Former Love Island USA Host Tried to Sneak Garlic Into Met Gala

A hot new bombshell almost entered the 2026 Met Gala.

Arielle Vandenberg, who used to host Love Island USA, playfully attempted to crash the Met Gala on May 4th. She showed up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art without a ticket, but she did bring something unexpected with her.

Arielle attempted to smuggle garlic into the Met Gala, even though the event is well-known for banning it from the menu.

The model partnered with Hellmann’s for a playful stunt at the New York museum. She attempted to smuggle in a bottle of their garlic aioli, and even wore a stunning white gown designed to look like a head of garlic! (You can find photos of all the celebrities who attended the event here.)

Arielle jokingly pointed out to TopMob News that she wasn’t invited to a major fashion event. She said when she found out she – and even garlic – were left off the guest list, she was confused. ‘No garlic, no chives, no onions… that means no flavor!’ she exclaimed, adding that it just didn’t make sense.

I was so excited to hear from Arielle, the original host of the show before Sarah Hyland took the reins in 2022 and then Ariana Madix in 2024! She explained that even though they weren’t officially allowed access, she and Hellmann’s showed up anyway – determined to make sure great flavor still had its moment.

She carefully chose her outfit to blend in with the other famous guests, including co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.

House of Hellmann’s created a striking outfit that highlighted the mayonnaise’s smooth texture and bold garlic flavor, according to the brand. The look included layers resembling garlic cloves, and a shimmering necklace modeled after Hellmann’s iconic bow.

Commenting on the prank, Hellmann’s explained it was a fun way to show that great taste should be included everywhere, even in fancy settings.

Anna Wintour, who has chaired the Met Gala for many years, recently revealed she doesn’t allow chives, onions, or garlic to be served at the event’s dinner.

In a 2023 interview with Jenna Bush Hager on Today, she stated, “I really don’t like those three things.”

This year, Olivier Cheng Catering delighted celebrities with a dinner that celebrated the flavors of an Italian garden harvest. Guests started with a refreshing green tomato salad featuring creamy burrata, elderflower, pine nuts, and gooseberries, as reported by Vogue. The meal continued with a rack of lamb accompanied by a delicate morel panna cotta, Parmesan gnocchi, and fresh spring vegetables like asparagus, carrots, and peas, all finished with a hint of mint.

Guests finished the meal with a choice of two desserts: a rich chocolate cake flavored with raspberry and paired with red velvet, or a light and fruity strawberry pavlova topped with passionfruit curd and delicate microgreens.

The chef explained that the three courses are designed to mirror the themes of the exhibition, with each dish representing ‘the garden,’ ‘the statue,’ and ‘the silhouette.’

For more glamorous moments inside the 2026 Met Gala, read on.

The stars prove fashion’s biggest night isn’t that serious.

On May 4th, during the Met Gala—fashion’s biggest event—celebrities paused their celebrations to take a glamorous group selfie in a bathroom mirror at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.