If it had just been Laila alone in those photos, the buzz might not have been quite so explosive.
What really set things off was that her fiancé, Roy Seasonstar, appeared in the pictures as well—and they weren't just any photos. These were, unmistakably, "wedding photos"!
Roy had the classic Western look with deep-set features, which Laila felt didn't suit traditional Eastern attire, so she hadn't planned to get him a matching outfit. Instead, what he wore in the photos was… Thor's costume, Captain America's, Iron Man's, and a hilariously bulky version of the Hulk's outfit.
Four photos, four different superhero getups for Roy.
And in each one, he and Laila looked like they'd been pulled from different timelines—yet somehow, the combination of a Western superhero and an Eastern bride worked perfectly.
In the first photo, the two stood back-to-back. Their silhouettes overlapped in a way that split the scene between a serene Eastern water town and a bustling Western metropolis. Laila's background was the quiet water town; Roy, dressed as Captain America, stood before a glowing city skyline. They looked like a pair of star-crossed lovers separated by space and time—a single image that managed to evoke the longing of Romeo and Juliet.
In the second, an invisible translucent hand lifted Laila into the sky. She reached out toward Roy, who was dressed as Iron Man, floating below—but no matter how far she stretched, they remained a fist's length apart.
In the third, Laila sat atop the broad shoulders of the Hulk, pointing ahead as if guiding him on a journey.
In the fourth, Laila—straining dramatically—tried to lift Thor's hammer embedded in the ground, while Roy, dressed as Thor, stood beside her, laughing and gazing at her with tender affection.
Each photo featured a different superhero and the same Laila in her exquisite Eastern gown. Every image was like a standalone love story about a superhero saving the world and being reunited with his true love.
It was this combination of narrative depth and visually striking contrast that made the set go instantly viral.
Many fans of superheroes had long fantasized about becoming a hero—or falling in love with one.
Laila's photos turned those fantasies into visual reality. And for many, it opened their eyes to how creative and emotive photography could be.
Of course, another huge factor behind the explosion of attention was the breathtaking beauty of Laila's Eastern wedding gown, along with the couple's undeniable good looks.
The actors who played those superheroes were themselves considered attractive—Captain America's boyish charm, Iron Man's rakish charisma… Even if the Hulk didn't quite meet the same aesthetic standard, people loved him for other reasons. That photo of Laila seated on "Hulk Roy's" shoulders was soon interpreted as a modern twist on Beauty and the Beast.
With the photos going viral, the Eastern gown became a hot topic, and Roy himself got a taste of fame.
Soon, people began recreating the photos online.
Facebook was full of users posting their own versions, mimicking Laila's shoot.
Superhero costumes were easy enough to find—many comic book fans already owned some. And for those who didn't, well, Hollywood had no shortage of costume rental shops. If you wanted to dress as a superhero, there was always a way.
The superhero conversation hit a fever pitch again.
Especially since the recent release of The Avengers had just shattered box office records, the characters were still fresh in everyone's minds. So naturally, the Avengers were the most popular choices in this wave of imitations.
And with all these imitators sharing their recreations, many people were tempted to watch the movie again while it was still in theaters.
Even those who hadn't been particularly interested in superheroes—after seeing Laila's photos or the flood of imitations—were curious enough to head to the cinema, wanting to see what all the fuss was about.
As a result, The Avengers' box office, which had been gradually declining, saw an unexpected surge.
Some media outlets were quick to criticize, calling the "wedding photos" nothing more than a cheap marketing stunt, labeling it a shameless and manipulative PR ploy.
"Clearly, after realizing the box office was just a hair short of the next milestone, she revealed her claws again—once more unleashing her extraordinary genius in strategic promotion,"
One media outlet declared, echoing a sentiment that many insiders agreed with.
But so what?
Laila never said a word about promoting the movie. She didn't make a single public statement about marketing.
If people wanted to call it a stunt, let them. What movie, given the chance and budget, wouldn't jump at a little extra hype?
Public opinion didn't line up with the media's judgment. Most people didn't care whether it was a stunt or not. Laila's photos were just that beautiful, and people couldn't stop copying them.
And if other films were jealous?
Let them try something better.
Other movies often relied on scandalous gossip—leading man dating leading lady, or falling for a supporting character, or love triangles that had nothing to do with the actual plot.
People had seen so many of these stunts that they no longer believed them.
Whenever news broke about a celebrity romance, the first reaction was: What show or movie are they promoting now?
Even breakup news was seen as a marketing tactic—meant to align with a film wrapping up or going off-air.
And it wasn't just romantic rumors. Some actors would go even further to stir up attention—sometimes crossing moral lines. But they didn't care. So long as they stayed in the public eye, even being criticized was better than being ignored.
When Laila saw the flood of feedback rolling in, she couldn't stop smiling.
The four photos had had an impact far beyond what she had imagined, bringing in more than she had hoped.
The boost in box office revenue was plain to see. At the same time, Eastern fashion and embroidery began to shift long-held Western biases.
Some who had always viewed the East through the lens of a hundred years ago were finally realizing: this country still possessed exquisite handcrafted artistry.
Not just porcelain.
Not just museum relics.
But needle and thread brought to life, embroidery that seemed to carry a soul of its own.
Janet was one of the many who had fallen under the spell of the embroidery.
After seeing those photos, she immediately flew to Hollywood, leaving her son behind to hole up in Beverly Hills, obsessing over the intricate patterns and the Eastern spirit woven into those garments.
She was ecstatic.
She had always enjoyed using embroidery in her designs. But like most designers, she had relied on ornate French embroidery—with its abundance of gems, beads, sequins, and other lavish elements.
Yes, that kind of design could be elegant and high-end. But to Janet, it had become repetitive. She'd been wanting a change for a while.