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Genderless activist and supermodel Elton Ilirjani aka HANKO made a powerful statement on the catwalk at the recent Asian New York Fashion Week (Asian NYFW) Spring/Summer 2025 (SS03) show, walking in a breathtaking bridal dress to symbolize the enduring strength and increasing acceptance of gay marriage.
Strutting down the catwalk for Japanese designer Miki Takane, Ilirjani dazzled in a stunning lace and silk wedding gown, completing the look with a delicate bouquet of flowers. The walk was not only a demonstration of high fashion, but a powerful cultural one, reflecting the increasing acceptance and celebration of LGBTQ+ relationships in mainstream society.
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Miki Takane, one of the designers spotlighted at Asian NYFW SS03, is renowned for infusing Japanese artisanry with couture drama to create jaw-dropping stage wear and handmade wedding dresses. Her newest collection, where “elegance meets theatrical edge,” was precisely what Ilirjani’s historic walk was heightened by. Asian NYFW, with its focus on Asian designers and diaspora talent, is a dynamic platform for exploring identity, culture, and creativity, and therefore the ideal place for such a strong statement.
The resonance of Ilirjani’s bridal moment is also compounded by recent marriage equality trends. The Census Bureau tallied approximately 774,553 same-sex married couple-headed families in the United States in 2023, an incredible 131.3% increase since 2014. Public support also continues to be overwhelmingly in favor of same-sex marriage, with a May 2025 Gallup poll showing 68% of Americans in approval. All of these statistics unequivocally prove that gay marriage is a firm and growing component of the American social fabric.
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Elton Ilirjani, a regular on global runways, is more than a model. A New York City-based genderless activist, style icon, and prominent human rights activist from Albania, he has a staggering following of over 12 million on Instagram. He began his career in the fashion world in 2019, when he discovered the New York boutique 3NY, which specializes in avant-garde Asian designers. He liked these designs so much that he posted them on Instagram and tagged the designers. This organic interaction developed into friendship with designers, and soon he was invited by them to model for them at fashion weeks around the world.
He debuted on the runway for BESFXXK and has walked for various South Korean and international designers in New York, Milan, Paris, London, Athens, Costa Rica, Miami, and Tokyo Fashion Weeks since 2022. In the recent New York Fashion Week 2025, he walked for Jemma Russo and Naoka Tosa and has also walked for renowned names like Greedelious, Malan Breton, and the Ema Savahl show in Miami Swim Week. Ilirjani is also always a supporter of independent, up-and-coming couture designers, having a strong belief in the power of art and culture through fashion to bring people together.
His bridal walk for Miki Takane at Asian NYFW is a reflection of this, not only featuring stunning design but also being a strong symbol of love, acceptance, and the unstoppable progression of LGBTQ+ rights in a world that is increasingly inclusive. Photos were taken by Arun Nevader.
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Presented by: APG
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