When I heard top model Cicely was on a plane to Vienna to walk in Jean Paul Gaultier’s show I thought; I want to know all about this. So I sent Cicely a message asking her if she would like to keep a diary for us. And hurrah, she said yes. So without further ado here’s an insight into one of the most exclusive events of the year.

Cicely: “Last Saturday I flew off to Vienna where the 23rd edition of the Life Ball was being held. I was to walk a show for my favorite designer Jean Paul Gaultier. The Life Ball is an extravagant benefit that jubilantly highlights the battle against HIV. Their motto is: Fighting AIDS & Celebrating Life!

On arrival the scale of it all and the creative decor baffled me. Butterflies fluttered up and I became nervous. I had no clue what was about to happen to me.

The theme was ‘Ver Sacrum’, an old Roman festival of spring. The entire premises, including the Vienna city hall, were transformed into a gold colored carnival setting. Everyone was elaborately dressed. People and celebrities all walked around wearing extravagant costumes. I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life.

Walking the runway for the French designer Jean Paul Gaultier is a blast but the show being planned during Life Ball was the cherry on the cake. Gustav Klimt inspired Jean Paul’s collection.

During the fitting Jean Paul assigned me a gorgeous green flowered dress, loved it, lucky me. The blue wig that went with the dress was put aside. Jean preferred my red hair instead. So I gingerly walked down the runway. Score!

While 25.000 dressed-up people were listening to Mary J. Blige, Conchita Wurst (winner Eurovision Song contest 2014) and speeches by Charlize Theron and Sean Penn, things were crazy backstage. I met the most flamboyant people: Amanda Lepore, Yasmine Petty, Kelly Osbourne and Dita von Teese.

At the after party in the city hall all the models, stars and 5000 dressed-up guests partied on.

Everyone felt the ecstatic, creative and bizarre atmosphere and I met so many wonderful people. I’m still tingling. The next morning I flew back to Amsterdam. The spectacular Life Ball felt like a wonderful dream, it was a fantastic adventure.

Picture’s: Jarno Boom & moi