JANELLE Monae has risked it all at a Met Gala after party.
The 39-year-old singer, who came out as non-binary in April 2022, stunned onlookers as she arrived at the Met Gala 2025 on Monday – but further made a statement at an after party.
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Ditching their bra and donning nipple pasties in a very daring look for the festivities following the fashion event of the year, Janelle looked sensational.
The theme for the Met Gala 2025 was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, and which fans thought Janelle nailed.
Their red carpet look was even hailed as the “best look of the night” by some.
Following the red carpet, Janelle rocked up to PUBLIC’s Met Gala after party with an even bolder look.
Arriving at the party, which was held at the PUBLIC Hotel, Janelle posed up a storm as they opened their blazer to reveal a very braless look.
Janelle rocked a miniskirt in a black and white monochrome colorway, complete with a matching blazer, the same hat they rocked at the Met’s red carpet, and a huge bag.
The look was finished off with the same monocle worn on the red carper, and the same tie.
But the ultimate head turner was perhaps Janelle’s nipple pasties.
Black and white and in the shape of anchors, Janelle’s modesty was concealed by the nipple tassels as they opened their blazer and flashed the photographers.
This comes after Janelle’s Met Gala look was heavily praised for fitting the brief and looking like “an art piece”.
Janelle wore a Thom Browne two-piece look which boasted of a massive overcoat on the outer.
Meanwhile, underneath, the singer wore a floor-length skirt suit, a Magritte-style bowler hat and a monocle.
While climbing the steps of the Met, the overcoat was removed to reveal another look.
The second outfit of the night was a deconstructed sport coat and skirt.
ICONIC MET GALA RED CARPET LOOK
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Speaking about the look to The New York Times, Janelle said: “I’ve tried to deconstruct systems for many years through my work, through my art and activism.
“I want to deconstruct respectability politics around suiting and around how Black people can show up in the world. I wanted to show that we get to decide who we are.”
Fans were quick to react to Janelle’s look from the Met Gala red carpet, with one saying: “This looks like an art piece wow.”
“Best look of the night,” swooned a second.
“Honestly I love this so much,” added a third.
“Knew this was Janelle’s night! It’s insane,” penned a fourth.
Someone else said that Janelle “didn’t receive enough credit” and “ATE everybody up & was damn near the only person who over excelled the theme”.
JANELLE MONAE’S PRONOUNS
Janelle identifies as non-binary, and revealed this in 2022.
In April 2022 during an episode of Facebook Watch’s Red Table Talk, Janelle spoke to co-hosts Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris.
At the time, Janelle said: “I just don’t see myself as a woman, solely. I feel all of my energy. I feel like God is so much bigger than the ‘he’ or the ‘she’.
“And if I am from God, I am everything. But I will always, always stand with women.
“I will always stand with Black women. But I just see everything that I am, beyond the binary.”
In a Los Angeles Times interview published that same year, Janelle also noted that her “pronouns are free-ass motherf***er – and they/them, her/she”.
How do you get an invite to the Met Gala?
The Met Gala is one of the biggest fashion nights of the year but not everyone gets to attend the annual fundraiser – so, how do you get an invite to the exclusive event?
Invites to the charity event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute are rare and they do not let you get in for free.
According to the New York Times, they cost $75,000 while tables are priced at $350,000 – and all attendees have to be approved by Vogue’s editor in chief Anna Wintour.
So, the majority of guests are invited by major fashion houses and organisations with celebrities usually able to attend for free on behalf of brands who will foot the bill.
Designers like Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton will usually buy tables and fill them up with A-listers from Hollywood, sports, art, and social media.
Many who get invites are brand ambassadors, major figures for hot campaigns, or stars that companies want to be linked to.
Social media stars are most likely to be invited by major platforms like Meta and Instagram, bringing in TikTok stars and other huge celebrities – but everyone needs to be over the age of 18.
Ultimately, anyone with a major platform who it willing to pay the price of a table and who is approved by Vogue’s chief will be able to attend.
Those who are not part of the elite may also be able to get their way into to exclusive event via volunteering and work.
Jobs or internships in production, public relations, catering, communications, media, and in the museum could also secure you a space behind the scenes at the Gala.