The Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF) has announced sensation Celeste Barber will join its program this year.
Barber single-handedly led a $50 million social media-powered fundraiser for those affected by the Australian bushfires.
Barber will join the program as a speaker and walk in her first runway appearance at the Festival.
will discuss Who Really Has Influence Today, in conversation with moderator of the Summit, Glynis Traill-Nash, as well as walk in her first runway appearance at the Festival.
Festival GM Yolanda Finch praised her inclusion.
“Celeste has been a fearless and disruptive leader in the world of social commentary and never has this been more obvious than in the past few weeks.
"We were talking to Celeste in October last year about including her in this year’s Festival as we are always wanting to work with strong role models.
"In an industry that can sometimes take itself too seriously, Celeste certainly throws a mirror to fashion and the industry has embraced her endearingly delivered irreverence. As we’ve seen in the last few weeks, there’s a lot to love about Celeste.”
Barber said she was thrilled to take part.
"For many years VAMFF has ensured a rich diversity in shape, ethnicity and age on the runway and I’m excited to be a part of this.
"I’m looking forward to speaking...on my deep knowledge of style, sophistication and the secrets behind hiding my muffin top.“
Celeste’s career was launched in the entertainment industry with television roles in All Saints, Home and Away and Wonderland.
It was not until she decided to launch an Instagram account in 2015, that she carved out an entirely new and unique role on social media.
Based on her hashtag, #CelesteChallengeAccepted, the comedic “everywoman” parodied the world’s most famous celebrities and models in good humor.
Not only did her followers love it, the celebrities she challenged soon became her followers too.
To date, Celeste has accrued 6.8 million followers on Instagram and 1.6 million followers on Facebook.
Having parodied a runway walk for Tom Ford at New York Fashion Week in 2018, Celeste will now bring her celebrated #CelesteChallengeAccepted to the 2020 Festival line up, walking in Runway 3.