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After World Boxing made gender testing mandatory, a decision that prevented Imane Khelif from competing, the 26-year-old has stayed away from the ring. In the meantime, however, she’s turned her focus elsewhere. The Algerian boxer appears to have put the memories of the 2024 Paris Olympics behind her as she returned to the city this past Monday. 

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Videos circulating on social media show Khelif stepping out of a black sedan in a custom silk trouser suit by Chanel. The Olympic gold medalist attended Paris Fashion Week, taking a front-row seat at the Chanel Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show. Her outfit reportedly cost upward of £4,000 (approximately $4,643). Now, Khelif is sharing her experience with fans online.

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Imane Khelif joins Kendall Jenner

Earlier today, the 26-year-old shared pictures from the semi-annual event, including her arrival and a selfie with model Kendall Jenner. “Attending Fashion Week Paris with the iconic House of Chanel was an unforgettable honor,” she captioned the post. “I express my sincere gratitude to the brilliant designer [Matthieu Blazy] whose creations illuminated this remarkable event.”

“Elegance, heritage, and art — an everlasting celebration of beauty,” she concluded. Notably, this comes after BEL*NCO, a fashion brand rooted in her home country, announced Khelif as the new face of their company. The brand wrote on Instagram, “Confidence takes the stage. We are proud to announce Imane Khelif as the face of BEL*NCO. She embodies strength, resilience, and grace.”

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It’s also worth mentioning that her former representative, Nasser Yesfah, recently claimed Khelif had retired from boxing. However, she quickly dismissed those reports, stating, “I would like to make it clear to the public that the reports of my retirement from boxing are false.” She further alleged that Yesfah had betrayed her trust by making false statements, adding, “This person no longer represents me in any way.”

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Regardless, fans flooded Khelif’s latest post with praise, celebrating her poise and success beyond the boxing ring.

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Pedro Pascal dragged into the mix

Since her controversy in the Paris Olympics, the 26-year-old has built a massive fanbase across social media. One user praised her looks. “Simply stunning 😍. Fortunately, fame has reached the right person. You deserve all this affection, my queen. I love you forever ❤️,” the user wrote. However, Khelif continues to struggle to compete in boxing. 

Another user loved to see Khelif and Kendall Jenner together. “That pic with Kendall 🥹 two gorgeous girls ❤️,” the user wrote. Notably, this is not their first meeting. They met in last year’s fashion week as well. 

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Someone else showered Khelif with compliments. “You looked so beautiful and elegant, Imane mashallah 😍😍😍,” the user commented, reflecting most of the comments on the post. 

The next user brought Pedro Pascal into the mix. “Kendall, Pedro Pascal AND Imane Khelif in ONE PIC 😮😮❤️,” the user wrote. Pascal is, of course, a famous Hollywood actor who was also attending the event. 

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Another user claimed Jenner had become her fan. “Kendall is your fan at this point,” the user wrote. The pair appears to have struck up a friendship since they first met. 

Having said that, it appears that even though Imane Khelif isn’t ready to leave boxing behind, the fashion world is calling her name. What did you think of Khelif’s appearance in fashion week?

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Written by

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Sudeep Sinha

4,771 Articles

Sudeep Sinha is a Golf Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the storylines around the sport's biggest events and names. He previously spent over two years writing in the Boxing department, where his fight-night coverage was featured on Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports, including his reporting on Ryan Garcia's career arc. On the golf beat, Sudeep covers tour news, player form, and the season-long storylines that shape the men's and women's game, from majors to the ongoing shifts in how professional golf is structured. That same appetite for detail that made his boxing coverage stand out now shows up in how he breaks down a swing change or a schedule shakeup for hardcore and casual fans alike. Outside work, he splits his time between reading, cycling, and following combat sports.

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Syed Rahil Ahmed

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