dressed in black suits positioned horizontally across her shoulders.

Runway photography from the show confirms the unusual styling, which contrasted the reflective gold of Yurr’s outfit with the dark tailored suits worn by the figures.

The presentation quickly generated discussion online, with viewers focusing on the unusual construction and the apparent effort involved in carrying what looked like two people.

However, reports about the look have described the figures as lightweight mannequin structures incorporated into the design rather than actual people being carried by the model. The unusual construction helped turn the appearance into one of the most memorable visual moments from the collection.

The look formed part of Matières Fécales’ Spring/Summer 2027 show, presented on September 28 at Place de la République in Paris. The location itself was significant, as the fashion house became the first fashion label to stage a show at the prominent public square, according to Vogue France.

The collection, titled “The 99 Percent,” featured 99 models, all people of colour, and was designed by creative partners Steven Raj Bhaskaran and Hannah Rose Dalton.

According to Vogue’s review, the collection explored representation, inequality and the experiences of communities that are often underrepresented in luxury fashion. The show moved through different sections, including protest-inspired looks, avant-garde styling and a final couture-focused sequence.

The finale also drew on historical and cultural references. Vogue noted that the collection included large-scale couture silhouettes, sari textiles from Varanasi and handwoven cotton from Burkina Faso, linking traditional craftsmanship from the Global South with Parisian couture.

The gold silhouette worn during the finale stood out for its theatrical construction. Runway imagery shows the metallic outfit paired with dramatic proportions and the two suited figures, reinforcing the designers’ use of fashion as visual storytelling rather than simply conventional clothing presentation.

Matières Fécales has increasingly become known for presentations that combine fashion with social commentary. Its previous collection, for example, satirised wealth and the world of the ultra-rich, while the Spring/Summer 2027 collection shifted its focus towards the wider population and questions of representation.

Yurr’s appearance therefore became part of a much larger creative statement rather than simply a striking runway moment. The unusual gold ensemble captured attention online, while the wider collection sought to challenge conventional ideas about who gets represented and celebrated within high fashion.

For Yurr, the appearance adds another high-profile moment to the growing visibility of African models on international runways, with her dramatic finale helping place her at the centre of conversation surrounding one of Paris Fashion Week’s more unconventional shows.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia