The Met Gala is known for its glitz, glam, and grandeur, but it turns out that even Olympic athletes can feel intimidated by its iconic red carpet.
On the May 7 episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers, Anna Wintour shared a surprising story about Simone Biles, the decorated Olympic gymnast, admitting that walking up the blue carpet at the Met Gala was more intimidating than competing in the Olympics.
Biles, who made her Met Gala debut in 2021, told Wintour, “Walking up the blue carpet was more intimidating than the Olympics,” which led Wintour to joke, “So we’re gonna put a pole vault on the carpet next year.”
She then turned to A$AP Rocky, the 2025 Met Gala co-chair, and jokingly suggested, “Maybe Rihanna’s going to go into training for the 2028 Olympics. What do you think?”
Rocky, who had just announced that he and Rihanna were expecting their third child at the event, laughed and responded, “Maybe.” Rihanna, who also graced the carpet that night, closed it by showing off her baby bump in a striking Marc Jacobs look.
At the 2021 Met Gala, Biles wore a custom bright blue bustled minidress by Harbison Studio called the Seraphim dress.
The dress featured black glittering ornamentation and a satin finish, and Biles paired it with towering heels, joking that they were at least four or five inches tall. She completed the look with a custom version of the brand’s Galaxy Cathedral Train in the same vibrant blue.
Her fiancé, Jonathan Owens, complemented her look with an all-white Deji & Kola suit, featuring blue accents. He accessorized with a white gold Margot McKinney Atlantic pendant that included a 119.44ct aquamarine, a South Sea pearl, and several diamonds, along with a white fur cape and a black cane.
The theme for the evening was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which was inspired by guest curator Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The book examines Black dandyism as both a concept and an identity signifier.
During the interview, Wintour also revealed that A$AP Rocky and Rihanna had hinted at their pregnancy news during a dinner the night before the gala.
“Rihanna and Rocky and I and some other people had dinner the night before the Met, and he was dropping all these hints. And I was being English and not saying anything,” Wintour said, recalling the moment.
On the red carpet, the couple spoke with livestream hosts Teyana Taylor, La La Anthony, and Ego Nwodim, joking that the Met Gala was “more stressful to get ready for than the Olympics.”
They also shared that they were celebrating their second wedding anniversary the following Tuesday. Owens called the Met Gala “the ultimate date night.”
Simone Biles, who was away from her fiancé due to a “long-distance” arrangement for the month, shared her excitement about the event on Instagram. She posted a selfie in a hotel robe with the caption “MET MONDAY,” as Owens kissed her on the cheek in the sweet snap.
Deepak Grover is a dedicated content writer at OTE News, specializing in government affairs, public policy, and current events. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for factual reporting, he ensures readers receive accurate and insightful news. Deepak holds a degree in Political Science and has experience in research-driven journalism.
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