I’ve clocked a lot of hours in crowded press pens and along those red-carpet barriers where everyone’s leaning forward and shouting names at once. After years of watching launches, premieres, and fashion week chaos, patterns start to jump out. Styles repeat. Looks recycle. The same ideas come back wearing new labels.
But what’s been showing up lately, especially these past few months, doesn’t feel like the usual loop. The mood has moved away from the fragile, barely-there look and toward something more grounded and strong. You can see it straight away in how people carry themselves.
Height alone isn’t the headline anymore. Effort is. Shape is. Movement is. When someone like Margot Robbie or Olivia Dean steps out, the attention isn’t only on the outfit. The camera lenses pick up posture, muscle tone, and the way they stand and walk. It reads as active, not posed. Even the photographers call out different cues now, more focused on stance and stride than just angles. That shift has been building quietly, and now it’s obvious.
So if you’re wondering who’s currently setting the bar for the most stunning women with gorgeous legs, here’s the lowdown on the icons owning 2026.
Margot Robbie: The Queen of “Gothic Grit”
I really thought Margot Robbie overload had already peaked during the big Barbie stretch, when everything felt dipped in pink, and you couldn’t scroll two seconds without seeing another themed look. It honestly seemed like there was nowhere higher for it to go.
Then this Wuthering Heights press tour started, and the whole mood flipped. She’s moved away from the glossy doll style and, with her longtime stylist Andrew Mukamal, gone toward something darker and more old-world in tone, almost storybook gothic but still sharp.
Just yesterday at the Paris premiere at Le Grand Rex, she walked out in a custom Chanel gown by Matthieu Blazy that was pure drama. It was this deep burgundy silk velvet with a corset that looked like it belonged in a museum. Because the velvet draped all the way to a sweeping train, her legs weren’t actually on display this time, but that almost made the impact stronger.
The silhouette was so structured and commanding that you could just feel the athletic power behind the walk. It wasn’t about showing skin; it was about the frame. She’s currently a major reference for most stunning women with gorgeous legs because she carries herself with this “strong and capable” energy that’s a world away from the fragile, ultra-thin runway look. It’s a masterclass in how to do high-fashion gothic romance with a physique that looks genuinely healthy and real. Honestly, it’s the most like “Margot” she’s appeared in a long time.
Olivia Dean: The London “Cool Girl” Done Good
If Olivia Dean still isn’t on your radar, that’s worth fixing. She’s quickly become one of the most interesting style names out of the UK. At the 2026 Grammys this week, she didn’t just pose and move on. She changed the feel of the carpet a bit.
She wore a custom Chanel look that caught people off guard. The sequinned black bodice pulled in the camera flashes, but the high-low hem was the real talking point. That cut often feels overused, yet here it worked because it followed her movement instead of fighting it.
She carries herself with a tall, old-school stage presence. The dress highlighted her line and posture, especially her dancer-trained legs, and nothing about it felt stiff. Even in a big gown, she looked relaxed, not staged.
Back in London, she’s also one of the few making the kilt-style mini trend look natural. For many people, it feels forced. On her, it reads like personal style, helped by her height and athletic shape. When she looks stunning, it feels like attitude first, outfit second.
Hailey Bieber: Making the “No Trousers” Trend Actually Work
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that the “day knicker” trend, wearing tailored jackets with basically nothing underneath, sounds like a recipe for a cold or a public decency charge. But Hailey Bieber has somehow made it the defining look of early 2026.
Whether she’s in Beverly Hills or NYC, she’s been living in these thigh-grazing blazers and micro-shorts. Just a few days ago, she was spotted in a Persian wool coat with a curved hem that stopped right at the top of the thigh. The reason she pulls it off?
It’s the sheer definition in her legs. She doesn’t look like she’s skimping on clothes; she looks like she’s showing off the results of a serious gym regimen. She’s become the primary inspiration for that “sculpted leg” aesthetic that’s absolutely everywhere.
Jakara Anthony: The Athlete Taking Over Fashion
The most brilliant thing about 2026 is seeing world-class athletes like Jakara Anthony getting the same fashion “props” as supermodels. The Australian mogul skier is currently trending ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and her physique is a massive part of that.
She’s got “powerhouse” legs, the kind you only get from navigating brutal mountain slopes. When she appeared as the Vogue Australia January cover star, it wasn’t about being “waif-like.” It was about the “spice” and poise of an elite athlete. It feels like we’re finally moving away from the “skinny at all costs” nonsense and moving toward a standard that actually celebrates what a human body can achieve.
Zendaya: The Architect of Proportions
Zendaya is basically a cheat code at this point. Standing at nearly 1.8 m, she’s got proportions that don’t seem real. In her latest luxury campaigns for Spring 2026, she’s been wearing these heavily structured, long-lined looks that make her legs look like they go on for days.
What I love about her is how she uses her frame. She doesn’t just “wear” a mini-dress; she uses it to create these architectural shapes. She’s consistently at the top of any list for celebrities with the most gorgeous legs because she understands the power of a vertical line. It’s “modern glamour” at its most precise.
Carrie Johnson: The Surprise Holiday Trend
This was a bit of a “wait, what?” moment in early February. Carrie Johnson shared some holiday photos from the Cayman Islands on February 3rd, and for a few days, it was all anyone in the UK lifestyle press could talk about. She was in a turquoise striped swimsuit, looking incredibly fit.
The reaction wasn’t political for once; it was mostly Hello! Magazines and others are pointing out her long, toned legs. It sparked this huge conversation about “mum-strength” and the “active look” after she mentioned recovering from a rough bout of flu. She looked exceptionally at peace, and it’s that natural, unfussy look that’s becoming a huge trend this year.
Rose Byrne: The “Woman of the Year” Glow
Rose Byrne is having an absolute blinder of a year. She just picked up a Golden Globe for her film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, which is a bit on the nose, given our topic and was named Harvard’s 2026 Woman of the Year last week.
Her red carpet appearances lately have been stellar. She’s always had a lean, elegant build, but there’s a new “grit” to her. She’s been opting for these edgy looks that highlight a very toned, athletic frame. She looks strong, versatile, and, quite frankly, like someone who puts in the hours at the gym. It’s a very 2026 version of “stunning”.
Sabrina Carpenter: High Slits and Big Energy
Sabrina Carpenter turned up to the 2026 Grammys in a custom Valentino gown by Alessandro Michele that featured layers of ruffles and a dreamy, fairy-tale feel. But let’s be honest, it was the silhouette that did the heavy lifting.
Even though she isn’t as tall as some of the others on this list, she knows exactly how to work her angles. Her stylist, Jared Ellner, uses these high-slit silhouettes to create an “elongated” effect. It’s all about the drama.
She’s got this “sculpted” look down to a science, and she’s probably the reason the “high-slit” is the most requested dress style for Spring 2026.
Bella Hadid: The Indie Sleaze Revival
Bella Hadid is a big reason that rough, late-night “indie sleaze” style is showing up everywhere again in 2026. The look used to feel messy and cheap, all flash photos, torn tights, and smudged makeup. On her, it lands differently. The same pieces somehow read sharper and more put-together.
Her recent street shots lean heavily on vintage layers and longer lines instead of that ultra-polished, spotless trend from a few years back. The shift is not just in the clothes. The attitude changed, too. She looks more grounded and present, less like a mannequin built for a runway theme.
Her legs were always a standout feature, but now they look stronger and more athletic than before. There’s real tone there, not just thinness. The fragile model she once had isn’t the focus anymore. She’s a clear example of how the most stunning women with gorgeous legs right now are moving away from skinny and toward solid and sculpted.
Why 2026 feels different
The wildest part about this shift? It’s not just a Hollywood thing. This “strong is the new stunner” vibe is filtering down into real life. Walk into any gym in East London right now, and you’ll see that the squat racks are packed, and “leg day” has officially stopped being a “blokes only” club. We’ve finally hit a point where the most envied bodies are the ones that look like they can actually do something.
Whether it’s the moody, gothic power of Margot Robbie or the elite, mountain-shredding muscle of Jakara Anthony, 2026’s beauty standard has finally made room for strength. Honestly, it’s about time. I’d much rather look at a red carpet full of women who look like they could sprint a mile than a group of people who look like they’d tip over in a stiff breeze.
So, who’s your pick for the most commanding look of the year so far? Are you ready to dive into the “no trousers” trend, or are we all just going to stick with our trusty bootcuts and watch from the sidelines?
FAQs: The 2026 Leg Trend
Who is the top icon for this trend right now?
Margot Robbie blazes the trail. As for her recent red carpet appearances, they’ve gone in a new direction, away from the “Barbie” look and into something more muscled rather than glamorously thin.
What exactly is the “No Trousers” trend?
It’s a daring style worn by the likes of Hailey Bieber. That means super-baggy blazers, long coats or knits (whether worn with micro-shorts or sheer tights) that eliminate any need for traditional pants, all the better to throw the spotlight on those pins.
How is the beauty standard changing in 2026?
There’s a huge trend away from the “waif” look. The new gold standard: “sculpted power” celebrating legs that look powerful, toned and even athletically competent rather than simply lean.
Is this trend only for tall celebrities?
Not at all. Sabrina Carpenter and Rose Byrne are among the icons proving you don’t need to be six feet tall to own the room. It’s really down to how you tailor something, where the slits start and confidence.”
What’s the “London Cool” version of this look?
The UK’s Olivia Dean has mastered the “kilt-over-jeans” and high-low hemline. It’s a means of displaying a long-lined, athletic silhouette without having to step on a Hollywood red carpet.
Sources and References
- Marie Claire (February 1, 2026): Olivia Dean’s Chanel Dress at the 2026 Grammys
- W Magazine (February 2, 2026): Margot Robbie’s Custom Chanel Premiere Look for Wuthering Heights
- Red Carpet Fashion Awards (February 2, 2026): Margot Robbie in Burgundy Chanel at the Le Grand Rex, Paris
- Vogue Australia (January 2026 Issue): Jakara Anthony: Power, Speed, and the High-Performance Silhouette
- Hello! Magazine (February 3, 2026): Carrie Johnson Poses in Swimsuit During Cayman Islands Family Holiday
- BroadwayWorld (January 28, 2026): Rose Byrne Named 2026 Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year by Harvard
- The Times of India (February 2, 2026): Grammys 2026: Hailey Bieber in Custom Alaïa Gown
- Who What Wear (February 2, 2026): Hailey Bieber’s Grown-Up “Naked Dress” Evolution at the Grammys
