Doja Cat was ill during her memorable fashion moment. In an interview with L’Officiel, the 27-year-old rapper admits to having stomach problems while covered in 30,000 hand-placed Swarovski crystals during Paris Fashion Week.
Doja tells the outlet that she “wanted to do something really major” for the Schiaparelli presentation and that she fell “in love” with the sketches she received ahead of time.
“I arrived in Paris and did a few shows before Schiaparelli.” It was super smooth, super easy, and super fun. “I didn’t realize I had to get up at four a.m. [the day of the show]to get there by five or something.” “So we get there, and I didn’t realize I had gastroenteritis until I sat down in the chair.” So I became extremely ill.”
Doja began to “feel the twirling of a knife” in her stomach while watching the show.
“Everyone on the crew was so nice. “The entire makeup team was so understanding, sensitive, and kind,” she says.
“It was fantastic and extremely professional. I tried to make light of the situation by making jokes, but it only got worse as time went on.”
“My stomach felt like there was a blade in it, and it was just spinning at 100 miles per hour,” Doja continues. “I’ve never felt more pain — and on one of the most important days of my life!” So there were a lot of emotions and just crazy feelings.”
Doja “had my arms out, I was sitting down, and I had underwear and a bandeau on” while her glam squad worked their magic.
“They started with a layer of red paint, and they just covered me in that, and then a layer of glue, and I think they dusted glitter on top,” she recalls. “Then there were the crystals.” And I’d have one, two, three, or four people on my body at the same time, all around me, working on different parts of my body.”
Doja says the entire experience was “definitely” worth it, despite the hours-long process and her illness, adding, “I’m very, very proud of it.”
Doja says she’s “down to sacrifice my comfort” and will “do anything for that fantasy that I have in my head.”
“In my personal life, I think I really enjoy finding the balance between being comfortable and doing something exciting with whatever I’m wearing,” she says. “And it’s almost like a game to me.”
