Kai Schreiber made history at The Daily Front Row’s Fashion Media Awards on Friday. The 17-year-old daughter of Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber became the first trans girl to win Breakthrough Model of the Year. In her acceptance speech at New York’s Rainbow Room, Kai thanked those who had “so graciously welcomed her into this beautiful world of fashion”. She called the award “surreal” and said it “wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for all my sisters who paved the way for me in this industry”.
The Kai Schreiber modeling award moment drew thunderous applause when she noted, “I’m also the first trans girl to win this award”. Kai, who wore a lime green Valentino mini dress and a dramatic jeweled necklace, said she was “so beyond excited that I get to learn more about it every day and call it my job”. She thanked her famous parents for their “unconditional support and devotion to making me happy and making my dreams come true,” adding, “I’m so lucky to be supported by you”.
Watts proudly posed with her daughter on the red carpet, while Liev was spotted kissing Kai on the cheek during the event. Kai has been open about her ambitions, telling Interview Magazine in 2025 that she wants “to be a supermodel. Period” and that she’s been “practicing my walks in the kitchen for years”. She also noted that “struggling with gender identity from a young age most likely had something to do with it”. Last year, Liev told Variety that when Kai asked the family to change her pronouns, it “didn’t feel like that big of a deal because Kai had been feminine for so long”.
