Float like a butterfly, model for Louis V—boxing legend Muhammad Ali is the new face of Louis Vuitton.
Starting June 14, 70-year-old Ali will appear with his adorable 3-year-old grandson Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr. in a Louis Vuitton advertisement. The ad will show up in newspapers and magazines in 60 countries.
The ad, shot by Annie Leibowitz in Ali’s backyard in Phoenix, shows the boxer watching over the three-year-old, who looks like a mini Ali wearing boxing gloves and staring into the camera. The $1,525 Louis Vuitton “Keepall 50” bag is at Ali’s feet.
The boxer’s wife, Lonnie Ali, told The Wall Street Journal that Ali specifically requested that Curtis be in the photo with him.
“The two share a special bond,” she said. “Of all the grandchildren, C.J. looks the most like Muhammad. And he even acts like him.”
While Curtis definitely has the model stare down (future Tyson Beckford, anyone?), the pair wasn’t chosen for the ad because of their looks. Their photo is part of Louis Vuitton’s “Core Values” campaign, which showcases celebrities who have undergone a powerful life journey.
The campaign, which aims “to inspire the next generation of adventurers,” started in 2007 and has featured former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, soccer great Pelé and Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson. The most recent “Core Values” advertisement featured Angelina Jolie looking gorgeous on a boat in Cambodia.
What do you think, collegiettes™? Could Muhammad Ali and his grandson be America’s Next Top Models? Sound off in the comments below!