Dakota Johnson Named Global Ambassador for Valentino
Valentino has officially named Dakota Johnson as its new Global Brand Ambassador, marking both a new creative chapter for the Roman couture house and a heartfelt reunion with Alessandro Michele, the brand’s recently appointed Creative Director. Their collaboration feels less like a corporate move and more like a continuation of a long-standing friendship rooted in shared artistry and a mutual love for beauty in all its forms.
“I’m thrilled to join the Valentino family and beyond happy to reunite with my dear friend Alessandro Michele,” said Johnson. “It’s an honor and an exciting new chapter with such a wonderful and talented team.”
For Valentino, the partnership represents “the continuation of the Maison’s ongoing dialogue with individuals who embody a shared commitment to art, elegance, and cultural resonance.” Michele, known for his emotionally charged aesthetic and human approach to fashion, finds in Johnson a modern muse — intelligent, understatedly glamorous, and deeply authentic.
Before becoming a fashion favorite, Johnson began acting at just ten years old in Crazy in Alabama (1999). Her breakout role as Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades trilogy (2015–2018) made her an international star. More recently, she starred in Splitsville, a romantic dramedy about open relationships that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and in Céline Song’s Materialists, alongside Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. In 2026, she is set to appear in Verity, a psychological romantic thriller directed by Michael Showalter and co-starring Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.
Under Michele’s new creative direction, Valentino continues to evolve its identity — merging emotion, culture, and couture in a way that feels both personal and poetic. With Dakota Johnson as its face, the brand enters this new era with a renewed sense of intimacy and sophistication — a true union of friendship and fashion.
