The 24 Most Surprising Met Gala Red Carpet Moments of All Time
The Met Gala is fashion's biggest night, full stop! The first Monday in May is a celebration of fashion and its enduring, ever-changing influence, and the exclusive fundraiser has become a major red carpet event. The Met Gala brings together the biggest names in fashion, music, art, sports, social media, television, and film, all dressed in their best to align with the theme. The Met Gala is the night to make a statement, and sometimes, those statements do more than just turn heads: they go viral, and remain in our collective consciousness even years later.
Because the Met Gala has become such a cultural event over the past fifteen years, it's also the perfect time for attendees to debut a new hair color, wear something shocking or opulent, or take a big fashion risk. If there's one guarantee, it's that the Met Gala will have us talking long after the stars have exited the Met steps and made their way into the halls of the art museum, out of sight but always in our minds.
If you're looking to reminisce, here are 24 of the most surprising red carpet moments from Met Gala history.
- Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images1/22
Rihanna Announces Her Pregnancy, 2025
Rihanna revealed her second pregnancy at the Super Bowl, and upped the ante for her third baby bump reveal at the 2025 “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” Met Gala. Fans had speculated that the star was pregnant with her third child, but she made it official in her Marc Jacobs outfit. Baby Rocki Irish Mayers was born in September 2025.
- Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images2/22
Florence Pugh Shows Off Her Buzz Cut, 2024
Why not debut a major, major hair change at the Met Gala? Florence Pugh did when she attended in 2024, pairing her freshly shaved head with a dramatic feathered headpiece.
- Gotham/Getty Images3/22
Tyla in a Sand Gown, 2024
At the “Garden of Time" gala in 2024, Tyla stunned us all in a Balmain gown made from literal sand, which was absolutely beautiful and super fragile. The musician had to be carried up the stairs, and once she arrived at the Gala, the delicate dress was altered for comfort. Don't miss her hourglass handbag!
- Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images4/22
Zendaya Changes Her Outfit, 2024
Usually celebs stay in their Met Gala outfit for at least most of the night, but Zendaya changed things up when serving as co-chair at the 2024 Gala. She walked the carpet first in a blue Maison Margiela gown, but then appeared again before the event started in a gorgeous archival Givenchy and massive floral hat. She even changed her makeup. And a new Met Gala goal was born!
- Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images5/22
Doja Cat as a Cat, 2023
We had a feeling we might see a few odes to Karl Lagerfeld's beloved pet cat, Choupette, at the 2023 Met Gala dedicated to the designer, and Doja Cat took that inspiration to the next level complete with cat ears, a fluffy train, and an eerily life-like prosthetic nose. Proving her commitment to the bit, she only responded in meows during her red carpet interview with Emma Chamberlain.
- Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images6/22
Lil Nas X as a Cat, 2023
Lil Nas X also channeled Choupette and walked the red carpet in nothing but a pair of platform boots, a thong, and thousands of crystals, according to makeup artist Pat McGrath.
- NDZ/Star Max/GC Images/Getty7/22
Kim Kardashian in Marilyn Monroe's Dress, 2022
The most shocking moment of the 2022 Met Gala, “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” was Kim Kardashian wearing Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress from 1962. The star delicately stepped on the red carpet (with newly bleached blonde hair) in the extremely fragile piece pulled from Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum, which also gifted Kim with a piece of the late star's hair.
Kim only really wore Marilyn's actual dress for a few minutes on the red carpet and then had to change into a replica before entering the actual event. This kickstarted a conversation about whether or not it's appropriate to wear such historically and culturally relevant garments on the red carpet, with some claiming Kardashian caused damage to the priceless dress.
- Theo Wargo/Getty Images8/22
Cara Delevingne in a Statement Tank, 2021
“Peg the patriarchy?” Cara Delevingne's Dior top definitely sparked some conversation.
- Mike Coppola/Getty Images9/22
Kim Kardashian in a Face-Obscuring Mask, 2021
At first, no one quite understood Kim Kardashian's head-to-toe black ensemble from Balenciaga at the 2021 Met Gala. It caused much confusion throughout the night, and, aside from memes galore, theories erupted throughout Twitter. The theme was American fashion history at all, and Kim's silhouette is quite prevalent in American fashion. (On her Instagram, Kim offered an alternative take: "What’s more American than a T-shirt head to toe?!")
- ANGELA WEISS/Getty Images10/22
Timothée Chalamet in Sneakers, 2021
As co-chair of the 2021 gala, everyone was excited to see what Chalamet would wear. The fashion icon surprised us all when he walked the carpet in a pair of Converse!
- Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue11/22
Frank Ocean and the Robot Baby, 2021
Frank Ocean brought a neon green baby robot to the 2021 Met Gala, and it even wiggled its little arms around as he walked the red carpet.
- Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue12/22
Billie Eilish Goes Blonde, 2021
Eilish, who was then known for her dark hair with neon roots, channeled Marilyn Monroe at the 2021 Met Gala in a sweeping peach Oscar de la Renta gown and a platinum blonde bob to match.
- Neilson Barnard/Getty Images13/22
Kim Kardashian in a Major Corset, 2019
Kim's wet-look Mugler dress from the 2019 Met Gala made many wonder: How on earth did she get her waist that snatched? The answer: A super tight corset. But the result was, clearly, memorable and many reference this as one of the best Met looks of all time.
- Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic14/22
Katy Perry as a Chandelier, 2019
At the 2019 Met Gala, Katy Perry's version of Camp meant… dressing like a human chandelier. Yes, seriously. Shine bright like a diamond!
- Kevin Mazur/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue15/22
Katy Perry as a Burger, 2019
And to finish off the campy night, Katy slipped out of her chandelier ensemble and into this hamburger—sorry, cheeseburger—costume. It was definitely a statement, but probably pretty hard to sit down in.
- ANGELA WEISS/Getty Images16/22
Lady Gaga Strips Down, 2019
Lady Gaga had a ton of fun with the “Camp” theme in 2019. Mother Monster arrived in a billowing pink Brandon Maxwell gown and peeling off layer by layer to reveal a rhinestoned black bra, underwear, fishnets, and platform boots.
- John Shearer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter17/22
Rihanna as the Pope, 2018
Perhaps one of Rihanna's most iconic ensembles, this Maison Margiela look from the 2018 Gala under the theme “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” was a show-stopper.
J. Kempin/Getty Images18/22Kendall Jenner in a Naked Dress, 2017
While the Met Gala red carpet is well acquainted with the sheer dress, Kendall's 2017 La Perla look caused even more chatter than usual because of just how naked it was.
- Larry Busacca/Getty Images19/22
Taylor Swift Goes Platinum Blonde, 2016
Taylor Swift shocked us all when she walked the red carpet with her then-fresh bleach-blonde hair, a gothy dark lip, and a black manicure to match. She debuted the platinum hair on the cover of Vogue and then memorably to Coachella—or #Bleachella, as fans now call it. The Met Gala look was a major departure from Swift's usual style and while it didn't last too long, we still have a soft spot in our hearts for her brief #Bleachella era.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images20/22Rihanna in the Yellow Dress, 2015
When Rihanna first stepped onto the red carpet in 2015, all jaws hit the ground as she stunned in a design by Guo Pei, a legendary Chinese designer who was featured prominently in the exhibit itself. The enormous train of the coat took over the Met steps and became one of the most famous Met Gala looks ever.
Larry Busacca/Getty Images21/22Kim Kardashian in a Floral Gown, 2013
The Givenchy dress that launched a million memes!
- Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images22/22
Princess Diana Attends, 1996
In December 1996, Princess Diana would make history by attending the Met Gala dedicated to Christian Dior in this navy dress slip dress that would soon become an iconic piece of fashion.
