Met Gala's most iconic moments of all time from feuds, an omelette, baring all and a proposal

Daily Mirror

05-05-2025

The Met Gala is back, set to bring more showstopping and elaborate outfits as celebrities grace the iconic steps - and over the years, there have been a host of memorable moments
Every year on the first Monday of May, A-list celebrities gather for the most prestigious and exclusive event, the Costume Institute Benefit, more commonly known as the Met Gala. Taking place on Monday, May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, all eyes will be on the star-studded attendees who have meticulously planned their captivating and dazzling outfits to grace the iconic steps.
The annual fundraising event is renowned for its glamorous on-theme haute couture fashion, and this year's dress code is "Tailored for You," in a nod to the show's focus on bespoke tailoring and menswear. In the past, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Zendaya, Doja Cat and Madonna have dropped some major fashion statements that have become legendary.
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But in addition to the sensational fashion, in arguably one of the world's most respected events, it has dropped some unforgettable moments. From feuds to baring all, an omelette and even a proposal, the Met Gala and its attendees are nothing short of iconic.
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In celebration of this year's Met Gala, we've taken a look back at some of the most talked-about moments...
Flying arrival
Katy Perry's custom Versace attire with angel wings was so elaborate in 2018 that she had to arrive at the prestigious event in an open-top car. Before gracing the steps, the popstar was spotted taking the drive-through Manhattan with her wings on full display.
Baring all
Cara Delevingne made a bold statement at the Met Gala 2022, declaring: "The nipple needs to be free," as she removed her jacket. The Model and actress posed topless, her body covered in glittering gold body paint, putting her unique twist on the Gilded Glamour guidelines.
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Another celebrity who bared all was Cher, who arrived at the Met Gala in a diamond-studded, see-through dress with a feather trim and long pointed nails back in 1974. The Believe singer pushed boundaries with her daring outfit and is often credited with popularising the "illusion dress" in mainstream fashion.
Proposal
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In 2018, crowds erupted with applause when rapper 2 Chainz got down on one knee on the iconic steps to propose to his partner, Kesha Ward. The couple tied the knot in August of that year.
Hip flask
Madonna arrived in full camouflage for the Met Gala in 2017, but an accessory that really caught attention was her hip flask - but it wasn't just a prop. The pop sensation was reportedly spotted sipping the contents of the flask throughout the event. According to Madonna, it contained "summer water", whatever that means.
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Sand storm
Last year, South Africa's music sensation Tyla took the Met Gala by storm on her very first visit as she wore a Balmain dress made from sand in a tribute to the year's theme, "The Garden of Time." Tyla turned heads as she sashayed in a strapless gown, crafted from three shades of sand and adorned with micro-crystal studs.
Dreadlocks
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Fans were left stunned in 2017 when Jaden Smith, the son of Will Smith, wore a Louis Vuitton suit while carrying his own dreadlocks on the Met Gala carpet. At the time, he joked: "I couldn't bring my sister as a date, so I brought my hair."
The omelette
Back at the 2015 Met Gala, themed " China: Through the Looking Glass," Rihanna turned heads in her sunny yellow attire. The Yellow Empress cape weighed 55 lbs, and the pop icon managed to handle the hefty dress, despite needing assistance on the staircase. But the showstopping outfit didn't come without the unfortunate comparison to an omelette, thanks to the vibrant hue.
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Feuds
Lady Gaga and Madonna seemingly ended their public feud during the Met Gala after-party in 2015 as they posed for a cosy snap with Katy Perry.
While Nicki Minaj and Cardi B looked like they put their differences aside during the event in 2018, as a photo captured them in a deep conversation before they shared smiles while dressed to the nines, amid an ongoing feud.
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Red feathers
Cardi B returned to the Met Gala in 2019, undeniably ready to drop jaws as she graced the event in an extravagant Thom Brown gown in a nod to the night's theme, "Camp: Notes on Fashion." The eye-catching red dress, which took a staggering 2,000 hours to create, was adorned with 30,000 carefully burnt and dyed feathers. Behind the scenes, she had an army of 10 people on hand to help her navigate the Met Gala stairs.
Feline tribute
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Jared Leto grabbed the spotlight at the Met Gala in 2023 when he fully embraced the year's theme, "In honour of Karl." In a nod to the legendary fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld, Jared arrived dressed as Lagerfeld's beloved pet cat, Choupette, in a dramatic furry cat costume featuring an oversized cat head.
The actor also turned heads at the 2019 Met Gala, when he quite literally arrived carrying a replica of his own severed head. The eerie look was inspired by Susan Sontag's famous 1964 essay, Camp: Notes on Fashion.
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Powerful statement
In 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, better known as AOC, delivered a powerful political statement at the Met Gala, with an eye-catching message that read "TAX THE RICH" emblazoned across her Brother Vellies gown. AOC's ensemble was completed with a matching slogan clutch.
Body of armour
In 2018, Zendaya made a Met Gala entrance that will be remembered for years, establishing her as a force to be reckoned with in the fashion sphere. That year's theme was "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination", inspiring the actress to channel the famed Catholic warrior Saint Joan of Arc in full armour.