A video claiming to show a transgender woman walking at a L'Oréal Paris fashion show has gone viral, with viewers focusing on her unusual outfit, including what some have called a 'cock pocket'. The clip has sparked reactions online, with users debating the revealing design and whether it was actually worn on the Paris runway.
The footage also prompted questions about the identity of the model and whether the video was a genuine recording from the fashion show. Some social media users questioned the authenticity of the clip as it continued to circulate online.
The verdict: The video is not real. It features Mia Bentayga, an AI-generated model and digital influencer portrayed on social media as a transgender content creator. Her accounts feature AI-generated photos and videos, including content focused on transgender themes, oftentimes highlighting the 'cock pocket' details in her vids.
Bizarre Dress Detail Draws Attention
The video shows a model walking in front of a large crowd while wearing a black strapless, high-low bustier dress. She completes the look with ankle-strap stiletto sandals and her hair styled in a half-up 'do.
Attention quickly turned to the unusual front detail of the dress, which hangs over the model's lower body and appears to create a visible bulge around the crotch area. Text added to the video reads: 'Trans woman opens the L'Oréal Paris Fashion Show'.
The footage began circulating alongside claims that the model was transgender and had opened L'Oréal Paris' Le Défilé, the beauty brand's annual Paris Fashion Week runway event. However, available coverage of the event identifies Kendall Jenner as the show's opener.
L'Oréal Paris' 2026 show was held on 28 September at Place Joffre, with the Eiffel Tower providing the backdrop. The event, titled Express Your Worth, featured global ambassadors including Cara Delevingne, Viola Davis, Eva Longoria and Aishwarya Rai.
Meanwhile, the brand's published line-up does not identify the model in the viral clip by name.
Backlash Grows Over Viral Runway
The footage prompted angry reactions from social media creators, with some calling for consumers to stop buying from L'Oréal.
Content creator Ariole Dieujuste described the video as 'satanic' and 'disgusting', arguing that he believed it was disrespectful to women. He also said he would not accept what he viewed as the brand pushing the imagery on consumers.
Another creator, Don Keith, mocked the outfit by asking whether the model had a 'pocket' for the apparent bulge. He also accused L'Oréal of making a 'mockery of women' and called on people to reject the brand.
The comments reflect the tone of some of the online reaction. One online user wrote: 'I am offended! And every REAL woman should be!' Another directed their message at the brand, saying: 'This isn't cute. L'Oréal. You are officially banned from my house.'
The Maybelline Backlash Returns
The controversy has echoes of the backlash faced by Maybelline after it partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in 2023. Maybelline is owned by L'Oréal, making the comparison particularly relevant to the latest criticism.
Mulvaney appeared in a sponsored video using Maybelline products as part of her 365 Days of Girlhood series. The partnership triggered calls for a boycott, with #BoycottMaybelline circulating on social media.
However, unlike the Maybelline controversy, the latest viral clip does not show a real model or an actual L'Oréal Paris runway appearance. It is an AI-generated video designed to look like genuine fashion footage, highlighting how easily digitally created content can be mistaken for real events as it spreads across social media.
