Kim Kardashian Sets the Met Gala 2026 Ablaze in Sizzling, Body-Molded Orange Dress
It’s Met Gala Monday, but Kim Kardashian is focusing on the sundae.
The Kardashians star always goes all out for fashion’s biggest night—but this time her prep didn’t involve bleaching her hair last minute or trying to walk in sky-high platform shoes. Instead, she treated herself to a fabulous dessert ahead of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Benefit. (See all the celeb arrivals here.)
Hours before hitting the carpet in an orange hardshell bodysuit by Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem, Kim relatably revealed she was indulging in an ice cream—complete with a chocolate-dipped waffle cone and rainbow sprinkles.
She shared a look at her special meal on her Instagram Story, captioning it, “Met prep.”
Kim—mom to North, 12, Saint, 10, Chicago, 8, and Psalm, 6, with Kanye West—later strutted her stuff on the steps of the Met, wearing a futuristic ensemble inspired by Allen Jones: Maitresse, a series of eight paintings that started as a movie poster commission in the 1970s.
The original art piece—which Kim shared to her Story—depicts “the unfolding of an obsessive romance between a small-time crook and a professional dominatrix,” according to the Michael Werner Gallery. “The painting he created depicted a high-heeled, leather-clad brunette standing before a parted curtain with a bullwhip in her hand.”
While Kim’s Met prep this year involved more sprinkles than usual, in the past she’s detailed the extreme lengths she’s gone to with her dieting before the annual charity ball.
For the 2022 Met Gala—which was themed “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”—Kim was able to borrow the nude Bob Mackie dress worn by Marilyn Monroe to sing “Happy Birthday Mr. President” to John F. Kennedy in 1962.
But she had to squeeze into the gown with no alterations, which meant the SKIMS founder had to lose 16 pounds in three weeks.
“It was such a challenge,” she told Vogue at the time. “It was like a role. I was determined to fit.”
“I would wear a sauna suit twice a day, run on the treadmill, completely cut out all sugar and all carbs, and just eat the cleanest veggies and protein,” she explained. “I didn’t starve myself, but I was so strict.”
Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images
And when she received backlash for taking such drastic measures, Kim said she “didn’t do anything unhealthy.”
“To me it was like, ‘OK, Christian Bale can do it for a movie role and that is acceptable.’ Even Renée Zellweger gained weight for a role,” Kim told The New York Times. “It’s all the same to me. I wasn’t saying, ‘Hey everyone, why don’t you go lose this weight in a short period of time?'”
Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Plus, she loves to reward herself with some indulgent food once the night is over.
“After the Met, I am starving,” she shared on her Instagram Story in 2022. “And my favorite donuts in the entire world, in New York City, are these mini donuts. Oh my gosh, you guys. I have them in the room. How cute is this?”
She revealed that her hotel room had a whole feast of pizza boxes stacked up and ready.
“You guys, I haven’t had carbs or sugar in almost a month,” she added. “Definitely three weeks. This pizza—I’m so excited!”
For more moments you missed from the Met Gala, read on.
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman & Beyoncé
The 2026 co-chairs welcome guests to the party of the year.
Stephanie Augello/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Olivia Wilde & Katy Perry
About face. The singer reveals her true identity to the actress.
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Russell Wilson & Ciara
The NFL star plants a smooch on the singer.
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Tate McRae, Rosé & Connor Storrie
The stars bust a move on the dance floor.
Cindy Ord/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kendall Jenner
The supermodel takes flight while touring the fashion exhibit.
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Blake Lively & Anne Hathaway
The pair look like real-life princesses.
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Zoe Kravitz, Lily-Rose Depp & Gracie Abrams
What’s the gossip?
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Teyana Taylor & Connor Storrie
Getting heated! The actors hug it out while having a blast.
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Rihanna, Ciara & Katy Perry
The chart-toppers are in synch inside the gala.
Cindy Ord/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Heidi Klum
Where’s Waldo? More like, “Where is the supermodel?”
Stephanie Augello/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Sabrina Carpenter
The singer clearly has “Taste” when it comes to what’s in fashion.
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kris Jenner & Stella McCartney
Reunited and it feels so good.
Arturo Holmes/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Chase Sui Wonders, Maya Hawke, Patrick Schwarzenegger & Hailey Bieber
Talk about a talented foursome.
Instagram/Rachel Sennott
Rachel Sennott
The I Love LA star banks some BTS content for her fans.
Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Jisoo, Rosé, Lisa & Jennie of Blackpink
The K-Pop superstars reunite.
Tune in to E! today, May 4, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT for every must-see moment from the Met Gala 2026.
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