Elon Musk's Transgender Daughter Vivian Makes NYFW Debut in Sparkly Red Gown

With a fiery red gown, a pointed political message, and a high-profile family legacy she's fought hard to leave behind, Vivian Wilson's runway debut was never going to go unnoticed. The daughter of billionaire tech titan Elon Musk stunned audiences and ignited conversation when she stepped onto the catwalk at New York Fashion Week.

Vivian Wilson, a name once shielded from public life, commanded attention at Alexis Bittar's Spring/Summer 2026 show on September 12, 2025, held at the Abrons Theater in New York City.

The rising model and outspoken trans rights advocate lit up the runway in a shimmering red gown with flirty ruffled sleeves, a dark-toned Scissor clutch, dramatic gold earrings, and a bold sash that read "Miss South Carolina."

The show took its inspiration from the 1991 Miss USA pageant, but with a surreal, subversive twist. Bittar's casting was no accident. Models — all trans women — wore sashes bearing the names of states such as West Virginia, Florida, Utah, Tennessee, and Alabama.

The designer revealed the motive behind the casting. "I purposely casted all trans women who represented states where trans rights were being stripped," he explained.

A Pageant of Protest, Wrapped in Glitter and Defiance

Wilson did not hold back as she spoke in a behind-the-scenes interview, blending dry humor with palpable nerves. "Hi, Nylon, this is Vivian Wilson. We're here backstage at Alexis Bittar and I am Miss South Carolina, a state I have never been to in my life," she said.

Explaining her role in the pageant, she continued, "My heart is black as abyss, so I just have to, like, activate the, you know, evilness. This is my first show. I'm a little bit nervous, but I did some good prep work for it. Got a full night’s sleep. I'm hyped, I'm ready to get out there."

With calm conviction, she added, "The states that we are representing are states where trans rights are currently being stripped away in. The one message is that we all have to kind of make a stand against that together. Fashion and art is a great way to go about that."

Bittar's concept — equal parts beautiful and disturbing — was summed up in his own words, "Stepping into a dark surreal dream, Miss USA 1991: a touch of Carrie, Virgin Suicides and Blue Velvet. A tale of objectification, predators, and the anxiety of reaching for perfection."

It was high fashion with a sharp political edge—and Wilson was at the center of it all.

Social Media Swoons—But Not Without Snark

Social media reactions to Wilson’s debut were mixed across platforms. On Instagram, adoring comments poured in. "Simply beautiful ❤️," one fan wrote. Another gushed, "You are so beautiful 💓. Inside and out." A third raved, "Looking totally gorgeous." But not everyone was feeling the love.

One Instagram follower jabbed, "Beautiful. Luckily doesn't take after her dad," while others zeroed in on her fierce facial expression. One asked, "What's with the sour face?" A similar comment read, "What's with the face 😒."

Over on Facebook, the snark turned up a notch. "Is she entering the miss moody teenager competition cos she's won," one post mocked. Another, more admiring, wrote, "Her face card is unreal!" Several couldn't resist drawing loaded comparisons to her father. "Like father like daughter," one person quipped. Another added, "Looks like her dadddy."

A Second Strut, Soft and Serene

Less than 24 hours later, Wilson was back — this time trading bold red for dreamlike white. At Prabal Gurung's Spring/Summer 2026 show held at St. Bartholomew's Church, she floated down the aisle in a sheer cable-knit turtleneck dress with billowy sleeves, layered over a flared mesh skirt, nude heels, and minimal makeup. The look: ethereal, powerful, and quietly defiant.

A Fractured Family And Painful Memories

Wilson has never shied away from speaking about her estranged relationship with Elon Musk. In a revealing July 2024 interview with NBC News, she painted a picture of a cold, detached father. "He was cold," she shared. "He's very quick to anger. He is uncaring and narcissistic."

She added, "He was there, I want to say, maybe 10% of the time. That's generous. He had half custody, and he fully was not there." She shared a childhood experience from elementary school that still haunts her.

"I was in fourth grade. We went on this road trip that I didn't know was actually just an advertisement for one of the cars — I don't remember which one — and he was constantly yelling at me viciously because my voice was too high," she recalled. "It was cruel."

In 2022, Wilson filed to change her name and legally cut ties with Musk. "I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form," she wrote in the filing.

Musk Lashes Out And Wilson Strikes Back

The rift deepened further after Musk's explosive interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson in July 2024, where he referred to Wilson by her deadname and declared, "I lost my son, essentially... My son Xavier is dead — killed by the woke mind virus."

Wilson swiftly hit back on Threads, posting, "Last time I checked, I am, indeed, not dead."

Musk then took to X, describing Wilson as "born gay and slightly autistic," citing childhood behaviors like liking musicals and saying "fabulous!" at age four. But Wilson wasn't having it.

"This entire thing is completely made up and there's a reason for this," she wrote on Threads. "He doesn't know what I was like as a child because he quite simply wasn't there, and in the little time that he was I was relentlessly harassed for my femininity and queerness."

Wilson didn’t stop there. She laid it out clearly, stating, "Obviously he can't say that, so I've been reduced to a happy little stereotype [sic] along to use at his discretion. I think that says alot about how he views queer people and children in general."

In that same NBC News interview, the model delivered a final, firm statement about who she is — and who gets to define her. "I would like to emphasize one thing: I am an adult," she said. "I am not a child. My life should be defined by my own choices."