The Met Gala bathroom selfie tradition, which began with Kylie Jenner's iconic 2017 photo, continued on Monday as model Bhavitha Mandava gathered a group of celebrities for a mirror selfie. The 26-year-old Indian model took center stage in the shot, which included Margot Robbie, Awar Odhiang, Ayo Edebiri, and members of BLACKPINK.
A Tradition Born from Strict Rules
In 2017, Kylie Jenner sparked buzz by assembling stars like Luka Sabbat, A$AP Rocky, Kendall Jenner, Paris Jackson, Kim Kardashian, Lily Aldridge, and P Diddy for a bathroom snap. For years, social media photos were banned by Met Gala host and Vogue editor Anna Wintour, forcing celebrities to sneak into restrooms for illicit selfies and videos.
The new image features Bhavitha Mandava (fourth left), Margot Robbie (center), Ayo Edebiri (fourth right), Awar Odhiang (top right), and BLACKPINK's Jisoo (second left), Jennie (second right), Rosé (third left), and Lisa (far left). Bhavitha shared the photo with her 570,000 Instagram followers, showing the group pulling funny faces.
Red Carpet Contrast
Bhavitha turned heads on the red carpet by wearing jeans and a blouse from Chanel, a stark contrast to the gowns worn by other attendees. Margot Robbie was at the center of the snap, resting her head on Bhavitha's shoulder with a big smile and peace sign.
The social media ban within the event has made the museum's gender-neutral toilets a hotspot for guests. Over the years, photos and videos have surfaced of celebrities like Ashley Graham, Hailey Bieber, Dakota Johnson, and Cara Delevingne partying in the bathrooms. In 2017, Bella Hadid, Lara Stone, Paris Jackson, and Ruby Rose were caught smoking in the restroom. The 2021 bathroom selfie featured members of the Euphoria cast.
Anna Wintour's Private Bathroom
In 2023, it was revealed that Anna Wintour has her own private bathroom to avoid the parties. The hostess employs a security guard to ensure no other attendees gain access. 'Anna has had her own designated toilet for years,' a Met Gala insider said. 'She's not one for small talk and would be ambushed by tipsy celebrity fans.'
