AG x Met Gala: You heard it here first

Hello, it’s me, reporting to you from Met Gala Monday! Listen, I’ve done this seven times now, and the nerves never quite go away. This year was on another level, because I hosted Vogue’s livestream (major) and got to chat with Gigi Hadid, Anne Hathaway, Ciara, and so many more incredible people—it feels like a total fever dream.

The 2026 theme and Costume Institute exhibition is right up my alley. Andrew Bolton curated Costume Art to explore the “centrality of the dressed body,” pairing 5,000 years of art with fashion to feature everything from classical nude and anatomical shapes to bodies that are usually overlooked—like aging bodies, disabled bodies, and pregnant bodies. Obviously this is something I can get behind.

Overall, it was a Met Gala for the books and I’m really excited to be able to take you behind the curtain—tales from the glam chair, catching up with friends on the carpet, and of course, dancing the night away. If the First Monday in May is the Super Bowl of fashion, I want this letter to be your locker room access. Ready to see exactly how my day unfolded? Let’s goooo!

6:00 6:38 AM — The early bird gets the glam (and the allergy attack).

6:39 AM — In case you were wondering what (and who) I’m most excited about seeing tonight… 🐝

8:06 AM — I’m opening a gift from Patrick, the lead wardrobe at Chicago. We've stayed in touch since I did the show. He's such a sweetheart and he made a painting of me and Anna Wintour in the style of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, where we're touching fingers. 😂

10:09 AM — Okay, so we got a bit of a late start, which is…on brand. Anyway, my schedule today is packed: I'm in the glam chair now, then doing a final fitting for my stunning DI PETSA gown (massive shout-out to Dimitra, I can’t stress how fabulous she is!). I have a content shoot, then I have to take my dress off and put on a trench coat—very Beyoncé “Ring the Alarm”—because there's gonna be crazy paparazzi outside The Mark and we don't want them to see my dress. I'll head to the Met for a rehearsal to practice lines and make sure everybody hits their marks and all that. Shimmy to the green room, put my dress back on, and then it’s livestream time, baby!

10:14 AM — Glam is officially done! Big thanks to Gonn, Dawn, and Kabuki, the dream team. I’m getting hungrrryyy

10:34 AM — Time to fit the dress. The custom creation they made for your girl is a masterpiece. Stella, stylist almighty, is sewing the dress to my bra but it’s giving me a bit of boob muffin top? We’re going for organic and effortless, and boob muffin top ain’t it. But we’re gonna work it out. It’s taking three people, plus me, to get this dress on. Turns out clenching my butt helps; I’ve definitely mastered the butt wiggle. 🍑

You want to know more about the look, right? I’d explain it, but I think the designer can do it better. Please welcome to the stage….Dimitra Petsa!

10:38 AM — Let’s talk about my nails for a second, because there are layers to this. The idea is “clay-dipped,” an homage to the hands of sculptors, and as if I'm a statue coming to life. Dawn did a beautiful job on my chrome nails, now Kabuki is coming in and putting the silver paint on my fingertips. It looks psychedelic! We're gonna take the paint off after I shoot content and then we'll reapply it when we're back at the Met. Praying it doesn’t transfer onto my gown 💅

11:02 AM — Fitting has finished. The dress feels like a second skin, and I’m definitely channeling that femme fatale Medusa energy. You know my snacks are packed. My fuel today was this Snake River Farm Beef Jerky, and my Lemon Lime Flavia electrolytes.

11:50 AM — Jumping on a quick call with my BFF Karlie to go over potential red carpet questions. I can’t wait to see her!

12:18 PM — Content shoot is in full swing; working with Carly Sharp and Keon Gooding is a blast and YES the Lucci is out! The things I’ll do for a good photo 😂

1:32 PM — Everything’s going sooo smoothly. I’m rehearsing and prepping and studying the face cards I was given (I didn’t know many of the athletes, LOL sue me! BUT now I do and I’m their newest fans). I’m trying to come up with cool, original interview questions that not everyone else will ask. Eeee! If I could, I'd have a glass of Lucci waiting for me at the top of the stairs.

2:07 PM — We’re leaving The Mark and I’m in my TTSWTRS trench, looking like a spy on a secret mission. 🧥 I’m with the best team ever and the vibes are immaculate.

2:30 PM — And I’ve arrived! Rolling deep, green juice in hand. Let’s do this.

3:10 PM — Backstage at the Gala and heading through security. I'm in my gown and getting a little nervous. 😬 I’ve got butterflies in my belly and a wedgie that I can’t pick due to the fact that my fingers are painted silver.

3:24 PM — Pre-taping interviews to get the ball rolling! Whaddya know, I’m ahead of schedule. Just waiting on my lovely cohosts, La La Anthony and Cara Delevingne. Time for snacks.

4:23 PM — Calm before the storm. This is actually the most stressful part of the night. I'm about to get my pictures taken on the carpet, basically by myself because no one's here yet. Woosah. Here we go!

4:42 PM — Photos done. I feel like a million dollars, maybe two. This DRESS? Dimitra did the damn thing🔥

5:00 PM — I’ve got hair, makeup, and my stylist right by my side throughout interviews, making sure everything stays in place—no slipping dress, no stray hairs. I’m moving constantly, hugging people, and yes…planning to kick my shoes off early, so they’re keeping everything in check. We’ve started taping pre-interviews so Vogue can seamlessly switch between those and live moments to keep things moving (and give us a little buffer if guests are running late). There’s a whole science to how this all works!

6:00 PM —

6:44 PM — Interviews are rolling in! So far I’ve talked to Gigi, Connor Storrie (how handsome did he look?!), Sinéad Burke, Amanda Seyfried, Lena Dunham, Hunter Schafer and Troye Sivan, Law Roach (newly engaged—that rock!), Anne Hathaway and Michael Kors, Aariana Rose Philip, and the stunning Adut Akech, who’s due to give birth any second now. I geeked out so hard over Alysa Liu!! ⛸️

7:13 PM — Got to chat with my gorgeous friend Paloma Elsesser, who is always a great vibe. Tyla gave Cara and I quick dance lesson (I’ll keep practicing that hip swivel) and Heidi Klum’s living statue look had my jaw on the floor. Queen of costumes, forever.

7:22 PM — Rachel Sennott is hilarious. Also, let’s take a moment for Ciara and Russell Wilson, who looked divine. More dancing, this time with Odessa A’zion!

8:00 PM — Livestream wrapped! Time to head inside. The infamous no-phones rule is in full effect, so I’ll catch up with y’all laterrrr

11:30 PM — Back at the Mark; what a night, you guys! I missed dinner altogether because I saw so many friends and got distracted yapping with people. By the time I finally sat down, dessert was there. I had a very fun table: Nia Long, Steph and Ayesha Curry, Jeremy Pope, Rachel Scott from Diotima…then Sabrina Carpenter and Stevie Nicks performed in front of the Met’s Temple of Dendur, which was really iconic—they sang “Landslide” and “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” together. Now it’s time to rally, because I hear an afterparty calling my name 👑🐝

12:54 AM — Quick glam touch-up, then my team ordered a burger for me to scarf down (lifesaver). I kicked off my shoes for a solid 45 minutes, changed into this Jean Paul Gaultier body dress, Justin arrived, we snapped a few pics, and headed out the door—with Lucci in hand, obviously.

4:00(ish??) AM — Ended up at the afterparty. Justin and I jumped into a “photo booth” that was actually a full production—lighting, photographer, everything. No notes.

Sadly, I was so busy working that I didn’t have time to check out the Met exhibition! But I’m planning on returning with a friend, or going on a date in the city with Justin to take it all in.

For twenty years, I’ve been screaming from the rooftops that every body is a work of art. To see the Met finally put that conversation center stage—to see “the body” treated as the ultimate masterpiece—felt like a win for all of us.

My custom DI PETSA look was a nod to metamorphosis—that powerful, dangerous, unstoppable side of female nature. It’s a lot of pressure to represent the human form in a room full of people who have spent their lives trying to perfect theirs. But my takeaway from the night is that life isn’t about being the “classical” version of anything. It’s about being the body that shows up, does the work, and isn’t afraid to take up space—even if you’re sucked into shapewear and your feet are screaming at you.

We are walking exhibits of our own history. Whatever body you inhabit, no matter your size, shape, height, or ability, I hope you always, always remember: you are a work of art. No costume required.

Until next time,

xo Ashley