Sudanese-American model Anok Yai arrived at the 2026 Met Gala in a Balenciaga outfit inspired by the Black Madonna, designed with creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. The look aligned with the 'Fashion Is Art' theme and aimed to send a message of hope. Blue Ivy Carter made her Met Gala debut in Balenciaga alongside co-chair Beyoncé.
Anok Yai collaborated with Balenciaga's recently installed creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli after hearing the Met Gala 2026 theme. 'I have to be a statue,' Yai thought, creating a moodboard and begging Piccioli for a strong art piece. They settled on a Black Madonna homage to convey hope 'in the climate that we’re living in right now,' Yai said from the hair and makeup chair on Met Gala day. 'I feel like being the Black Madonna in a Trump world is going to send that message.' Despite nerves, she opted for prosthetic hair to appear as a 'walking statue.'Yai's appearance follows her Time 100 recognition and robotic surgery for a congenital lung defect last year. She was named Model of the Year at the Fashion Awards and revealed her health battle publicly.Blue Ivy Carter, 14-year-old daughter of co-chair Beyoncé, made her Met Gala debut in a cream Balenciaga gown, matching jacket, sunglasses, and silver heels by Piccioli. She posed solo and with her parents. 'It feels surreal because my daughter’s here,' Beyoncé told La La Anthony during Vogue’s livestream. 'She looks so beautiful—it’s incredible to be able to share it with her.' Beyoncé praised Blue Ivy's red carpet readiness.
