Ashley Graham made a dramatic entrance at the 2026 Met Gala red carpet on Monday, captivating onlookers with an unexpected detail. The 38-year-old model donned a custom nude-toned Di Petsa dress, paired with a metallic silver manicure by Dawn Sterling.
Artistic Nail Design
Graham commanded attention with her eye-catching almond-shaped nails, which she elevated further by applying matching spray paint to her fingers and knuckles. This artistic touch coordinated seamlessly with her diamond studs, hoops, and bands from Zales.
The Dress and Theme
Di Petsa is renowned for creating 'wet' looks—clinging pieces inspired by the appearance of drenched fabric. This year's Met Gala theme is Costume Art, with the dress code being 'Fashion Is Art.'
Graham took to Instagram on Monday evening to offer fans insight into her ensemble. She told her 21 million followers that her low-cut dress is 'a reimagining of the Serpent Skin dress from the Medusa's Lovers collection.'
She described it as 'a hand-sewn second skin, sculpted to my body, inspired by Medusa—powerful, complex, and a little dangerous. A metamorphosis of the body, turned into art.'
Graham's Excitement for the Gala
Despite having attended the gala for several years, the star confessed she still gets excited about fashion's biggest night. 'Seven years of the Met Gala, and I still get that tingly feeling when I wake up the morning of,' she wrote.
Graham gushed, 'I still feel like a student of fashion—its history, its storytelling, its power. It's about more than just getting dressed. It's about the body as art—how it's shaped, seen, and transformed across time. And the feeling a piece gives you… the confidence you step into when you wear it.'
Controversy Surrounding This Year's Gala
This year's gala has been marred by controversy, as Hollywood is furious that Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, 62, and wife Lauren Sanchez, 56, sponsored the event. It is rumored that the couple gave $10 million to the Costume Institute in exchange for being named honorary co-chairs.
They reportedly paid the eye-watering sum for the privilege to hobnob with former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has spearheaded the fundraiser since 1995. Sources told Page Six the move put them in favor with Wintour, 76, who uses the event to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.
'The Bezoses are where the American dream is at right now for status, wealth and style,' William Norwich, a former editor at Vogue, explained to the outlet. 'They display conspicuous consumption [and] they have the 'AWOK' – the Anna Wintour OK.'
Last year's Met Gala raised $31 million, marking the highest total in the event's 77-year history.
