She wasn’t the only celebrity who was moved to heartfelt emotion by the powerful message on display at the show. The collection, designed by Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, was modelled by one of couture fashion week’s most diverse lineup of models: 39 black women in total, including the iconic Naomi Campbell closing the show.

“Couture is the way that you can evaluate the uniqueness of life, but it was never meant to be for black women,” Piccioli said of the collection. “It was meant for just white women. This is a celebration of black beauty.”

Campbell wept silently as she applauded Piccioli at the end of her walk in a semi-sheer black gown, the first time the supermodel has appeared on the runway for the Italian fashion brand in 14 years. In the front row, British Vogue editor Edward Enninful said it was “the most emotional show I’ve ever watched.” Laura Brown, editor of American InStyle, cried.

Samira Nasr, executive fashion director at Vanity Fair, wrote: “I have never been moved to tears at a fashion show. Tonight I cried at the Valentino show. With all the hate and vitriol in the world today, I was moved to my core to sit at a show that not only celebrated the remarkable craft of men and women we will never know, but it also celebrated diversity. We forget how powerful it is to see your likeness reflected back to you and celebrated.”

Why Naomi Campbell and Celine Dion were crying at Valentino’s couture show