Emma Chamberlain’s a Met Gala 2024 Star, Not Just a YouTuber

Gilbert Flores/Getty Images

In 2021 Emma Chamberlain made her debut on the Met Gala red carpet, much to the chagrin of some fashion purists. But for her Met Gala 2024, no one questioned the credentials of the 22-year-old YouTuber turned fashion darling as she arrived at the carpet.

Chamberlain, dressed in a brown lace off-the-shoulder gown by Jean Paul Gaultier, was the epitome of dark feminine energy on the carpet, bringing more of an evil-stepsister vibe to the night's theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” Dare we also say the look is giving us whimsy goth?

She accessorized her gown with jewels by Cartier, a complementary smoky brow eye, and dark red lips. Her brown hair was pulled into a sleek bun by hairstylist Sami Knight, who used Angelstick Hair Smoothing Balm by Emi Jay to achieve the slicked-back look.

Looking at Chamberlain on the carpet today, it's easy to forget that, when she was first invited, she was viewed as more of a sideshow novelty meant to attract Gen Z eyeballs than as an honored guest.

In 2021, shortly after the explosion of TikTok turned several young people into stars overnight, the Met was flooded with a group of content creators, including Chamberlain (who, we must note, was not a TikToker and had been famous online at that point for years).

The arrival of Chamberlain, TikToker Addison Rae, and others drew eye rolls from many who groused that “influencers were ruining the Met.” The New York Post wondered whether the influx of content creators was leading the event to lose its luster, with one anonymous source telling the publication that it’s no longer “super prestigious” because of the new, allegedly uncouth crop of celebrities.

Three years later, though, the Post's predictions have fallen short. Rather than the Met becoming irrelevant for daring to invite someone like Chamberlain, the reverse has occurred. She has slowly morphed into a fashionista to watch, appearing at the gala every year since and hosting the livestream for multiple years for Vogue.

In 2022 the combination of her off-the-cuff and endearing interview style (who could forget her exchange with Jack Harlow?), combined with her flawless execution of a two-piece Louis Vuitton set on the carpet, endeared her to many of her skeptics, with Teen Vogue saying that it's “almost like we can’t celebrate the first Monday in May without her anymore.”

By 2023 The Wall Street Journal had declared her “a fashion darling.” That year, when she arrived at the Met wearing a matching baby blue set from Miu Miu, no one batted an eye.

It's interesting to note that, in making this transformation, Chamberlain is one of the few social media or internet stars who has been able to break out of the mold. While many people have gotten famous from social media, that fame is extremely hard to maintain over time. Just think of all the internet celebrities who have shone bright yet burned out (we won't name names) without ever reaching success outside the box they were placed into.

Chamberlain, though, has been able to do it. In fact, she is actively trying to move away from the platforms that made her famous; she rarely posts on YouTube and focuses her efforts on her business, Chamberlain Coffee, her podcast, Anything Goes, and of course, fashion.

In fact, on Monday night, for Emma Chamberlain's Met Gala 2024, she hadn't even posted about it on her Instagram. She let her fashion speak for itself, IRL.

Originally Appeared on Glamour