5 Celebrities Who Always Win the Met Gala Red Carpet – from Rihanna to Zendaya

Every first Monday in May, the Met Gala transforms the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art into fashion’s most daring stage. While trends come and go, a select group of celebrities consistently command attention, delivering unforgettable looks that define entire themes and dominate headlines.

The Met Gala has changed significantly over the decades. It first began in 1948 as a small New York society benefit for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

By the 1990s, the evening had become one of the most highly photographed red carpet events in the world. While the lavish night still raises money for the Costume Institute and marks the opening of its annual exhibition, the Met Gala has evolved into one of fashion’s biggest stages.

Designers and celebrities alike use the moment to make bold statements and fully embrace the annual theme. In recent years, a handful of stars have proven that they never miss when it comes to delivering a Met Gala moment.

1. Zendaya

Zendaya’s red carpet looks rarely disappoint, and the Met Gala is no exception. Year after year, she steps onto the carpet in ensembles that complement her figure and highlight her features. Whether embracing classic glamour or leaning into avant-garde interpretations of the theme, Zendaya consistently balances creativity with polish.

Her Met Gala appearances often feel effortless, yet intentional. She understands both the assignment and the spectacle, making her one of the most reliable style standouts of the modern era.

2. Blake Lively

Blake Lively has become synonymous with dramatic Met Gala entrances. Even amid controversy in recent years, her fashion choices at the event remain undeniable. She consistently delivers some of the most memorable looks on the carpet.

Through the years, Lively has demonstrated a deep commitment to theme dressing, often opting for elaborate gowns that transform as she ascends the museum steps. Her ability to merge Old Hollywood glamour with contemporary drama keeps fashion watchers anticipating her arrival each year.

3. Demi Moore

Demi Moore has graced the Met Gala countless times over the decades, solidifying her status as a timeless beauty on the red carpet. Through the years, she has maintained a style that feels both classic and modern, consistently opting for looks that are classy, refined, and effortlessly chic.

As the event evolved from an elite New York society gathering into a global fashion spectacle, Moore’s enduring elegance has remained a constant presence on the museum steps.

4. Rihanna

Rihanna has become one of the most consistent and unforgettable presences at the Met Gala, earning a reputation as one of the night’s best-dressed stars year after year. Never one to shy away from bold fashion, she regularly embraces the theme with dramatic, showstopping silhouettes.

Among her most iconic appearances was in 2015, when she made a triumphant walk up the museum stairs in a couture gown by Chinese designer Guo Pei. The gold cape dress, a nod to the exhibition "China: Through the Looking Glass," took over 20 hours to make and weighed more than 50 pounds. With moments like that, Rihanna has solidified her place as a true Met Gala standout.

5. Kim Kardashian

In 2021, she appeared in an all-black Balenciaga look that covered her entirely, effectively erasing her recognizable features. The following year, she sparked weeks of discourse after going on an extreme crash diet to fit into the same dress Marilyn Monroe wore to serenade John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in 1962.

The moment was considered by some to be a violation of American history and by others an act of total Kardashian genius. The controversy even inspired the International Council of Museums to launch a clothing preservation committee, while Kardashian later sold her own Skims iteration a year and a half afterward.

While hundreds of celebrities attend the Met Gala each year, only a few consistently dominate the conversation. Zendaya, Blake Lively, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian understand that the event is more than a party. It is fashion theater.

From dramatic capes to headline-making risks, these stars continue to prove that winning the Met Gala red carpet is not just about what you wear, but how you wear it.