Ashley Graham made a memorable entrance at the 2026 Met Gala on Monday, captivating the crowd with a surprising fashion choice.
The 38-year-old model dazzled in a custom-designed dress from Di Petsa, featuring a nude tone complemented by a striking metallic silver manicure crafted by Dawn Sterling.
Graham drew all eyes with her bold almond-shaped nails, further enhanced by a matching spray paint design that extended across her fingers and knuckles.
This unique artistic touch was perfectly complemented by her selection of diamond studs, hoops, and bands from Zales.
Di Petsa has gained recognition for their ‘wet’ look creations, which emulate the appearance of fabric drenched in water.
This year’s Met Gala revolved around the theme of Costume Art, with a dress code that celebrated the concept of ‘Fashion Is Art.’
Ashley Graham took the 2026 Met Gala red carpet by storm on Monday, and turned heads with an unexpected detail
The 38-year-old model wore a custom nude-toned DI PETSA dress, with a metallic silver manicure by Dawn Sterling
Keeping that in mind, Graham took to Instagram on Monday evening to give fans insight into her ensemble.
She told her 21 million followers her low-cut dress is ‘a reimagining of the Serpent Skin dress from the Medusa’s Lovers collection.’
The beauty described it as ‘a hand-sewn second skin, sculpted to my body, inspired by Medusa — powerful, complex, and a little dangerous. A metamorphosis of the body, turned into art.’
And the star said she still gets excited about fashion’s biggest night, despite having attended the gala for several years.
‘Seven years of the Met Gala, and I still get that tingly feeling when I wake up the morning of,’ she wrote.
Graham gushed, ‘I still feel like a student of fashion — its history, its storytelling, its power.
‘It’s about more than just getting dressed. It’s about the body as art — how it’s shaped, seen, and transformed across time.
‘And the feeling a piece gives you… the confidence you step into when you wear it.’
Join the discussion
Did Ashley Graham’s silver-dipped manicure steal the spotlight – or miss the mark?
Graham commanded attention as she took her eye-catching almond-shaped nails a step further with matching spray paint that covered her fingers and knuckles.
The artistic flair coordinated with her diamond studs, hoops, and bands from Zales
Di Petsa is known for creating ‘wet’ looks – clinging pieces inspired by the appearance of drenched fabric. This year’s Met Gala theme is Costume Art, with the dress code being ‘Fashion Is Art’
This year’s gala has been marred with controversy as Hollywood is furious that Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, 62, and wife Lauren Sanchez, 56, sponsored the event.
It is rumored that the couple gave $10 million to the Costume Institute in exchange for being named honorary co-chairs.
They reportedly paid the eye-watering sum for the privilege to hobnob with former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has spearheaded the fundraiser since 1995.
Sources told Page Six the move put them in favor with Wintour, 76, who uses the event to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
‘The Bezoses are where the American dream is at right now for status, wealth and style,’ William Norwich, a former editor at Vogue, explained to the outlet.
‘They display conspicuous consumption [and] they have the ‘AWOK’ – the Anna Wintour OK.’
Last year’s Met Gala raised $31 million, marking the highest total in the event’s 77-year history.
