Rihanna loves to make an entrance at the Met Gala, and she certainly did it again on Monday - this time, announcing to the world that she is pregnant with her third child with rapper A$AP Rocky, reported AFP.
News of the 37-year-old singer and beauty mogul's new baby bump came before her arrival at the A-list fundraising gala.
In a portrait put on Instagram by photographer Miles Diggs, she embraced the Black dandy theme of the gala in a fitted gray Miu Miu blouse and skirt - the baby bump clearly visible - matching knee-high boots, a fur stole and a black cloche hat.
Then her long-time partner A$AP Rocky, a co-chair of the event, confirmed the news to reporters who offered congratulations on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," the rapper said. "I'm glad everybody's happy for us because we're definitely happy."
Finally, after all of the other guests had arrived, Rihanna hit the red carpet in a deconstructed black ensemble with a cropped jacket, polka dot accessories and a wide-brimmed hat. She cradled the baby bump and smiled for the cameras.
Rihanna made a similarly high-profile pregnancy reveal in 2023 - while performing at the Super Bowl halftime show. She attended the Met Gala later that year before giving birth.
She and A$AP Rocky are parents to sons RZA, born in May 2022, and Riot, born in August 2023.
Showing off a baby bump at the Met Gala is a thing: retired tennis superstar Serena Williams did it in 2023, and model Karlie Kloss cradled her bump in both 2023 and again this year.
Celebrating Black style
Meanwhile, as per Reuters, Pharrell Williams sported a jacket with 15,000 pearls and musician Andre 3000 strapped a piano to his back as celebrities celebrated Black style and tailoring at the Met Gala fundraiser.
Mostly black-and-white looks populated the daffodil-accented deep-blue carpet covering the steps to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Guests arrived as assistants sheltered them under umbrellas in the heavy rain.
Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton and actor Colman Domingo, co-chairs of the gala, were among the first of the stars of sports, music, film and television to appear.
Domingo wore a full-length royal blue pleated cloak falling from a gold-and-white casing around his shoulders. He removed the cloak to reveal a bejewelled, checkered black-and-white jacket and grey trousers. Hamilton chose an ivory suit with a beret.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris had also made her way into the event. She was not spotted on the carpet, but the Democratic Party posted a photo of her on social media in a long black-and-white gown.
The Met Gala, a fundraiser for the art museum's Costume Institute, has become known for its roster of A-list celebrities in extravagant outfits. This year's guests were told to dress according to the theme "Tailored for You," a nod to the exhibit called "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at the museum's Costume Institute. The exhibit focuses on an elegant Black dandy aesthetic.
Embracing diversity
The theme was chosen before the election of US President Donald Trump, who launched an assault on diversity and inclusion efforts during the first weeks of his second term.
Andrew Bolton, head curator of the Costume Institute, said that even though work began on the exhibit in 2022, "in this current political climate, it resonates very differently. Timing is everything."
Also on the carpet, legendary Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan wore a silk black sherwani-style jacket over black trousers with several necklaces including one with a giant "K."
Adding to Bollywood royalty was musician and actor Diljit Dosanjh, who donned a traditional white Punjabi ensemble consisting of a kurta, tehmat, and jewelled turban. To seal the look, the rapper also carried a lion-headed jewel-studded sword.
Euphoria actor Sydney Sweeney shimmered in a fitted sparkling black gown with her hair slicked back in a bun. Her co-star Zendaya wore a white silk suit with a brimmed hat.
Some pops of colour made a statement on the carpet. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles stood out in a short bright blue dress with a white collar. Director Spike Lee wore a black suit with a silver crossbody bag, orange glasses and an orange New York Knicks cap. Singer Chappell Roan donned hot pink.
Among the notable accessories, Bad Bunny carried a brown and yellow bowling-style bag and Tessa Thompson had a fan with an image of the late fashion journalist Andre Leon Talley, who many cited as an inspiration for their outfits.
Other attendees included musicians Stevie Wonder and Shaboozey and actors Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman and Cynthia Erivo.
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