An Eastern Suburbs man who unwittingly became a viral sensation after accidentally crashing a Fashion Week runway show has broken his silence. David Handley made headlines on Tuesday when he wandered straight into the middle of COMMAS' runway show at Tamarama while heading to the beach for a swim. Dressed in a relaxed beach outfit, he strolled onto the sand, completely unfazed by the fact he was sharing the shoreline with an exclusive fashion show. Within moments, he stripped off his shirt, stretched out on the sand, and casually jogged into the surf for a dip, while models glided past him in designer looks just metres away.
Now, just a day after becoming an online star, David has broken his silence in an interview with the Today show. Speaking to a reporter at the very same staircase on Tamarama beach, he recalled the moment he realised he had unknowingly joined a parade of models. 'When I got to the top of the stairs yesterday, I saw the model, and I thought, 'Well, surely someone's going to be controlling the stairs'. If the show's begun, they must be coming down here together,' he said. 'And when I got to about here, I suddenly went, 'I'm the lead model,'' he added, pointing to a spot on the stairs.
David is the well-known entrepreneur and founder of the iconic Sculpture by the Sea, Australia's largest annual outdoor sculpture exhibition, which he has been organising for the past 30 years. The footage of his accidental runway debut was shared by digital media outlet Refinery29 Australia, whose caption summed it up perfectly: 'COMMAS took AFW to the beach this morning, and Sydney immediately reminded us who actually owns it... Honestly, very on brand for all of us.' Followers quickly took to the comment section to share their amusement. 'This just made my morning,' one person wrote. 'Unbothered and well within rights. Honestly as the brand I'd be stoked with this coverage too. Perfect,' said another. 'My fave from AFW so far,' added a third.
The amusing moment came during a chaotic start to Fashion Week's beachfront programming, after torrential rain the night before sent guests and influencers into meltdown at a separate Carla Zampatti showcase. Some of the nation's most glamorous influencers were caught in the downpour, risking their blow-dries for a chance to attend the ultra-exclusive catwalk. A sudden downpour left models and guests scrambling for cover. 'Celebrities in the front row were absolutely panicking. The second the drizzle started, it became a full-blown frenzy,' one insider told Daily Mail. 'Some people laughed and used a Carla Zampatti flyer to protect themselves, umbrellas were flying up, and everyone was desperately trying to shield their outfits.' Among those caught in the deluge was Tammy Hembrow, whose boyfriend Grayson Te Moana attempted to shield her hair from the rain with his jacket, though the attempt backfired. Showpo founder Jane Lu was seen with a leather jacket draped over her freshly-styled hair, while Married At First Sight star Carina Mirabile squinted through the downpour.
