Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has offered a glimpse into the pressure behind the runway after reflecting on her years as a model while attending Burberry's Spring/Summer 2027 show during London Fashion Week.
The British model, who watched the latest collection from the front row rather than preparing backstage, said her experience has given her a different perspective on models walking in today's shows. She recalled the nerves, fittings and long waits that precede a runway appearance, before models are suddenly expected to step out in front of an audience.
'It's a very different experience,' she told Vogue. 'I spent so many years on the other side of it that I know exactly what's happening backstage — the nerves, the fittings, the waiting around, and then suddenly you're pushed onto a runway, and it's over in about thirty seconds.'
The Pressure Behind a Short Runway Walk
Although a catwalk appearance may last only moments, Huntington-Whiteley suggested that the preparation behind it can feel much longer. Models have to deal with fittings, backstage waiting and the nerves that come with knowing they are about to walk in front of a room filled with fashion editors, photographers, celebrities and industry figures.
Once models step onto the runway, there is little time to think. Huntington-Whiteley explained that they are not simply concentrating on showing off an outfit. They are also trying to stay focused on the practical details of the walk.
'You're usually concentrating on not falling over and remembering where your exit is,' she said.
Her comments offer a glimpse into the less glamorous side of modelling. The polished photographs and confident runway walks can make the job appear completely controlled, but there is still a very human element to performing under that kind of pressure.
Rosie Now Watches Runway Models Differently
After years of experiencing fashion shows from backstage, Huntington-Whiteley said sitting in the audience has changed how she looks at the models walking in front of her.
'So I watch models with a lot of empathy!' she told Vogue. Rather than simply looking at whether an outfit works, she said she notices the model's walk, the clothes and the way each garment moves on the body.
That perspective comes from her own experience as a model. Huntington-Whiteley became widely recognised in the fashion industry through runway and editorial work and later became particularly associated with Victoria's Secret. Her career also expanded into acting, including a role in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, as well as fashion and business projects.
A Different View From the Front Row
There is also one major advantage to watching a fashion show rather than walking in it: being able to appreciate the entire collection.
Huntington-Whiteley told Vogue that, as a model, she rarely had the opportunity to sit back and take in a whole show because her attention was focused on her own part in it. From the front row, however, she can observe how the collection comes together as a complete presentation.
That was the position she found herself in at Burberry's Spring 2027 show in London, where she attended alongside a high-profile group of guests. Vogue reported that she has a long-standing connection with the British fashion house, having grown up with Burberry, worked with the brand and continued to appear in its fashion orbit.
The show, held during London Fashion Week, was presented by Burberry creative director Daniel Lee. The Spring/Summer 2027 collection continued to explore the house's British identity, including its well-known outerwear and trench-coat heritage.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Love of British Style
Away from the runway, Huntington-Whiteley also spoke about her relationship with British fashion and why she feels particularly at home with autumn dressing.
'I'm English! I think autumn is in my DNA,' she told Vogue, describing her enthusiasm for coats, boots, knitwear, leather jackets, fires at home and long Sunday lunches. She also described British style as having a certain relaxed quality, saying that people can look as though they have not 'tried too hard', even when dressed beautifully.
Her comments come as her career continues to move beyond traditional modelling. Alongside her fashion work, Huntington-Whiteley has developed her own lifestyle brand, Mémoire, while maintaining relationships with major fashion houses including Burberry.
The Reality Behind the Catwalk
For fashion fans, runway shows are often about the finished image: the clothes, the styling, the lighting and the models' polished walks. Huntington-Whiteley's comments highlight the brief but intense moment that comes before that image reaches the audience.
A model may spend hours dealing with fittings and waiting backstage before walking out for what feels like only a few seconds. And once that moment arrives, there is little room for distraction. Even something as simple as remembering where to leave the runway matters.
Now that Huntington-Whiteley can watch from the front row, she has the chance to appreciate the spectacle in a way she could not when she was part of it. Having experienced the nerves herself, she also knows that behind every seemingly effortless catwalk moment is a model trying to get those crucial 'thirty seconds' exactly right.
