If you blinked during the Paris Fashion Week scenes of the 2006 classic, you probably missed it. But Heidi Klum in The Devil Wears Prada isn't just a random bit of trivia; it’s a tiny, fascinating piece of fashion history that has suddenly become relevant again.
Honestly, most people remember Gisele Bündchen’s role as the glasses-wearing "clacker" Serena. That makes sense because Gisele actually had lines and shared the screen with Emily Blunt. Heidi? Her appearance was the definition of "blink-and-you’ll-miss-it." She played herself, sitting front row at a runway show, looking exactly like the mid-2000s supermodel icon she was.
But here is the thing: that brief moment is currently being dissected by fans because Heidi Klum was recently spotted on the set of the upcoming sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2. And this time, it looks like she’s doing way more than just sitting pretty in the background.
The Original Cameo: Why Was She There?
Back in 2005, when the first movie was filming, the production had a massive problem. Most of the fashion world was terrified of Anna Wintour. Rumors swirled that the Vogue editor-in-chief had "warned" designers and models that if they appeared in the film, they’d be blacklisted from the magazine.
It was a total power move.
Because of that, the movie ended up with very few actual fashion industry heavyweights playing themselves. Valentino Garavani was the only major designer with the guts to show up. For the models, the directors had to rely on a few brave souls who weren't afraid of a little "nuclear" fallout.
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Heidi Klum was one of them.
She appeared during the James Holt fashion show in Paris. If you pause the movie at just the right second, you can see her sitting in the front row next to Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly. It wasn't a speaking part. It wasn't even a plot point. It was just atmospheric "set dressing" to make the world feel authentic. At the time, Heidi was already the face of Project Runway, so she was essentially the bridge between "high fashion" and "mainstream TV."
The Sequel Shake-up: Heidi Klum is Back
Fast forward to late 2025. Production for the sequel is in full swing, and suddenly, photos of Heidi Klum on The Devil Wears Prada 2 set start hitting the internet.
This isn't just a grainy background shot.
Paparazzi caught her in New York City filming scenes that suggest a much larger presence. In one set of photos, she’s rocking a crisp, "corpcore" black-and-white pantsuit with loafers—a very different vibe from her usual "supermodel-on-the-red-carpet" aesthetic. In another, she’s in a dramatic, sheer violet gown that screams Runway magazine cover.
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The word on the street (and by street, I mean the industry trade reports) is that the sequel focuses on Miranda Priestly at the end of her career. The magazine world is dying, and she’s facing off against her old assistant, Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), who is now a high-powered executive at a luxury conglomerate.
It makes total sense for Heidi to reappear. If the movie is tackling the shift from old-school print magazines to the new era of "influencer" and "personality" driven fashion, who better to represent that than the woman who successfully pivoted from the Victoria's Secret runway to a multi-billion dollar TV and business empire?
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cameos
There’s a common misconception that every model in the movie was playing a "character."
- Gisele Bündchen: Played Serena (an actual character).
- Heidi Klum: Played Heidi Klum (herself).
- Bridget Hall: Played herself.
People often conflate Heidi and Gisele’s roles because they were the two biggest "Angels" at the time. But Heidi’s involvement was purely about legitimacy. The production needed famous faces to prove that Miranda Priestly was, indeed, the center of the universe. If Heidi Klum is at your show, your show matters.
Sorta funny when you think about it—a woman who usually commands the entire room had to play second fiddle to a fictional editor for a few frames of film.
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Why This Matters Now
We are currently in a massive mid-2000s nostalgia cycle. The "Cerulean" monologue is a TikTok staple. Gen Z has discovered the movie and is obsessed with the "villainization" of Nate (the boyfriend).
Bringing Heidi back for the sequel isn't just a fun easter egg; it's a strategic move to link the two eras. The fashion landscape of 2006—where print editors held all the power—is gone. In 2026, the power lies with the people who can command an audience across platforms.
Heidi Klum has stayed relevant for twenty years by doing exactly that.
Seeing her interact with an older, perhaps slightly more vulnerable Miranda Priestly is going to be a fascinating "meta" moment. Is Heidi playing a version of herself who now owns a rival media company? Or is she still the iconic model, now a "legend" in the industry?
Actionable Insights for Fans and Watchers
If you're gearing up for the sequel release (currently slated for May 2026), here is how to prepare:
- Re-watch the Paris sequence: Specifically the James Holt show. Look to the left of Miranda Priestly in the front row. That’s where you’ll find the original Heidi Klum cameo.
- Watch the credits: Most people miss the secondary cameos like Nigel Barker and Robert Verdi. It gives you a sense of who was "brave" enough to defy the real-life Vogue rumors at the time.
- Follow the set leaks: Keep an eye on New York City filming updates. The outfits Heidi has been spotted in suggest her character (or "herself") has a lot more to do this time around than just sit and clap.
- Note the wardrobe shift: In the original, the clothes were very "Prada/Chanel" centric. In the new set photos, Heidi is wearing a mix of classic luxury and modern, edgy silhouettes, which hints at the sequel's theme of the "new" fashion world vs. the "old."
The presence of Heidi Klum in both films acts as a timeline. She was there when the "Devil" was at her peak, and she’s back to see what happens when the empire starts to crumble.
That's all.