Kit Keenan is ready to strut.
The model had quite the 2025 New York Fashion Week experience as she walked in mom Cynthia Rowley’s show on Sept. 13.
The 26-year-old walked the runway in a strapless, short black dress which was covered in diamond rings. And as Kit joked, her mom might have had an ulterior motive for putting her in the outfit.
“I think my mom was trying to send a message to my boyfriend with this dress,” she joked with Elle in a video posted to Instagram Sept. 14, “because it’s covered in engagement rings.”
And Cynthia—who shares Kit with ex William Keenan Jr. and daughter GigiPowers, 20, with husband William Powers—could not have been more thrilled that her daughter got to join her for fashion week. Especially because Kit is a NYFW veteran.
“I didn’t have to coach her on anything,” the fashion designer gushed, “because, guess what? She’s been at every runway show since—actually, before she was born. She’s been observing. But she killed it. You killed it.”
And while Kit was grateful for her mom’s support, she wasn’t totally calm, adding, “I was so nervous.”
But the Bachelor alum overcame her nerves as she made her way down the runway.
Following the fashion show, Kit shared a special tribute to her mom, posting a video of the duo at the end of the show to her Instagram Sept. 15 which read, “Realizing the best gift my mom has ever given me is watching her achieve her dreams.”
She added in the caption, “I’m the luckiest girl in the world because of you @cynthiarowley.”
And while having a fashion designer mom has meant that she’s spent much of her life in and around the world of fashion, it was necessarily why Kit decided to go into modeling and being an influencer.
“I have friends whose moms aren’t fashion designers who do exactly what I do,” she told E! News in 2023 during a joint interview with her mom. “But I think growing up in the way that I have has allowed me to thrive on social media.”
Still, that’s not to say that Kit isn’t aware of the boost she got in the industry thanks to her mom’s career.
“Even if it’s not directly that I’m a fashion designer or that I work at my mom’s company, I’m still a nepo baby,” she added, “because I don’t know if I would be where I am as an influencer without her.”
But Cynthia wasn’t so sure that she was the reason for her daughter’s success.
“I think you’ve always been very self-possessed, self-motivated and you always followed your own path,” she told Kit. “You’ve maneuvered this creative world in your own way.”
For more moments you might have missed at NYFW, keep reading.
Suni Lee
At the Andrew Kwon Spring/Summer 2026 runway show on Sept. 16.
Demi Lovato
At Outcast Clothing’s NYFW after-party with Paper magazine on Sept. 15.
Saweetie
At the Bronx and Banco Spring/Summer 2026 runway show on Sept. 15.
Elle Fanning
At the Coach Spring 2026 runway show on Sept. 15.
Unveiling the Lagavulin Islay Tartan—a textile inspired by the spirit of Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky— at Coveteur’s after-party on Sept. 15.
Lauryn Hill & Selah Marley
At the COS Autumn/Winter 2025 runway show on Sept. 14.
Landon Barker & Atiana De La Hoya
At the GUIZIO NYFW after-party, in partnership with Puma, Casamigos, Magnum Ice Cream & La Croix at The Refinery at Domino on Sept. 13.
Suki Waterhouse
At the Target Style Tailgate event at the High Line on Sept. 13.
Natasha Lyonne & Waris Ahluwalia
At Public School New York’s Supper Club event showcasing the Fall/Winter 2026 collection on Sept. 13.
Jodie Turner-Smith
At the Chopard Ice Cube Party at The Centurion on Sept. 14.
Molly Ringwald
At the Batsheva SS26 Presentation sponsored by Patricia Nash Designs on Sept. 14.
Erika Alexander
At the NYFW – Decolonizing Wealth Project x Relative Arts Indigenous event on Sept. 15.
Katie Thurston
At the Caffè GUESS pop-up on Sept. 13.
Sophia Culpo
At Paige’s New york Fashion Week dinner on Sept. 10.
Christian Siriano
At The Model Experience’s annual New York Fashion Week Festival at Armory Arena.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley & Christopher Briney
At the COS Autumn/Winter 2025 runway show on Sept. 14.
Ariana Biermann
At Glance’s New York Fashion Week pop-up on Sept. 10.
Pom Klementieff
At the Chopard Ice Cube Party at The Centurion on Sept. 14.
Sarah Pidgeon, Stacey Bendet & Ashlee Simpson
At the Alice + Olivia By Stacey Bendet Spring/Summer 2026 presentation on Sept. 13.
Ciara
At the House of ESPN experience on Sept. 12.
Olandria Carthen & Nicolas Vansteenberghe
At the Off White x Boom NYFW after-party on Sept. 12.
Kelly Rutherford
At the Son Jung Wan SS26 runway show on Sept. 13.
Nicky Hilton
At the Alice + Olivia By Stacey Bendet Spring/Summer 2026 presentation on Sept. 13.
Odell Beckham Jr.
At his FRI&NDS NYFW bash on Sept. 12.
Aubrey Plaza
At the Khaite Spring Summer 2026 Runway Show on Sept. 13.
Natasha Lyonne
At the Target Style Tailgate event at the High Line on Sept. 13.
Gayle King, Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg & Lizzo
At the Christian Siriano Spring/Summer 2026 runway show on Sept. 12.
Claire Danes
At the MONSE 10th anniversary runway show after-party at Barbuto Brooklyn.
Cade Cunningham
Hosting a dinner with LOUIS XIII on Sept. 13.
Devin Booker
At the Target Style Tailgate event at the High Line on Sept. 13.
