Prabal Gurung Celebrates His Nepalese Upbringing in Memoir Walk Like a Girl

Condé Nast Traveler

13-05-2025

Studying Nepalese designer Prabal Gurung's multinational career across fashion and advocacy, one thing is clear: his talents are legion. From his politically provocative spring/summer 2020 collection in which models wore sashes asking, 'Who gets to be American?' to his tenure as creative director at Gold House (a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting AAPI creatives), to outfitting stars like Tessa Thompson and Diljit Dosanjh in couture for the 2025 Met Gala, Gurung often steps into the spotlight only to share it.
In his striking new memoir, Walk Like a Girl, he looks back on his glamorous career as one that grew from the unconditional love and support of his mother. While Gurung bears all the strife and prejudice he's endured as a queer South Asian man, he always credits his perseverance as stemming from an unabashed love for life inspired by the strong women who raised him. It's been 10 years since Traveler last spoke to Gurung, and I caught up with him to chat about the textures of place that inspire his designs, the destinations that rejuvenate him, and what it means to walk like a girl. Below is our conversation, edited and condensed for clarity.
In your book, it's clear that your mom was this unwaveringly supportive and encouraging figure in your life. What does it mean to 'walk like a girl,' and how does having strong female role models in your life continue to influence your work?
First of all, thank you for acknowledging that my mom is my hero, the blueprint of my strength. She was the first woman I ever saw carry the weight of the world with with elegance and tenacity. Watching her build a life for our family was my first lesson in resilience. I learned early on that elegance is a practice, not a posture. She told me that there's a power in kindness and that grace and love can be your armor and serve as a radical force in the world in terms of changing it and starting conversations.