By Vittoria Socolof ‘22, Arts & Entertainment Editor 

Image courtesy of nbcnews.com

On Monday, September 13th, millions of teens scrolled through the Met Gala Instagram page stalking the “American independence”-themed outfits, picking and choosing who dressed the best. This year, social media stars including Addison Rae, Dixie Damelio, and Emma Chamberlain all received invitations to attend the Met Gala alongside A-List artists including Rihanna, J. Lo, and Frank Ocean. But does this mean the Met Gala has become less prestigious?

All the co-hosts at this year’s event were members of Gen-Z for the first time in the Gala’s history. While generational shift was widely welcomed, other younger social media influencers received backlash for their attendance. One viral tweet imagined a conversation between Lady Gaga and Addison Rae at the event: “Waitress, can you get me champagne?” Gaga asks. Rae responds, “I’m Addison Rae.” To which, Gaga says, “Okay, Addison Rae, get me some champagne.” Although Rae received online hate for her appearance at the event, she tweeted back, “I would do anything for you @ladygaga,” showing her confidence and proving her place on the red carpet. Rae walked the carpet wearing a look she and her go-to stylist, Law Roach, chose: a crimson long gown with corset bodice, a look from Tom Ford’s 2003 collection for Gucci. 

Other social media influencers, including Emma Chamberlain, have also influenced the fashion world for the younger generation. Mainstream brands have been pairing with newer creators in the industry. For example, Emma Chamberlain has had an ongoing brand deal with Louis Vuitton, attending the house’s runway shows, promoting the brand on video, and recently appearing in a footwear campaign. She earned her spot at the Met Gala by showing up early to interview celebrities for “Vogue’s” youtube channel. Chamberlain walked the carpet wearing a sparkling Louis Vuitton gown and an asymmetrical skirt with a chain-link back. She paired the look with dangling gold hoop earrings and bold green eye shadow that added to the ‘70s look of her ensemble. 

Although inviting younger social media influencers reinforces the stereotype that most of Gen-Z’s success comes from rebranding other people’s work online, Derek Blasberg, Director of Public Figures and Head of Fashion and Beauty, discusses the importance of media in the industry: “Fashion and beauty creators are not only super fans of the style industry, but also are style stars in their own right. Just look at how many people subscribe and watch their content. It’s a natural progression of the fashion industry to embrace new talent, whether they’re musicians, models, actors or influencers.” 

While many are worried about ruining the Met Gala’s glamor and exclusivity, inviting younger social media influencers also opens the event to a wider audience, especially teenagers. With the new generation studying their favorite social media influencers on the red carpet, the fashion industry will continue to grow and adapt.