Queen Latifah stepped out at the Met Gala, making her first-ever appearance at the star-studded event.
The rapper and actress wore a gown by designer Thom Browne as she walked the green and white carpet Monday night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Eboni Nichols, who is reportedly her longtime partner, according to Vogue.com.
“This look is ‘birds of paradise’ and it’s a beautiful intricate, very intricately, made handmade, beautiful [gown],” Queen Latifah told La La Anthony for Vogue’s official red carpet livestream. “I hope [it] will be something that people will get to study.”
Browne shared a photo of Queen Latifah on Instagram, describing her look as, “a gathered coat in black peau de soie with raffia and bugle bead fray tipping over a square shoulder dress embroidered with black sequins and birds of paradise in bullion, frayed raffia and satin stitch chiffon with longwing brogue heels in black sequin.”
Queen Latifah and Eboni Nichols attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2024 in New York City.
Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images
Nichols also wore a look designed by Browne, who described it as, “an hourglass all-in-one chesterfield, sportcoat and pleated skirt in engineered checks of layered ribbon in black silk satin, wool crepe suiting, wool shetland and white silk faille over a square shoulder dress in black cavalry twill with red rose bullion applique and longwing on dot platforms in black patent leather.”
This year’s theme for the Met Gala was, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” described by the museum as an exploration of “rebirth” and “renewal” that uses nature as a metaphor for the impermanence of fashion.
There was also an associated dress code titled “The Garden of Time,” which was inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 book of the same name. The literature tells the story of a count and countess who live in a villa that overlooks an extraordinary garden being intruded upon by a mob.
Queen Latifah said in her interview with Anthony that ahead of her first-ever Met Gala, Nichols had “warned” her about the giant staircase that all attendees walk up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Queen Latifah and Eboni Nichols attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2024 in New York City.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images
“I’m actually quite happy. This has been a wonderful experience, everything from top to bottom,” she said. “Thank you again, Thom Browne, for having us!”
Other attendees at this year’s Met Gala included Zendaya, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Sydney Sweeney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Venus and Serena Williams, Cardi B and more.
Click HERE to see all the looks from the event, held annually on the first Monday in May.