The Biggest 2024 Met Gala Debuts

Cole Escola; Ayo Edebiri; Tyla Credit - Getty Images (3)

The Met Gala is the fashion event of the year—the place to see and be seen by the biggest celebrities in Hollywood. Walking that red carpet is as good a signifier as any that a person qualifies as a celebrity. While the world usually has its eyes peeled to see what the biggest names like Rihanna, Zendaya, and Kylie Jenner will wear to walk the red carpet, it’s worth paying special attention to those making their Met Gala debuts, the statements they’re looking to make, and the stories their looks tell to everyone watching.

This year, a number of people are walking the carpet for the first time on the first Monday in May. Here are the most noteworthy individuals making their Met Gala debuts, from Tyla to Ayo Edibiri.

Tyla

The South African Afrobeats singer barged into the mainstream with the release of her wildly popular song “Water” in July 2023. The song went on to take home the inaugural golden gramophone for Best African Music Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

On the carpet tonight, she stunned in a strapless, skin-tight gown designed by Balmain. The dress looks to have been molded to her body and she says the inspiration was “the sands of time.”

Maleah Joi Moon

Maleah Joi Moon is currently starring in Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway, the semi-autobiographical Alicia Keys jukebox musical. The show is tied with Stereophonic for most Tony nominations this year, nabbing 13 nods. She walked the Met Gala carpet wearing a bright floral Collina Strada gown.

Cole Escola

Alt-cabaret star Cole Escola's off-Broadway show, Oh Mary!, a dark comedy about Mary Todd Lincoln, has been one of the best-reviewed plays of the Broadway season, racking up raves and earning a transfer to Broadway this summer. They walked the carpet for the first time wearing Thom Browne, accented with a fresh bouquet of flowers in a dog-shaped wicker basket.

Ayo Edebiri

Ayo Edebiri swept awards season earlier this year, taking home an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and two SAG Awards for her work in the hit Hulu show The Bear. Along the way, she became a red carpet darling, never missing with a look. She walked the carpet for her Met Gala debut wearing a perfectly-themed Loewe dress with cascading florals.

Rauw Alejandro

Rauw Alejandro is one of the biggest Latin artists in the world and known to be a fashion lover. The 31-year-old reggaeton artist, who seems like he was born for the Met Gala red carpet, took his futuristic aesthetic to the Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing a custom Ludovic de Saint Sernin creation, which seems to be a take on a knight’s armor.

Omar Apollo

Grammy-nominated artist Omar Apollo has been a very fashion-forward celebrity throughout his career, often spotted at various Fashion Weeks. Being a Loewe ambassador, it only makes sense that he would be making his Met Gala debut with the brand, wearing a sleek suit adorned with silver rods on the lapel and three flower brooches.

Nicholas Galitzine

Nicholas Galitzine’s latest movie with Anne Hathaway, The Idea of You, is a runaway hit, and he’s become one of the most in-demand young actors following the success of Mary & George and Red, White & Royal Blue. He took the carpet donning a polished Fendi suit with floral silk embellishments.

Mike Faist

Challengers is the internet’s current obsession and the sexy tennis drama’s popularity is peaking at the perfect time—just in time for the Met Gala, which happens to include Zendaya as a co-chair. Mike Faist is the only one of the main three to be making his Met Gala debut this year, wearing Loewe, accented with a turnip boutonniere.

KAROL G

Karol G is breaking streaming records left and right with the release of her most recent album and is currently embarking on a world tour. But the Latin superstar took a break from the whirlwind of touring, walked the red carpet at the Met Gala for the first time wearing prosthetic elf ears and a sheer Marc Jacobs number embellished with large crystals from head to toe.

Wisdom Kaye

Fashion influencer Wisdom Kaye is one of the content creators that the internet has been screaming at the Met to invite. He finally made his Met Gala debut this year wearing a bold red trench coat with burnt accents created by Robert Wun.

Stray Kids

Stray Kids made history as the first K-pop group to attend the Met Gala together. Members of Blackpink and NCT have walked the carpet in the past, but never as a group. All eight members wore Tommy Hilfiger as they made their debut on the carpet.

Taylor Russell

Bones and All star Taylor Russell is a global ambassador for Loewe and starred in a campaign for the brand. She adds her name to the considerable list of stars wearing Loewe tonight, making her Met Gala debut.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph

Da’Vine Joy Randolph stole the hearts of many awards show voters this year with her memorable performance in The Holdovers, leading her to earn several awards, including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA. Tonight, she made her Met Gala debut wearing Zac Posen for Gap.

Laufey

Jazz pop singer Laufey became an international star with her hit “From the Start,” a song that took off on social media. The Icelandic singer walked the Met Gala red carpet for the first time wearing Prabal Gurung, shortly after two shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson has been famous for decades, but she graced her first Met Gala red carpet this evening, wearing Oscar de la Renta. She told the New York Times that she feels “everything has led me to this pinnacle moment where I get to be at the Met, being respected and accepted by Anna Wintour.”

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran made his debut at the Met Gala with Stella McCartney, wearing one of her designs, attending with her squad for the evening, which also includes FKA Twigs and Cara Delevigne—two Met Gala regulars.

RAYE

British singer-songwriter RAYE made history earlier this year at the BRITs after she nabbed a record-breaking number of nominations and later wins at the award ceremony. The 26-year-old artist walked the Met Gala red carpet for the first time wearing a shimmery, silver-fringe custom Fendi gown.

Write to Moises Mendez II at moises.mendez@time.com.