Australian lingerie brand Honey Birdette debuts at Miami Swim Week 2021

Aussie brand Honey Birdette used RuPaul’s Drag Race superstars to show off its new swimwear collection at Miami Swim Week. But they weren’t the only ones bringing the drama.

Fresh from being sold to Playboy’s parent company, Aussie label Honey Birdette has debuted at Miami Swim Week, using drag queens to model some of the brand’s lingerie and swimwear.

Queens Violet Chachki and Aquaria, from RuPaul’s Drag Race, were among the stars of the Honey Birdette show at Miami Paraiso, an event which is considered the pinnacle for resort style swimwear.

They weren’t the only ones bringing the drama. Model Erin Klay, who was making her Miami Swim debut, tripped and fell on the catwalk.

Violet Chachki (C) and models walk the runway for Honey Birdette at Miami Swim Week. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Honey Birdette

Taking to instagram afterwards, Klay said she was grateful brand founder Eloise Monaghan was there to help walk her down the runway.

“I fell! In the moment, it was the most mortifying thing I’ve ever done. I mean, who wants to fall in front of hundreds of people? I couldn’t even register in the moment what happened, I was so shocked. Next thing I know, @eloisemonaghan herself came out to walk with me the rest of the way, with no ounce of disappointment in her eyes, only love,” she said.

“It took every ounce of confidence I’d built for myself over the past two years to decide to change into my next outfit and go back on the runway. It would’ve been so easy to let the embarrassment hold me back. But, I took a breath, and reminded myself that confidence isn’t just being okay with showing off your body.”

Model Erin Klay after she fell on the Honey Birdette catwalk at Miami Swim Week.

Monaghan said her range of swimwear were inspired by luxe summers at the Versace mansion and Monaco and is designed for everyone.

“I always get asked ‘who’s your demographic?’, but I don’t believe in demographics anymore,” brand founder Eloise Monaghan said.

“We‘re finding that swim collections generally have been fairly tame, so we’ve taken elements from Honey Birdette’s lingerie collections and incorporated them into our swimwear,” she said.

Aquaria walks the runway for Honey Birdette. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Carmen Carrera at Miami Swim Week. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

“This collection is all about opulence and making a statement, and really becoming that showgirl who wants to be seen.”

This month Honey Birdette was bought by Playboy’s parent company PLBY Group for $US333 million.

A model walks the runway at the Camilla Show. Photo: Arun Nevader/Getty Images

Violet Chachki prepares backstage for Honey Birdette at Miami Swim Week. Photo: Aaron Davidson/Getty Images

They aren’t the only Australian brand to make their mark on the US market.

Camilla Franks showed off her trademark eclectic prints in a collection over the weekend.

This year’s event is also being praised for it’s inclusivity, with transgender stars, pregnant models, plus-size models and disability activists all being seen on the catwalk throughout the week.