Reality television icon Kim Kardashian has finally pulled back the curtain on the intense behind-the-scenes drama surrounding her controversial 2022 Met Gala appearance, where she famously wore Marilyn Monroe's historic gown. The 45-year-old star has confessed to a major hair regret and detailed the extreme measures taken for a mere ten minutes on the red carpet.
The Blonde Bombshell Regret
In a recent episode of her Hulu series, The Kardashians, Kim revealed her lasting disappointment with the decision to go blonde for the event. She lamented not trusting the initial advice she received from her team. "I will bring this up til the end of time," she stated. "Everyone told me: 'Don’t do Marilyn hair. You’re gonna look like a wax figure of Marilyn.'"
Kim admitted that in hindsight, she believes a completely different aesthetic would have been more successful. "We just thought we wanted to be blonde. I should’ve been, like, dark Jackie O vibes," she reflected, adding that she later "photoshopped it 500 different ways after the fact" to see how it would have looked. The star also confessed that she has since "tortured" her hairstylist, Chris Appleton, over the fateful choice.
A Fragile $4.8 Million Nightmare
The iconic gown itself, which Monroe wore to sing Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy in 1962, presented a logistical nightmare. Owned by Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, the delicate dress was a monumental risk. Kim previously explained that the garment was so fragile she had to change into it at the gala itself to avoid damage during travel.
"I can't sit in a car, I can't risk it. It's so fragile," she emphasised in a prior episode. "No one can touch me. So if anyone touches me and gets their oils on the dress … it's too risky." The glittering gown, designed by Jean Louis, was purchased by Ripley's at Julien's Auction for a staggering $4.81 million, a far cry from the $1,440 Monroe originally paid for the custom piece.
The Extreme Sacrifice for Ten Minutes
The entire endeavour required a staggering level of commitment for a very brief moment in the spotlight. Kardashian outlined the intense process, which included significant weight loss, a marathon hair-dyeing session, and a last-minute outfit change on the red carpet.
"All of this - the losing the weight, dying the hair for 30 hours, leaving the hotel in a robe, getting there, changing on the red carpet... is all for maybe 10 minutes of my life, just on the red carpet," she revealed. "That's it."
She also detailed the pressure she felt to fit into the precious garment, admitting, "When I thought to go in Marilyn Monroe's dress... I knew I had to lose at least 10 pounds for it to even go up on me." Her dedication extended to an all-nighter to perfect her hair colour, all while worrying about potential damage to her locks.
In the end, Kim never truly fitted the original dress, carefully covering her back with a white shawl. She quickly changed into a perfectly fitted replica to enjoy the rest of the evening with her family and then-boyfriend Pete Davidson. However, the story behind the glamour has now become a permanent part of Met Gala history.
