After Kim Kardashian ended her collaboration with Balenciaga in 2022 due to strong reactions to a campaign that portrayed children in a questionable light, the billionaire beauty brand owner is now the face of the luxury fashion house.
The Kardashians star, who wore Balenciaga at the Met Gala and attended one of the shows at Paris Fashion Week, was named brand ambassador for the storied French fashion house on Monday.
“For several years, Balenciaga’s designs have been part of my many looks – and some of my most iconic fashion moments. This historic fashion house, under Demna, represents modernity, craftsmanship and an innovative approach to design,” Kardashian said Monday in a statement shared on her Instagram story.
“For me, this long-standing relationship is built on mutual trust and a commitment to do the right thing. I’m excited about this next chapter for the brand and becoming their ambassador,” Kardashian continued.
The news comes two years after Kardashian severed ties with Balenciaga in November 2022 and released a statement about a campaign by the company that drew widespread criticism for its references to child pornography and the depiction of child models alongside fetish imagery.
More: Balenciaga announces organizational changes after campaign backlash, Kim Kardashian is “outraged”
The media mogul and mother of four said she was “shocked” by the campaign’s “disturbing images”.
“I have remained silent over the past few days, not because I am not disgusted and outraged by the recent Balenciaga campaigns, but because I wanted the opportunity to speak with their team to understand for myself how this could have happened,” Kardashian wrote at the time. “The safety of children must be the highest priority, and any attempts to normalize child abuse of any kind should have no place in our society – period.”
“I welcome Balenciaga’s decision to stop the campaigns and to apologize. From my discussions with them, I am convinced that they understand the seriousness of the matter and will take the necessary measures to ensure that this never happens again,” she continued.
The co-founder of Balenciaga also addressed the campaign in a separate statement on Instagram.
“While I would sometimes like to provoke thought with my work, I would NEVER intend to do so on such a horrific subject as child abuse, which I condemn,” he said in a statement posted on Instagram.
Kardashian added at the time that she planned to reconsider her professional relationship with Balenciaga.
Contributors: Edward Segarra
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kim Kardashian named Balenciaga ambassador after backlash
