You never forget your first—particularly when it’s the Met Gala.
Year after year, stars make their way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the annual charity gala to celebrate fashion’s biggest night on the first Monday in May. Securing an invite to the infamous ball is an honor and making an impressionable debut is just as important. From Billie Eilish’s peach Oscar de la Renta gown to Kim Kardashian’s floral Givenchy dress, there have been countless iconic first appearances at the Met Gala.
Last year, Pamela Anderson made her Met Gala debut and paid homage to the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” theme with an off-the-shoulder, cream Oscar de la Renta gown and a faux leather headpiece. Breaking her makeup free streak of red carpet appearances, the Baywatch alum leaned on makeup artist Pat McGrath to craft a fresh-faced makeup look that complemented her wavy up-do.
“Pam wanted to wear makeup again for the Met Gala, so we created a look that acknowledged her natural beauty,” Pat shared in a statement. “But then took it to the next level.”
She added, “We wanted to explore the next incarnation of natural…and show how you can wear a full face of makeup but in a very fresh and beautiful way.”
Tyla also made her debut at the Met Gala 2024, centering her look around sand. The “Getting Late” singer arrived in an hourglass-shaped gown with a sandy textured fabric, adding sand-like makeup to her shoulders. She paired the skin-tight dress with an hourglass purse to complete the look.
“It’s sand, basically, on material,” Tyla said during Live From E!: Met Gala, “because we wanted to go with ‘sands of time,’ with the theme. I worked with Balmain on this look.”
However, when asked if she would be able to sit down for dinner, she made it clear fashion was the priority, adding, “Who cares guys? I look cute.”
And Ayo Edebiri’s first appearance was an absolute chef’s kiss. The Bear star made her debut on the steps wearing a floral Loewe gown with a backless white bodice that cascaded into a garden of flowers.
“Instead of limiting myself or my scope, I realize how much fashion can help you tell stories, really,” Ayo told W Magazine in July 2023 of her stance on style. “As an actress, as a storyteller, that’s so crucial. Being able to mold and create new stories for yourself, new journeys, it’s very freeing. And being able to do it in clothes that are so carefully thought out and made and so explorative and more conceptual is very cool.”
Keep reading to see more stars first Met Gala appearances.
Naomi Campbell in 1990
In Versace
Sarah Jessica Parker in 1995
“My guess is that this was a dress from the thirft store which then I had tailored,” the actress told Vogue in 2022, “and clearly did my own hair and makeup.
Gwyneth Paltrow in 1995
In Calvin Klein
Kate Moss, Calvin Klein & Christy Turlington in 1995
In Calvin Klein (Kate)
Salma Hayek in 1997
In Versace
Gisele Bundchen in 1999
In Versace
Victoria Beckham in 2003
In Dolce & Gabbana
Nicole Kidman in 2003
In Gucci by Tom Ford
Kate Hudson in 2003
In Stella McCartney
Eva Mendes in 2004
In Zac Posen
Jimmy Fallon in 2004
Diane Kruger in 2004
In Balenciaga
Naomi Watts in 2004
In Marc Jacobs
Serena Williams in 2004
Emmy Rossum in 2005
In Ralph Lauren
Ashley Olsen & Mary-Kate Olsen in 2005
In Oscar de la Renta (Ashley) and a vintage dress from What Comes Around Goes Around (Mary-Kate)
Sienna Miller in 2006
In Burberry Prorsum
Jessica Alba in 2006
In Calvin Klein
Rihanna in 2007
In Georges Chakra
Kerry Washington in 2007
Cameron Diaz in 2007
In Dior
Beyoncé in 2008
In Armani Privé
Blake Lively in 2008
In Ralph Lauren
Taylor Swift in 2008
In Badgley Mischka
Amber Rose & Kanye West in 2009
In Carolina Herrera (Amber)
Jessica Biel & Justin Timberlake in 2009
In Versace (Jessica)
Anne Hathaway in 2009
In Marc Jacobs
Leighton Meester in 2009
In Louis Vuitton
Katy Perry in 2009
In Tommy Hilfiger
Emma Stone in 2009
In Matthew Williamson
