The Met Gala is home to some of the best-dressed — and best-looking — people on earth. From Rihanna to Blackpink member Jennie Kim, the guest list for the 2023 gala was brimming with superstars. Seriously, how can you fit so many gorgeous celebrities into one venue?
For the most part, the outfits were killer, with looks like Dua Lipa’s Chanel wedding dress and Ice Spice’s sleek white gown wowing fans with their timeless beauty. Some celebrities took a more campy approach to the Karl Lagerfeld theme, like Lil Nas X, who’s never one to shy away from making a fashion statement. I still can’t decide if Doja Cat’s facial prosthetics are iconic or haunting in a Grinch-like sort of way.
But, as TikTok users would argue, the people who really stole the show weren’t celebrities at all. In fact, they were the ones working the event — “working” in two senses of the word. Indeed, they absolutely worked their classic tuxedos. Normally, I would be opposed to men showing up at the Met Gala in tuxes, but I’ll make an exception here.
Sharp-eyed viewers spotted different men in the background of the red carpet stream accompanying the guest list of celebs, and they immediately rose to TikTok stardom. People on the app were quick to make thirst traps of the workers. After some digging, TikTok users figured out the men were models, including Mitchell Cochran, Tejas Bleu, and Eugenio Casnighi, among others. It’s very likely that the Met Gala hired them to assist celebrities with their outfit pieces and, essentially, to look pretty. If that’s the case, then they were undoubtedly successful in their mission.
This isn’t the first time someone who isn’t a celebrity stole the show. Met Gala correspondent Genesis Suero absolutely slayed in her Gilded Glamour finest during the 2022 event, leading TikTok users to award her the title of best-dressed. Suero and this year’s models prove you don’t need fame to leave a lasting impression on the red carpet.