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In the final week of September, at Paris Fashion Week for women's ready-to-wear, Cruella de Vil once again became the center of attention—because she put something on the runway that no one had ever used before.
A living, breathing tiger.
With a spiked leather collar—tasteless to the extreme—but when the "tiger beauty," Charlize Theron, appeared holding the beast on a chain, the entire venue collectively gasped.
A tiger-striped crop top paired with a matching narrow skirt and long boots—combined with Henry's suggestions for facial contouring, weight loss, and makeup—gave Charlize a hint of the regal aura she would one day fully embody.
Walking the runway with the tiger in tow, she looked like a youthful yet domineering queen of fashion, surveying her domain and her subjects.
When she stepped onto the runway for the second time, her outfit featured an exaggerated aristocratic high collar reminiscent of a bygone era. One half of her gown trailed along the floor in black with structured shoulder pads, while the other half was a golden, feather-like coat.
Even more insane—
This time, the tiger walked ahead without a leash.
What did it feel like to watch a fashion show where audience members suddenly bolted for the exits halfway through?
Whether those who remained were brave or simply too frightened to move, they all witnessed a show destined to go down in history.
As the tiger reached the end of the runway and prepared to turn, it let out a roar. Charlize gave a sharp whistle, and only then did the beast obediently withdraw.
It was at that moment many photographers realized—they had been so terrified they forgot to take pictures. Those who had managed to press the shutter became the most sought-after, their photos splashed across the front pages of major newspapers the next day.
Many headlines read: a fashion show so insane that the designer disregarded the audience's lives—and the audience, equally insane, stayed to watch despite the danger.
Henry had originally thought he would need to pull some strings to manage Katy's workload—otherwise, he might have to fly around the world with this tiger that barely made any money, just to satisfy a flood of invitations from equally mad designers.
Fortunately, after Cruella's show, most designers jointly issued a statement of restraint, emphasizing that they would not allow wild animals on the runway—let alone unleashed ones.
Because even these fashion-obsessed individuals learned from animal trainers and experts that Katy's performance was impossible to replicate.
Timing her walk like a professional model, following a single path without deviation—this was simply not normal animal behavior.
Especially during the second appearance, where she responded perfectly to a single whistle. Even a trainer who had raised the animal from birth might not achieve that level of control.
There was a reason circus performances with wild beasts were conducted inside cages—one mistake, and the fashion show would have turned into a living hell.
For those directly involved, however, the industry's self-restraint wasn't much of an issue.
Henry had no desire to keep flying around with Katy—that went without saying.
Charlize Theron preferred performing in front of a camera rather than walking runways.
Even Cruella herself understood that featuring a tiger was a bold innovation—but repeating it would quickly turn it into a cliché.
Charlize's collaboration with Katy was simply the final chapter of a long-term plan that began with the tiger commercial. Now that it had been perfectly executed, it was time to let it end on a high note.
The fashion world wasn't like Hollywood, where successful films spawned endless sequels until audiences grew tired and box office returns collapsed.
In fashion, if you played that game, accusations of creative exhaustion and outdated aesthetics would cling to you—and for a designer, that was far worse than any scandal.
After the show, Charlize immediately returned to Los Angeles with Henry. Finding a place in Paris to house a tiger, even temporarily, was both expensive and troublesome.
Most hotels didn't even allow pets, let alone a large predator. Traveling with Katy was far more complicated than traveling with a baby.
Meanwhile, October 4 marked the release of Charlize Theron's second major film—a musical comedy directed by and starring two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do!.
Although the film didn't have a grand premiere, significant resources had been invested in promotion. Charlize needed to return to Hollywood to participate in publicity and media interviews.
Even though she only played a supporting role, her recent surge in popularity made 20th Century Fox eager to leverage her buzz.
After all, she had taken the role specifically to work with Tom Hanks. There was no reason not to show enthusiasm and professionalism—so returning to Los Angeles was a must.
But trouble always appears at the worst possible moment.
While waiting in line ahead of Henry at immigration, Charlize was suddenly stopped by an officer.
"What? My artist visa has been canceled?!" she exclaimed in shock.
Charlize hadn't yet obtained a U.S. green card. Her work in Hollywood was under a P-3 artist visa, renewed annually. Her latest visa had been sponsored by Stark Pictures.
Once canceled, it meant she no longer had the right to enter the United States.
Due to regulations, Henry couldn't step forward and interfere with immigration procedures. Airport police were already approaching.
There was a shameful gray area in U.S. law—those not yet admitted into the country were not protected by its legal system. They couldn't even hire a lawyer.
Anyone denied entry could only take another flight out. If they caused trouble, airport police had the authority to detain them and deport them within six months.
Perhaps aware of her vulnerable position as a foreigner—or perhaps influenced by Henry's usual calm demeanor—Charlize didn't break down or scream. Instead, she cooperated fully.
That alone reduced the likelihood of the police resorting to force.
Henry immediately followed.
But the route used to escort detainees wasn't accessible to just anyone. He was quickly stopped by another officer.
Producing his U.S. passport, Henry said, "She's my girlfriend. Let us speak for a moment—it won't interfere with your work."
The lead officer nodded and stepped aside slightly. Only then did Henry see Charlize—holding back tears, trying not to cry.
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