Romae Gordon walks for Dario Vitale’s Versace debut
Published:Monday | September 29, 2025 | 12:08 AM
Romae Gordon made an exclusive appearance during Milan Fashion Week on Friday, walking the runway for Versace’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection.
Selected by the Italian powerhouse for one of fashion’s most coveted assignments, the 5’11” Jamaican trailblazer now steps into the spotlight after three decades of shaping models’ careers behind the scenes, securing a place at the centre of one of the season’s most important shows.
It was a historic night for Italian fashion, with Dario Vitale debuting as creative director after officially taking over from Donatella Versace on April 1. Vitale began to write his own chapter, ushering in a new era for the famed house as the first person outside the Versace family to lead its creative direction.
“The timing for my Versace appearance fits perfectly with the changing of the guard,” Gordon told The Gleaner in an exclusive from Milan. Walking in look #39 for the Spring/Summer 2025/2026 collection, she said her appearance for Versace was “fate”.
The spark began with Luca Khouri, the talented Jamaican-born creative whom Gordon mentored at age 14, when he was beginning his photography career. As a teenager, Khouri photographed Gordon, and Vogue Italia published his classic black-and-white image of her in a feature that ran while she was fashion director for Caribbean Fashionweek.
More recent photos of Gordon, shot by Khouri, made their way to Kianna Alexander, who was excited by the images. Soon, casting directors were calling to see Gordon, with Julia Lange at the top of the queue. “The casting team at Julia Lange contacted me two years ago for a major label. However, schedules didn’t align then, so they were very excited to have me for Versace this time around,” said Gordon.
She shared that her return to the runway felt “quite natural”.
“I love being around creatives who are exceptional at their craft. I love the collective process that produces the visually stunning results wherever they show up, [whether] on the runway, in magazines, on billboards, etc. The style and elegance around fashion is a very attractive part of the business for me. I appreciate and understand the work that goes into making this all happen. Of course, [things] have changed, especially with technology, so things move much faster, as is expected,” Gordon added.
Versace’s choice of Gordon reflects Julia Lange’s precise casting and the house’s focus not only on runway stars of the moment but also on individuals with elegance and presence. Backstage, Pat McGrath on make-up and Guido Palau on hair underscored the polish expected of a Versace show and the confidence the brand places in its exclusivity.
For Jamaica, the moment is both personal and national. Gordon has discovered and developed talent at Pulse for years, helping to place Jamaican beauty and talent on the global map. Friday’s walk extends that influence, putting a Jamaican professional, long a builder of others’ careers, squarely in the frame of a marquee European show.
Deeg Gordon, head of The Sheldon Alexander Group — the consultancy rounding out Gordon’s team — frames the occasion within the context of broader shifts in fashion. “Industry-wide, the casting also reflects a broader shift. The top fashion houses are embracing seasoned talent to add depth and range to their collections. In that context, Romae’s age becomes part of the story, not the headline. Her Milan debut demonstrates how experience elevates the elegant silhouettes and movement, offering audiences a richer, more resonant read on the clothes. The reaction in Milan has been beautiful,” said Deeg Gordon.
The collection was an eclectic mix of leather jackets, pants, embellished bustiers with skirts, and short dresses with a youthful appeal, paying homage to Gianni Versace’s 1980s and 1990s collections, set to a soundtrack of George Michael, Prince, and the Eurythmics. As for Gordon’s impression of the collection, she shared: “It was fun, accessible and wearable, with the high fashion mark of Versace. It was a pleasure to meet Dario and the team. In his quiet way, he was open and warm. I was happy to be among the models to herald this new beginning for him and Versace.”
Vitale, who was creative director at Prada’s Miu Miu until it was announced that he would lead Versace in March, presented the collection to an exclusive audience which included Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue; K-pop sensation Hyunjin, and other celebrities, including Bianca Jagger and Romeo Beckham. The location was the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, the oldest art museum in Milan. Surrounded by a rich history of art and books, the setting was ideal for Vitale’s Versace debut. It represented a reverential ode to the Versace legacy while looking to the future.
Gordon modelled successfully for several years in Europe, Africa and the United States, represented by Elite Premier in London, G3 in South Africa, and Wilhelmina in New York. Her clients included Cosmopolitan magazine, Macy’s, Champion sportswear, JCPenney and Gillette, and she has notably appeared on the cover of the British magazine Slimmer, which she fondly recalls as a defining moment in her career.
“My body was in the best shape ever [for my Slimmer fitness magazine cover],”shared Gordon, adding that her Cosmopolitan editorial shot on the Zambezi River in South Africa and her Look of the Year experience in London also rank highly. “I enjoyed shooting on location all over the world.”