Naomi Watts and Liev Schrieber’s Daughter Is the First Trans Girl to Win ‘Breakthrough Model of the Year’ at NYFW
by Chrissy Stockton · Thought CatalogUpdated 5 minutes ago, September 16, 2026
Kai Schreiber is having a breakout moment. The 17-year-old daughter of Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber accepted The Daily Front Row’s Breakthrough Model of the Year award at the Fashion Media Awards, stepping out in green Valentino to mark the milestone.
In her acceptance speech, Kai made a point of naming the significance of the win — and the community that made it possible.
“I’m the first trans girl to win this award, which is surreal and wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for all of my sisters who paved the way for me in this industry,” she said. “And I carry that with me into every room.”
It’s a notable milestone for a young model whose predecessors on the winners’ list include Kaia Gerber and Lila Moss.
The recognition arrived alongside a busy stretch on the runway. Days later, her parents sat front row at the Thom Browne Spring/Summer 2027 show, where Kai walked in a printed bodysuit and skirt finished with a mesh face covering. Watts and Schreiber split in 2016 and also share 19-year-old son Sasha.
Kai made her modeling debut with Valentino in 2025, and both of her parents have spoken publicly about supporting her career. Watts, 57, and Schreiber, 58, have each addressed what it’s meant to watch her step into the spotlight so young.
“She’s got her head on and it was a nice way for her to feel pride about what she’s doing,” Watts said on Today with Jenna & Friends in October 2025. “It’s exciting and very much younger than we anticipated. But for Kai, we felt she was ready.”
Schreiber, for his part, has praised her advocacy for the trans community. “Kai is such a fighter,” he told Variety in 2025. “It’s important that she goes, ‘Hey, I am trans,’ and, ‘Look at me.'”
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