Irina Shayk speaks out in support of designers behind Schiaparelli's controversial lion head dress

Russian model Irina Shayk defends the controversial lion head dress which Kylie Jenner also wore. 

The 25-year-old reality star sparked a social media firestorm when she wore the black velvet strapless dress that featured a massive embroidered lion head attached at the neckline to Schiaparelli's Spring 2023 show at Paris Fashion Week. Shayk, 37, modeled an almost identical gown when she strutted down the runway later during the show.

On Tuesday, Shayk shared an Instagram update and as caption gave a shoutout to all the artists for their efforts, "I support these incredible artists who worked tirelessly, with their hands, using wool, silk, and foam, to sculpt this embroidered Lion, and image of Pride, An image that @schiaparelli invokes while exploring themes of strength." 

"I am honored to have been called on as well to lend my art as a woman to this," she added with a black heart emoji, tagging Schiaparelli's creative director Daniel Roseberry.

Shayk's post featured a slideshow of images in which she was seen wearing the dress on the runway, in fittings and backstage as well as a drawing of the design and a snap of Schiaparelli's signature gold toe pumps.

According to the designer's Instagram page, the animal head was created from "hand sculpted foam, wool and silk faux fur, and hand painted to look as life-like as possible, celebrating the glory of the natural world."

The fashion house emphasized, "NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN MAKING THIS LOOK."

At the same time, Naomi Campbell also modeled the runway in a furry black trench coat that had a wolf's head on the shoulder. Shalom Harlow wore a leopard print dress that had a snow leopard's head sewn into the bodice. 

Hours after Kylie was slammed for wearing the Schiaparelli dress that featured a massive embroidered lion head, she came under fire again after stepping out in Givenchy's noose-shaped necklace.