On 29 September 2025, in front of the esteemed Hôtel de Ville in the French capital, Mary Fowler became the first footballer to walk the iconic Le Défilé L’Oréal Paris runway. This history-making moment was Mary’s runway debut at Paris Fashion Week – and three points for empowerment, sisterhood and individuality.
Bringing Australia to a global stage, The Matildas and Manchester City footballer walked alongside other household names – including Kendall Jenner, Jane Fonda, Eva Longoria, Viola Davis, Helen Mirren, and Gillian Anderson – to carry a message of inspiring, inclusive beauty.
Below, experience Mary Fowler’s groundbreaking Le Défilé debut, explore L’Oreal Paris-inspired beauty looks, and find out how Australia’s star footballer perfectly embodies the message because you’re worth it.
At just 22 years old, Mary Fowler has amassed incredible success on the pitch.
Yet, while she’s performed on some of the world’s biggest sport stages – including the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2020 and 2024 Olympics – the Le Défilé L’Oreal Paris runway was a completely different ball game.
“This will be my first time walking a runway”, Mary said ahead of the event. “And, while it’s a little outside of my comfort zone, the opportunity to walk alongside extraordinary women in a celebration of women’s empowerment, inclusion, and sisterhood is truly inspiring.”
This isn’t the first time Mary has made history, though.
Back in March 2024, Mary was the first woman athlete to be named a L’Oreal Paris Brand Ambassador in Australia and New Zealand. Now, Mary is the first professional footballer to appear in the Le Défilé L’Oreal Paris show – a moment that will live long in the brand’s storied history of trailblazing women.
Since the first annual show in 2017, Le Défilé L’Oreal Paris has been an opportunity to celebrate beauty’s pioneering women in a city synonymous with state-of-the-art fashion. The Le Défilé runway transforms France’s national motto into a message of female empowerment: Liberty, Equality, Sisterhood, You’re Worth It.
Hôtel de Ville – which serves as the runway’s backdrop – is a monument known for revolutionary demonstrations, and is considered birthplace of women’s social organising during the 19th century. This historical significance of female autonomy and empowerment anchored each moment of this year’s Le Défilé: a show born from the ambition to redefine exclusionary beauty standards and champion diversity.
“I want every young woman watching to know that you don’t have to fit a mould to be worthy”, Mary said. “I want to inspire others to celebrate their individuality and wear their confidence with pride. Walking in Le Défilé is a chance to show that strength, confidence, and authenticity are beautiful in every form.”
At L’Oreal Paris, we believe beauty isn’t a fixed concept, but something that evolves as we age, grow, and step into our own confidence and strength – a sentiment that Mary echoes.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve loved experimenting with different looks – both with clothing and makeup. Beauty has always been about expressing who I am, both on and off the field.”
L’Oreal Paris’s global makeup artist Harold James – along with his team of artists, which includes hair guru Stéphane Lancien – lent their vision to an iconic series of beauty looks for Le Défilé L’Oréal Paris. Read on for a breakdown of Mary Fowler’s runway style – so you, too, can find the aesthetic that makes you feel like your truest, most beautiful self.
With an emphasis on gold and brown tones, this elevated glam look embraces a colour palette of warm hues that amplify the skin’s luminosity.
L’Oreal Paris’s medium coverage True Match Liquid Foundation – 7W gives the complexion a polished, photo-ready appearance without disguising the skin’s inherent radiance. Subtle contour introduces dimension and further warmth to the face. Smokey gold Paradise Le Shadow Stick in ‘240 Brown Abyss’ and the brown-toned nude lip ensure the eyes and lips stay soft for this look, thematically tying in with the warm bronze base.
However, the true star of this golden glam aesthetic is the Lumi Glotion, which Mary uses in the shade ‘905’. You can wear the Lumi Glotion under foundation or over the body to enhance the skin’s natural glow and add a pearlescent shimmer.
A statement red lip is French beauty personified. For this look, coverage is lighter around the face and eyes, positioning the red lips as the centrepiece of this iconic Gallic aesthetic.
Achieve a bright, unified skin tone through a combination of L’Oreal Paris’s Revitalift Vitamin C 12% Pure Brightening Face Serum and Infallible Skin Ink Foundation, culminating in a soft matte finish that enhances natural beauty without masking real skin.
Next, use our Infallible Grip 24HR Liquid Eyeliner Vinyl Black to sculpt a chic, sharp wing – and Telescopic Lift Mascara Black to deliver instant lift to eyelashes.
But of course, this Mary-inspired look hinges on a vibrant red lip. The aptly titled Color Riche Classic Lip Liner in ‘300 Le Rouge Paris’ and Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in '420 Le Rouge Paris' team up for a long-lasting red pout that stuns – on and off camera.
Fresh, understated, and timeless, a ‘no-makeup makeup look’ holds just as much standing on the runway as its bolder counterparts. This natural, subdued aesthetic is predicated on low-contrast makeup theory, giving equal weight to the focal points of the face: eyes, lips, and cheeks.
Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum and Revitalift Filler Plumping Water Cream With Hyaluronic Acid lay the perfect dewy base for light coverage, while True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum and Lumi Glotion offer a supercharged sun-kissed glow that feels weightless on the skin.
Rose pinks and iridescent blush tones keep the look romantic and soft, with hero products like the Lumi Le Liquid Blush in ‘625 Gold Pink’ and Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick adding a subtle flush to the cheeks. A simple nude lip with a swipe of Plump Ambition gloss ties the look together.
Want to wear your own slice of the Le Défilé runway? You can shop any of Mary’s looks with our virtual makeup try-on tool.
Mary Fowler’s Le Défilé milestone reminds us that confidence, strength, and individuality belongs on every stage – and at every stage – of life.
Her historical walk alongside other L’Oreal Paris global icons was shared around the world: broadcast live on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, on L’Oréal Paris websites, and on Roblox.
Several days later, Australian consumers were able to relive the moment at La Galerie L’Oreal Paris – a luxury Parisian shopping experience in Melbourne’s CBD – where Le Défilé was replayed on a fittingly large screen. If you missed the two-day event, you can watch the Le Défilé L’Oreal Paris Fashion Week show in its entirety on our official YouTube channel.
True beauty comes from recognising your self-worth – but we know this doesn’t happen overnight. Next, dive into Mary Fowler’s lesson of worth on building confidence and the power of authenticity.
