Niki Taylor Returns to the Runway

Niki Taylor, the quintessential ’90s supermodel and all-around beauty, made a dazzling return to the runway last week—closing out New York Fashion Week in unforgettable style. Striding with confidence and grace, Taylor headlined the Coolibar Mott50 Edition showcase, bringing star power, poise and nostalgia to the forefront of the evening.

Alongside actress and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, Taylor’s appearance was met with thunderous applause, as the audience celebrated not just a runway look, but a full-circle fashion moment. More than three decades since she first graced magazine covers and catwalks worldwide, Taylor proved she’s not just back—she’s better than ever.

Also on the agenda for the night: A serious sun-safety message. “Growing up in South Florida, I was always in the sun,” says Taylor. “When I started, all the shoots came to Miami, so we were always shooting in the sun. I remember the importance of protecting your skin, but I just wish we had more of the sun-protective clothing back then.”

While Taylor and her husband, Burney Lamar, shared that their time spent in New York last week wasn’t necessarily focused on Fashion Week, they did enjoy some fitness and a lot of exploration.

“This is the only show I’ve been to! Every time we come to the city, we get on the Citi Bikes,” Taylor says, adding that she does remember the days of “being nervous” when she hit New York Fashion Week. “And I do wear my Coolibar sun sleeves! We went on an adventure last night. We just got on the bikes and went. We biked down to the World Trade Center, then we parked the bikes, and we took the train back uptown to the park and went to the reservoir in the park. We had a great time.”

Lamar also gave props to Taylor for being a good traveler and an even better packer (the couple married in 2006): “I love living out of a suitcase. I’m a minimalist. We’re pretty simple. As long as we have a comfy bed and some soft sheets, we’re good. And I always make sure I have my skin cleanser, I have good sun protection, my shampoo, conditioner, all basics. I’m a true believer that you always need to wash up your makeup at the end of the day—and definitely stay hydrated.”

Another supermodel secret: Sleep. “We recently became grandparents,” Taylor shared. “We need our sleep! We go to bed early. It makes such a difference when you get a good night of sleep.”