Two Indianapolis kids barely old enough for preschool just walked a New York City runway in front of DJ Khaled, Ice-T and a handful of Knicks players. Zoe Turner, 3, and her brother Kai, 4, modeled for Nike at the Rookie Kids Runway on Broadway show for the second year in a row, and the whirlwind trip also gave them their very first airplane ride.
The show, presented by Macy's, was hosted this year by New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, according to WISH-TV. Zoe and Kai walked for Nike, the station reports, one of several brands represented on the runway that day. The siblings had practiced proper walking techniques, smiling and posing ahead of the show, per the same account, turning what could have been nerve-wracking into a performance they'd clearly rehearsed.
It wasn't all smooth strutting, though. At one point Zoe got spooked by the Lola Bunny mascot roaming the event, but she pushed through and continued down the runway anyway, the station notes. Several NBA players reportedly recorded the kids as they walked, and DJ Khaled's wife even waved to Kai — a small moment that, for a 4-year-old, probably rivaled the runway itself.
A Family Connection to New York Sports
The Turner siblings' ties to New York extend beyond the runway. Their uncle is Indianapolis native and New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., according to WISH-TV's report. For the family, the trip doubled as a chance to represent Indianapolis on a major fashion stage while also flying for the first time — a milestone the kids reportedly enjoyed as much as the show itself.
Their father, 29-year-old Charles Turner, told the station that watching his children participate fulfilled something personal for him: he once dreamed of becoming a model himself. He said he'll support Zoe and Kai if they want to keep modeling and continue enjoying it, framing the trip less as a career launch and more as a shared family experience.
A Star-Studded Lineup on Broadway
The Turner kids were far from the only young talent on the runway. WISH-TV reports the show featured celebrities including DJ Khaled, DaBaby, A Boogie, Ice-T, Coco and Lil' Kim, alongside several New York Knicks players making the event feel like as much a celebrity meetup as a children's fashion show.
Brunson's own hosting duties came with a personal twist — he made what Vogue called his own unexpected runway debut, walking alongside his wife, Ali, and their daughter, Jordyn, who wore a tiny Knicks jersey bearing her father's number 11. Vogue also notes Brunson is slated to guest star on an episode of Law & Order: SVU in November, timed before the 2026-2027 NBA season tips off in late October.
Other notable families joined the runway lineup too. Craig Melvin's children, Delano, 12, and Sybil, 9, also walked, with Sybil in a Levi's dress and Delano in a Nike ensemble featuring Jordan 1s, according to HELLO!. According to sfl.media, the event showcased children's clothing from brands including Nike, Levi's, Lacoste and Abercrombie Kids, and also featured Knicks guard Josh Hart's family along with Ice-T and Coco Austin's daughter, Chanel.
The Rookie Kids Runway on Broadway franchise has built a track record of mixing celebrity families with young first-time models. Last year's show was hosted by Ciara and partnered with Ciara and Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation, according to bckonline.com, and that same 2025 edition marked the runway debut of Josh Hart's twin sons. For the Turner family back in Indianapolis, this year's trip added one more chapter to that tradition — and gave two young siblings a story about their first flight that happened to end on a runway in Manhattan.
