34 Backstage Instagrams From The Met Gala That Are Better Than The Red Carpet
Let's just say the stars SHOWED UP.
1. While Lady Gaga, co-chair of the most extra fashun event of the year, didn't post any backstage IGs (as of yet), her talented makeup artist Sarah Tanno posted a BTS video of her crazy-elaborate lashes — Gaga is the bawse for keeping these on for eight hours alone, and I won't hear otherwise!
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@sarahtannomakeup / Via instagram.com
2. Serena Williams, another fabulous co-chair, let us in on a special part of her getting-ready process: watching Beauty and the Beast with her (and my) favorite bb, Olympia.

@serenawilliams / Via Instagram: @serenawilliams
3. But before she got into the glam chair, she literally ~served~. 👑

@serenawilliams / Via Instagram: @serenawilliams
4. After all of that involved prep, she showed off her fluttery yellow-and-pink Versace frock before hitting the red carpet — she's beauty, she's grace, she's friggin' SERENA WILLIAMS.
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@serenawilliams / Via instagram.com
5. Mark Ronson did us all a huge favor by posting this cute snap of co-chair Harry Styles (who should Instagram more, ahem) and Julianne Moore. Sadly, no nips in sight.
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@iammarkronson / Via instagram.com
6. And Justin Theroux threw up this black-and-white photo of Harry and Alexa Chung holding up...a basketball hoop?
7. Zendaya gave us literal behind-the-magic material for her light-up Cinderella dress — are we, like, backstage at Disney World right now? Because my dreams are coming true rn.
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@zendaya / Via instagram.com
8. Kylie and Kendall Jenner also went for the Cinderella theme, but wicked stepsisters style. Hello, feathers! Hello, matching purple hair! Hello, complementary colors!
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@kyliejenner / Via instagram.com
9. Priyanka and Nick made their ~official~ and ~married couple~ Met debut (while reminiscing about THAT Met Gala two years ago*) and looked positively wicked! 😍
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@nickjonas / Via instagram.com
In her IG stories, Priyanka shared a snap of their 2017 red carpet and captioned it: "The story I'll definitely tell our future kids...How I MET your father." So is this spinoff of How I Met Your Mother happening or what? CBS, let's GO.
10. Awkwafina gave us a lil' sneaky peek of her Met Gala getup with designer Joseph Altuzarra and stylist Shirley Kurata. AZN DREAM TEAM.
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@awkwafina / Via instagram.com
11. And then broke the no-selfies rule by snapping a quickie with her frands, Constance and Priyanka. Again, AZN DREAM TEAM.
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@awkwafina / Via instagram.com
12. Before the rule-breaking madness, Constance Wu served mega glam with her '20s-inspired hair prep and bedazzled nails. I stan a beauty queen.
@constancewu / Via Instagram: @constancewu
13. Mindy Kaling went blonde, and I gasped! Wig or not it goes perfectly with her gold-sequined dress, which is veeery similar to the one she wore in Ocean's 8 — talk about turning fiction into reality!
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@mindykaling / Via instagram.com
14. But if we're talking about ~best~ hair, Ciara claimed that throne and probably twerked on it. Both her bigger-than-life (and life-giving) afro and chic puffs left me speechless.
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@ciara / Via instagram.com
15. Yara Shahidi bling-outlined her eye with crystals representing her astrological sign, Aquarius (as a single wavy line instead of two parallels). Someone invite me to a party so I have an excuse to replicate this, thx.
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@yarashahidi / Via instagram.com
16. Let us just take a moment to admire the train on Halsey's Prabal Gurung number. Just WOW. She could be posing next to a dumpster and still look flawless.
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@iamhalsey / Via instagram.com
17. Lena Waithe was all of us trying to pick ourselves up during a Monday afternoon slump — that is, if we were also going to the Met Gala.

@lenawaithe / Via Instagram: @lenawaithe
18. And then stunned us with her tribute to black drag queens who paved the way for this year's camp theme. Mic drop.
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@lenawaithe / Via instagram.com
19. Rita Ora wasn't going to let a dancing opportunity escape her before getting into her ~full lewk~. She knows how to get pumped up, ok!
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@ritaora / Via instagram.com
20. Charli XCX, one of the Met Gala newcomers this year, shared a classic towel moment and gave us a sneak peek of her killer pink eyeshadow situation. That coupled with the pink hair tips? UGH, PERFECTION.
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@charli_xcx / Via instagram.com
21. Karlie Kloss went straight-up futuristic with this space-bubble-helmet situation at her Georgia Louise facial — yeah, there's not a chance that an ounce of that hydrating goodness is evaporating!

@karliekloss / Via Instagram: @karliekloss
22. Billy Porter, king of red carpets, wasted no time with pre-Met Gala celebrations by raising a glass of rosé in his crazy glam gold-sequined eye mask!

@theebillyporter / Via Instagram: @theebillyporter
Please see his complete Egyptian king lewk because it'll take your breath away. What. An. Entrance.
23. Janelle Monáe yet again slayed the red carpet with her literal winking dress and leaning tower of hats — Dali and Picasso, the inspirations for this surreal ensemble, would truly be proud.
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@janellemonae / Via instagram.com
24. And in the realm of iconic writers, Danai Gurira tipped her hat to Oscar Wilde for her getup — so basically this photo contains two works of art!!
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@danaigurira / Via instagram.com
25. Queen of Instagram Eva Chen shared her worst nightmare...

@evachen212 / Via Instagram: @evachen212
26. ...but obviously averted her fears and emerged with a super-colorful beat and updo. I love!!!
@evachen212 / Via Instagram: @evachen212
27. One more, because of this train, city view, feathers, and Tiffany & Co. baubles, and EVERYTHING.
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@evachen212 / Via instagram.com
28. Michael B. Jordan revealed the secret to hallway modeling: looking at the wall. HOT TIP. (My tip is to just be him.)
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@michaelbjordan / Via instagram.com
29. Lana Condor's dreamy pink dress was such a floofy masterpiece that she actually lost her purse inside it!!!

@evachen / Via Instagram: @evachen212
Spoiler alert: They called her phone to see if she could feel her purse vibrate and then when she couldn't, Charles Melton pulled out his flashlight and went underneath the table to find her purse. AZN DREAM TEAM(WORK).
30. Katy Perry shared a sneak peek of her chandelier-to-burger accessories, but the real money shot is the WHOLE burger costume. My stomach actually just growled — so life-like.

@evachen212 / Via Instagram: @evachen212
31. And this might be one of the weirdest photos of the night: Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner holding Jared Leto's head, Jeff Bezos (lol), and the real, not-decapitated Jared Leto.

@jaredleto / Via Instagram: @jaredleto
32. Ok, I need EVERYONE to click over to the second photo and admire the literal masterpiece that is Ashley Graham's blinged-TF-out hair!!
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@ashleygraham / Via instagram.com
Done by Justine Marjan, btw!
33. Lily Collins probably had an intense internal debate about calling it a night vs. heading to an afterparty — either way, I think she killed her Met Gala debut, so both options are deserved!
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@lilyjcollins / Via instagram.com
34. Gemma Chan, on the other hand, definitely went into afterparty mode and transformed from Elizabeth Taylor to gorgeous lady in pink.
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@gemma_chan / Via instagram.com
BRB, letting my hair grow out so just the ends are pink???