13 times Asian celebrities illuminated the Met Gala
Founded in 1948, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Benefit—colloquially known as the Met Gala—has evolved from a modest fundraiser into one of the most fashionable nights of the year.
Under Anna Wintour's stewardship since 1995, the Met Gala has become a global fashion phenomenon, garnering fanfare from stars (many of which consider an invite a career milestone in and of itself). While Hollywood royalty once dominated proceedings, recent years have witnessed a profound shift towards more faces from the Asian region.
Along with South Korea’s K-pop superstars Jennie, Rosé and Stray Kids, the Met Gala has been graced by Indian talents Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt, as well as Thai entertainer Vachirawit “Bright” Chivaaree. Add actresses Michelle Yeoh, Greta Lee and Fan Bingbing into the mix, it becomes harder to ignore the global influence of Asian celebrities as both cultural and style icons.
Ahead of the 2025 Met Gala that will take place on May 5, Tatler recalls the 13 times Asian celebrities turned the highly anticipated event into their very own fashion runway.
Read more: Met Gala 2025: Guest list, dress code, the theme’s significance and all the details you need to know
Jennie
Jennie at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Jennie at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Rather than defaulting to florals and fauna for the 2024 Met Gala dress code The Garden of Time, Jennie made her own statement in a figure accentuating cobalt blue Alaïa mini dress with a dramatic train.
Rosé
Rosé at the 2021 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Rosé at the 2021 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Along with fellow Korean superstar CL, Rosé made history at the 2021 Met Gala as it was the first time female K-pop artists were invited to the fashion extravaganza. To mark the occasion, the Blackpink member donned a Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello mini dress with a sculptural bow detail.
Stray Kids
Stray Kids at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Stray Kids also made history as the first K-pop boy band to be invited to attend the Met Gala in 2024. For their debut, all members radiated in suits by American designer Tommy Hilfiger.
Vachirawit “Bright” Chivaaree
Bright at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Bright at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
The 2024 Met Gala also saw the debut of Vachirawit “Bright” Chivaaree. The meteoric Thai entertainer took the internet by storm in an all-Burberry outfit that featured an embroidered pleated georgette jacket, silk tuxedo trousers and a metallic tank top.
Song Hye-Kyo
Song Hye-Kyo at the 2023 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Song Hye-Kyo at the 2023 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Song Hye-Kyo celebrated the 2023 Met Gala dress code, In Honour of Karl, by reminding us of the late Karl Lagerfeld’s tenure as the creative director of Fendi. The Korean actress stunned in a baby pink two-piece look with a corseted top, flowing maxi skirt and lace inserts.
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra at the 2018 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Priyanka Chopra at the 2018 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
For the 2018 Met Gala, Indian actress and producer Priyanka Chopra did show up in her Sunday best: a wine red velvet Ralph Lauren gown with an opulent embellished gold chain headdress by Swarovski.
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Michelle Yeoh at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Michelle Yeoh rocked up to the 2024 Met Gala in a custom Balenciaga couture dress by former creative director Demna. Made entirely of an aluminum material, the voluminous design—that takes inspiration from the Spanish house’s 1940s ballroom gowns—required 200 hours for artisans to bring to life.
Greta Lee
Greta Lee at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Greta Lee at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Greta Lee also made her Met Gala debut in 2024, paying tribute to the year’s The Garden of Time dress code in a bespoke Loewe gown by former creative director Jonathan Anderson. The Korean American actor’s sheer and sculptural column dress made of Chantilly silk lace featured 3D embroidered flowers.
Fan Bingbing
Fan Bingbing at the 2015 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Fan Bingbing at the 2015 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
While there was no specific dress code, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing celebrated the 2015 Met Gala exhibition themeChina: Through the Looking Glass in an embellished column gown and jewel toned cape by Christopher Bu as well as Chopard jewellery.
Laufey
Laufey at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Laufey at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
For the 2024 Met Gala, Icelandic Chinese singer-songwriter Laufey co-designed her voluminous blush toned gown and veil with her twin sister and Nepalese American designer Prabal Gurung.
Alia Bhatt
Alia Bhatt at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Alia Bhatt at the 2024 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
British-Indian actress Alia Bhatt turned to celebrated Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee to create a custom couture sari for her second Met Gala appearance in 2024. Along with a theatrical 23-foot long train hand embroidered with silk floss, beads, sequins, semi-precious stones and glass beaded fringes, her blouse was similarly glitzed out in pearls, emeralds, tourmalines and sapphires.
Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone at the 2019 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Deepika Padukone at the 2019 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Indian actress Deepika Padukone made a statement at the 2019 Met Gala in a barbie pink Zac Posen gown embellished with sea urchin motifs. Upping the glam, Padukone rocked pink sapphire and diamond kissed jewellery by Lorraine Schwartz.
Liu Wen
Liu Wen at the 2023 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Liu Wen at the 2023 Met Gala (Photo: Getty Images)
Liu Wen paid tribute to the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld in a form-fitting Tory Burch gown at the 2023 Met Gala. Echoing his influence at Chanel, the Chinese supermodel’s look featured a burst of white camellias—an emblem of the historic French fashion house—embroidered over layers of tulle.
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