TikTok replaces YouTube as a sponsor of the Met Gala. But which TikTokers will get the highly coveted invite?
TikTokers have spent the last 4-years legitimizing the platform despite a constant uphill battle. Which ones will be rewarded by the platform with an invite to the most exclusive party in the world?
Since Anna Wintour became editor-in-chief of Vogue and overtook the Met Gala responsibilities in the late 90’s, she quickly turned it from an open-door charity event to one of the most exclusive parties in the world. Not just influencers, but A-List celebrities are cut throat in their pursuit of a Met Gala invite. Walking up the stairs to the Met Museum on the first Monday in May is symbolic of someone who has finally “made it”. It is an acceptance into a high-brow and exclusive club. But who will make it this year?
YouTube’s influence over the Met Gala was apparent in the past few years. Under the direction of Derek Blasberg, YouTube’s former Head of Fashion Partnerships, YouTube became an official sponsor of the event. In 2019, Liza Koshy was invited to be one of the red carpet hosts who greeted celebrities at the top of the stairs before they headed inside. Other YouTubers who were present on the carpet this year were James Charles and Lilly Singh.
There was tons of backlash against the influencers who appeared at the 2019 Met Gala and James Charles faced further backlash when posting an Instagram caption that said being invited was, “a step forward in the right direction for influencer representation.”
In 2020, the Met Gala was cancelled due to the pandemic. In 2021, the new red carpet host on behalf of YouTube was Emma Chamberlain. She would continue to be the host for the next three years.
With the 2024 Met Gala just two weeks away, Emma Chamberlain just relaunched a TikTok account. Coincidence? I am not sure. But she has stated that “nothing good comes from TikTok” in the past and publicly denounced the platform for the last 4 years. The move to start a TikTok a few weeks before the event that she is known for being a host of seems like a move that was most likely influenced by TikTok replacing YouTube as the official host. Is that fair? There is no right or wrong answer. While I do love Emma Chamberlain, I think this opportunity should go to a fashion TikToker who spent the last 4 years making the app what it is today.
Besides the host, I predict we will see more TikTokers invited than ever. With the TikTok ban looming, they could use the good P.R.
But who will they bring? Let’s hypothesize. Here are my guesses:
Wisdom Kaye: He was one of the first fashion-TikTokers to grow a following in 2020. He leaned into high-fashion videos and helped push TikTok forward as a platform that could be respected in high-fashion circles. He is also signed to IMG as a model and would look great walking up the stairs.
Charli D’Amelio: There were talks of Charli attending the Met Gala in years past when her sister attended. But she was not yet old enough. However, she meets the requirements now. She is hands-down the first “big” influencer to come from the platform and her name will always be synonymous with TikTok. When she appeared on Jimmy Fallon in 2020, it felt like the first time a TikToker was being seen as a legitimate public figure in traditional media.
Alix Earle: She has had a huge two years. Her brand is that of the cool, beautiful friend who brings you along with her to A-List events and parties. She has walked many red carpets and has appeared in magazines. She is dating a famous football player, Braxton Berrios. It feels reminiscent of long-standing guests, Tom Brady and Giselle. Model meets athlete.
Alex Consani: Alex is a runway model turned TikToker. Watching her TikTok feels reminscent of a real life Hannah Montana. By day, she is a relatable and funny TikToker on your timeline. By night, she is closing out fashion shows in NYC. She turns out high fashion looks on red carpets and would look beautiful on the stairs in the “Garden of Time” theme.
What other TikTokers do you think will be invited to the Met Gala? Enjoy it while it lasts because this might be the first and last time that TikTok sponsors the Met Gala if the ban actually goes through later this year. You can read my article about that here.