Lauren Sánchez Kicks Off Met Gala With Speech Praising Anna Wintour

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Lauren Sánchez Bezos is proud to step into her Met Gala 2026 role. 

Just before the Met Gala on May 4th, Jeff Bezos’s wife—one of the event’s honorary co-chairs—publicly thanked Anna Wintour.

In a speech at the Costume Institute exhibit preview, Sánchez Bezos praised Anna Wintour, saying, ‘She’s done more than anyone to establish fashion as a true art and to earn the industry the respect it deserves. We all thank you, Anna.’

The author of Fly Who Flew Under the Sea expressed her gratitude for being at the event with Anna Wintour and co-chair Venus Williams. Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé are also hosting the event.

As the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s speaker noted, the museum has long recognized fashion as a form of art, a view that’s now becoming more widely accepted. She emphasized that the designers being honored that evening were genuine artists, and that the Costume Institute, like the museum itself with paintings and sculptures, preserves and protects their creations. She highlighted this understanding as a key strength of the Met.

She and her husband also get it, and Sánchez Bezos explained how they’re focusing on what’s next for the fashion industry.

The philanthropist explained that this art form is worth supporting, which is why the Bezos Earth Fund is funding scientists who are innovating new types of fabrics. They’re actually growing sustainable silk in labs and even completely redesigning cotton.

She believes the designers featured in this and future exhibits deserve an industry that’s as innovative and progressive as their work.

Even though some people have criticized Jeff Bezos’ participation in the yearly fashion event, Anna Wintour has consistently voiced her strong support for it.

We are so thankful for her amazing kindness,” she said to CNN in November 2025. “We’re really excited to have her involved in the event.

As for what else will thrill you? Read on for the most unforgettable moments in Met Gala history…

Kim Kardashian made a huge impression at the 2021 Met Gala with a surprising all-black outfit that completely covered her face. The custom look was created by designer Demna Gvasalia, who is the creative director of Balenciaga. Interestingly, Kim couldn’t actually see through the outfit!

During a November 2021 interview, Kris Jenner explained that Kim had trouble seeing and breathing throughout the Met Ball. Her boyfriend, Corey Gamble, stepped in to help, guiding Kim around and even fixing her ponytail. He was essentially both her guide and a hairstylist for the night.

Lil Nas X truly delivered a show-stopping entrance at the 2021 Met Gala, changing outfits twice. One look, a stunning gold Versace suit resembling armor, continues to amaze everyone who saw it.

As a style enthusiast, I’m always keeping an eye on Rihanna – she consistently pushes boundaries with her fashion choices. But the buzz around her 2021 Met Gala appearance with A$AP Rocky was something else! Seriously, the ‘Rihanna Navy’ went wild, and for good reason. They arrived near the very end of the night, and let me tell you, they completely stole the show – it was such a cute and memorable moment, they practically stopped traffic on the red carpet!

In 1996, just a year before her tragic death, Princess Diana made her one and only appearance at the Met Gala. Her dress, a navy satin slip inspired by lingerie, caused some debate – some thought it wasn’t conservative enough. She’d even considered wearing something else, worried about potentially embarrassing her teenage son, Prince William. However, the dress, designed by John Galliano for Dior, quickly became a legendary fashion moment.

As of 2024, Princess of Wales and Princess Beatrice are the only British royals who have gone to the Met Gala. However, many expect Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to attend in the future.

Let me tell you, every single time Rihanna steps onto the Met Gala steps, it’s an instant iconic moment. I’m completely obsessed and honestly, I’m always in awe. She just consistently delivers – I’m a total fan!

The 2014 Met Gala is remembered for a now-famous elevator incident involving Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Solange Knowles. Leaked security footage showed Solange physically attacking Jay-Z while Beyoncé stood by, leading the usually private family to issue a statement confirming they were still united despite the incident – a statement everyone seemed eager to hear.

We may never know the full story, but Beyoncé seemed to reference the incident in a remix of her song “Flawless,” rapping, “When a billion dollars is involved, things sometimes fall apart.”

Fans remember Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston first sparking a connection at the 2016 Met Gala, where they danced together. Shortly after, Swift ended her relationship with Calvin Harris and quickly began a fast-moving summer romance with Hiddleston.

George and Amal Clooney first attended the Met Gala together as a married couple in 2015. Amal later returned in 2018 to help host the event as a co-chair.

Only a week after Beyoncé released her album Lemonade – which hinted at problems in her marriage to Jay-Z – she attended the 2016 event without him, causing a huge reaction from her fans. Luckily, she wasn’t completely alone, as her sister Solange was there to support her, and notably wore a lemon-yellow outfit.

Kim Kardashian will always remember her first Met Gala in 2013. She arrived with Kanye West wearing a striking floral dress by Givenchy. A month later, she gave birth to her daughter, North West. Two years after that, Kim jokingly wore the same floral outfit for Halloween, posting a picture with the caption, “Still fits…”

As a style enthusiast, I always remember Sarah Jessica Parker and the late Alexander McQueen’s incredible Met Gala moment in 2006! They both rocked matching tartan looks – it was such a cool, rebellious take on British fashion for the ‘AngloMania’ exhibit, celebrating tradition while totally breaking the rules. It really showed how fashion can be both respectful and daring at the same time.

Everyone knows a picture can speak volumes, and this one is truly special. It shows Jeremy Scott between his dates to the 2016 Met Gala, Nicki Minaj and Demi Lovato. After Demi Lovato publicly suggested Nicki Minaj had been subtly critical of her on Instagram, she hinted at the uncomfortable night in a Billboard interview, revealing it hadn’t been a pleasant experience two years earlier.

She remembered in 2018 having a really bad experience with a certain celebrity, describing them as unpleasant and difficult to be around. She also said the environment felt exclusive and unwelcoming.

Anna Wintour famously tried to keep everything that happened at the Met Gala private – she even banned selfies in 2015! It’s a glamorous event, but not a red carpet free-for-all like the Oscars.

Two years later, Kylie Jenner and her friends snapped a quick photo in the bathroom. It was a memorable moment – a classic picture that will likely be remembered for years to come, even though it wasn’t taken with a Kodak camera.

In 2018, Madonna delivered a stunning performance of “Like a Prayer” as she descended the stairs of the Great Hall. She also sang Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” The performance perfectly matched the event’s theme that year, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” and felt like a true stairway to heaven.

Bella Hadid turned heads at the 2017 Met Gala in a striking outfit, managing a potentially uncomfortable encounter with her ex-boyfriend, The Weeknd, and his date, Selena Gomez. According to sources, she intentionally kept her distance from them throughout the night. Interestingly, Bella and The Weeknd later rekindled their romance, but ultimately split up again.

Jaden Smith is known for his bold fashion choices, and he first gained attention for this at the 2017 Met Gala when he carried his recently cut dreadlocks as an accessory. This unexpected move became a bit of a signature for the artist, who continued to make headlines with unconventional choices – like bringing his gold-certified plaque for the song “Icon” as his companion to the 2018 Met Gala.

Claire Danes made a stunning entrance at the 2016 Met Gala wearing a light blue ball gown that looked like something a modern Disney princess would wear. The dress, designed by Zac Posen, was actually covered in thousands of tiny L.E.D. lights, which lit up the dance floor as she moved.

Lady Gaga completely understood and mastered the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” theme at the 2019 Met Gala. Her arrival in a huge, pink Brandon Maxwell gown was just the first act. She then revealed multiple layers of outfits, eventually stripping down to glamorous lingerie, leaving the audience amazed.

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2026-05-04 21:51