Simone Ashley on reuniting with Aishwarya Rai at Paris Fashion Week: ‘It’s the moments we have backstage’

Simone Ashley expressed excitement about reuniting with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and other Loreal Paris ambassadors in Paris.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Hollywood actor Simone Ashley shared some warm moments at Loreal Paris’ Le Defile 2026 during Paris Fashion Week. The two actors, who are among the brand’s global ambassadors, were seen greeting each other warmly, holding hands and posing together backstage.

Aishwarya Rai and Simone Ashley's reunion broke the internet.

Simone, who was walking for Loreal Paris for the third time, recently spoke about reuniting with Aishwarya and other ambassadors, including Eva Longoria, Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne.

‘It’s the moments we have backstage’

Speaking to Variety India, Simone said, “I think it’s the moments we have backstage when we see each other. We don’t get to spend much time together throughout the year, so it’s always really nice when we’re reunited and can catch up with each other. It’s so exciting. This is my third year walking for them, so I know a little bit more of what to expect. I’m just super excited. It’s always one of the most fun days of the year."

Simone is best known for playing Kate Sharma in the Netflix series Bridgerton, a role that brought her international recognition. Before that, she appeared as Olivia Hanan in Sex Education. Her film credits include The Little Mermaid, Picture This and The Devil Wears Prada 2, in which she plays Amari, an assistant to Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly. The sequel also stars Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.

Earlier, videos of Aishwarya and Simone warmly greeting each other went viral on social media. Several behind-the-scenes moments from the event surfaced online. Aishwarya greeted Simone with kisses before taking a seat next to her. The two were also seen holding hands as they chatted, both dressed in black ensembles, and later posed for a picture together. During the final walk on the ramp, the two were again seen holding hands.

About Aishwarya’s recent work

Aishwarya was last seen on the big screen in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: II in 2023, in which she played dual roles including Nandini. The actor has not had another theatrical release since the film. She has, however, continued to make prominent international appearances. Aishwarya attended the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, where she appeared on the red carpet in looks by Manish Malhotra and Gaurav Gupta.

At Paris Fashion Week in 2026, Aishwarya closed L'Oréal Paris’ Le Défilé in a dramatic black couture look by Yara Shoemaker. She also debuted a striking burgundy-red hair colour for the appearance.