Inside Model Aaron Rose Philip’s First Pride March—as Grand Marshal, No Less 

You could feel the sense of love and community in the air at Sunday’s Pride Parade in New York City. After a tough year with the pandemic, New Yorkers gathered in-person to celebrate and uplift the LGBTQ+ community, marching through the streets—as is tradition—with their best rainbow flags and glittered signs. Every year, a handful of Grand Marshals act as the leaders of said march. For 2021, trailblazing model Aaron Rose Philip was one such honoree, alongside actor Wilson Cruz, author-activist Ceyenne Doroshow, and more. “To be Grand Marshal is an incredible honor from my community,” Philip told Vogue. “To have them see me so profoundly, and with so much love and respect, I don t take that lightly at all.” Clad in custom Moschino, she partook in the parade alongside the label’s designer Jeremy Scott, and documented the whole special day for Vogue.

Yesterday’s parade was Philip’s first time at the event, and she says she couldn’t have imagined a better person to make her debut with than her close friend Scott. “I’m happy to share this moment with him,” Philip says. “He has been such an angel in my life. He’s been in my corner and has really stuck his neck out for me and my interests, and sees me for exactly who I am.” The appreciation is mutual; Scott says Philip is in a league of her own. “Her personal passion to shine her light on other trans women who are in need of a spotlight is something that I find so admirable and endearing,” says Scott. “She’s not just breaking barriers for herself—she’s working to do it for so many others as well.” 

Photo: John Novotny

Given the momentous feel of the day, Scott knew he wanted to create something one-of-a-kind for Philip—and he knew she would be game for something completely fabulous. “I love her enthusiasm for fashun,” says Scott. “She loves to take risks and turn lewks and play with fashion in such a wonderful and buoyant way. I wanted her to feel beautiful and confident on this magical day, and felt that my role was to support my friend and muse.” He ended up sketching three different designs for her, utilizing flouncy chiffon. Philip ended up choosing a custom blue, one shoulder silk-chiffon mini dress, complete with a frilled hem and multicolored crystal embellishments. “It’s one of the most beautiful things that I’ve ever seen,” says Philip. “I felt really honored to be wearing that because it feels so vibrant, sexy, and appropriate for the occasion.” The final creation was handmade in Los Angeles and took two days of sewing and cutting as well as two days of patterning the dress. 

Giving the “full fantasy,” Philip finished off the look with ultra-glam hair by John Novotny and makeup by Grey Hoffman (she gets bonus points for matching her eye shadow to the dress). “It’s giving supermodel,” Philip says. But yesterday was about more than just making a fashion statement for the parade. “Pride is about celebrating oneself and authenticity, and really doing something to uplift yourself and the people around you,” she says. “It was a very symbolic Pride. Pride is about getting back to life with each other again.” But now that Pride Month is coming to a close, don’t expect Philip to stop channelling that feisty, confident energy either. “I want to work on some personal projects, but I also want to enjoy my summer, and have a Hot Girl Summer,” she says. 

Below, a look inside Philip’s Pride parade.