Celine is clearly holding the most valuable brand ambαѕѕador contract they’ve ever had – a partnership with K-pop megastar V. His appearance at the brand’s Spring 2026 fashion show marked not only his first public event since completing military service, but also quickly became a global media sensation, elevating the brand’s reputation to new heights.
Within just a few days of the event, over 1,000 кσяєαn media articles were published about his trip to Paris. His airport outfit alone garnered over 17,000 views on South кσяєα’s largest search engine, Naver. The BTS star also trended in more than 40 countries, with each of his moves sparking worldwide attention.
But perhaps an even greater value Celine has gained from V’s return as global ambαѕѕador is the shift in its long-strained relationship with Vogue – a rivalry that lasted an entire decade. To fully understand the weight of V’s impact on both entities, we must first revisit the origin of this silent standoff.
According to a 2021 WWD report, tensions began when Emmanuelle Alt, the editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris – and a close friend of Hedi Slimane, Celine’s creative director at the time – left her position.
Following her departure, Slimane retaliated by refusing to invite Vogue Runway to the Spring 2022 show, cutting advertising placements in the magazine, and even personally expressing his disappointment to Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director.
WWD reported that a Vogue insider confirmed Condé Nast, Vogue’s parent company, was essentially blacklisted by Celine: “No shows, no samples, nothing.” This was seen as a bold display of power and influence by Slimane, positioning Celine beyond the traditional reach of Vogue – which had long been considered a media powerhouse in the fashion industry.
As a result, during the 10-year standoff, Vogue publications notably excluded Celine from coverage, runway recaps, and fashion features. In 2023, even the Met Gala, hosted by Anna Wintour, had no presence from the Celine brand.
However, this long-standing feud appeared to come to an end, thanks to V’s reconciliatory presence at Celine’s Spring 2026 fashion show in Paris. For the first time in years, Vogue shared video clips of V wearing pieces from Celine’s collection at the event – soмєтнing completely unprecedented.
Notably, photos of the superstar seated next to Anna Wintour were also circulated online by various media outlets like Vogue France, Vogue Japan, Vogue Arabia,... This marked the first time in years that Celine had appeared on Vogue’s social media platforms.
Furthermore, reports revealed that V sat front row beside Anna Wintour during the show and had even received a personal invitation from the fashion mogul to attend Vogue’s major event in Hollywood this October.
These developments – especially the rare personal invite – not only generated explosive media coverage but also carried powerful symbolic meaning. In the context of a feud that spanned nearly a decade, this moment signaled a historic thawing of tensions between two giants of the fashion world.
With his global influence and ability to shape trends far beyond K-pop, V is more than just a brand ambαѕѕador — he is a vital catalyst in rebuilding a once-fractured strategic relationship. He has proven that as a global artist, his value extends far beyond music, reaching deep into the power dynamics of high fashion.
