Quick summary
- Hudson Williams, star of Heated Rivalry, is now tied to two major fashion houses.
- In February 2026 Balenciaga named him a brand ambassador, which the label calls a “friend of the house”, according to Gay Times.
- Out reported in May 2026 that he is also a Bulgari ambassador and appears in a new campaign for the jewellery house.
- His Bulgari pieces had already been seen at the Golden Globes, the Oscars and the Met Gala.
Hudson Williams has gone from a breakout television role to the face of two of fashion’s best-known names. The Heated Rivalry actor, 25 at the time of the Balenciaga announcement, now carries ambassador titles at Balenciaga and Bulgari, and those deals are a large part of why he keeps turning up in fashion coverage.
Balenciaga: a “friend of the house”
On 17 February 2026, Gay Times reported that Williams is the face of Balenciaga’s “Heart and Body” campaign. The campaign shows the brand’s Fall 2026 collection and features a mix of Canadian talent and other entertainment figures, among them Winona Ryder, Harris Dickinson and Labrinth.
The campaign also works as an announcement. According to Gay Times, it officially names Williams a brand ambassador, a role Balenciaga describes as a “friend of the house”. The outlet quotes him from a GQ interview calling the move to the label, led by creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, a “great fit”.
The timing sits inside a busy few months. Gay Times lists magazine covers, a Tonight Show appearance, presenting at the Golden Globes and carrying the Olympic torch among his recent milestones. None of those are brand deals, but together they show how quickly his profile has grown.
Bulgari: red carpet jewels, then a campaign
The Bulgari relationship is longer-running and more visible. Out reported on 15 May 2026 that Williams is a Bulgari brand ambassador and that a new viral campaign is his latest collaboration with the jewellery house.
In the shoot he wears a black T-shirt, a leather jacket and Bulgari jewellery. Out singles out a short video in which he bites his finger as the moment fans picked up on.
The campaign follows a run of red carpet appearances in Bulgari pieces, as Out lists them:
- a serpent necklace at the Golden Globes
- a jewel-encrusted statement brooch and silver hoop earrings at the Oscars
- a diamond necklace, rings and earrings at the Met Gala
Out includes no direct quotes from Williams or Bulgari about the deal, so the terms and length of the arrangement are not public.
Why the deals matter
Fashion houses typically look for a new face at the moment a name is rising fastest. Williams fits that pattern: a role that drew a large audience, followed within months by a major European label and a luxury jeweller. The two partnerships also sit in different corners of the industry, ready-to-wear on one side and high jewellery on the other, which widens his reach beyond fans of the series.
Some limits apply. The sources reviewed here cover the Balenciaga and Bulgari announcements. A recent AugustMan Singapore roundup of his brand deals could not be opened for this article, so nothing from it is used, and any other partnerships are not covered here.
What happens next
Balenciaga’s campaign is built around its Fall 2026 collection, so further imagery from the label may follow. Neither house has announced anything beyond the campaigns already reported. For more on his career, see everything we have published about Hudson Williams, including Hudson Williams Instagram clean-up sparks fan theories, or browse our Fashion coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Which brands has Hudson Williams signed with?
Reporting from Gay Times and Out confirms Balenciaga, which calls him a “friend of the house”, and Bulgari, where he is a brand ambassador.
What is the Balenciaga “Heart and Body” campaign?
It is the label’s campaign for its Fall 2026 collection. Williams appears alongside Winona Ryder, Harris Dickinson and Labrinth, according to Gay Times.
Where has Hudson Williams worn Bulgari jewellery?
Out lists the Golden Globes, the Oscars and the Met Gala, each with different pieces.
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