Kim Kardashian Defends Losing 16 Lbs. in Order to Wear Marilyn Monroe's Dress to 2022 Met Gala

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Kim Kardashian is defending her commitment to fashion.

While in conversation with The New York Times for a recent interview, Kardashian, 41, spoke candidly about her decision to lose 16 lbs. within three weeks in order to wear Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress to the 2022 Met Gala.

After receiving backlash for telling Vogue about her dramatic weight loss to fit into the gown, which included cutting out carbs and sugar, Kardashian explained to The Times that she felt her doing so was no different than an actor preparing for a project.

"To me it was like, 'OK, Christian Bale can do it for a movie role and that is acceptable,'" she said. "Even Renée Zellweger gained weight for a role. It's all the same to me."

RELATED: Kim Kardashian Confirms Dramatic Diet to Wear Marilyn Monroe's Dress to Met Gala with Pete Davidson

Added Kardashian: "I wasn't saying, 'Hey everyone, why don't you go lose this weight in a short period of time?' "

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Kardashian borrowed one of Monroe's most iconic gowns — which had been on display in Orlando, Florida, at Ripley's Believe It or Not! — for the 2022 Met Gala. She attended the event alongside boyfriend Pete Davidson, and topped off the glamorous style with diamond drop earrings and a white fur jacket.

Speaking with Vogue on the red carpet at the annual affair, Kardashian told correspondent La La Anthony, "I had this idea to try it on and then they came with armed guards and gloves."

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But getting into the vintage gown was not an easy feat, she explained. "I tried it on and it didn't fit me. I said, 'Give me three weeks.' I had to lose 16 lbs. down today," the SKIMS founder admitted.

"It was such a challenge. It was like a [movie] role. I was determined to fit [into] it. I haven't had carbs or sugar in about three weeks. We're having a pizza and donut party back at the hotel," Kardashian added.

RELATED VIDEO: Kim Kardashian Wears Marilyn Monroe's Dress for Met Gala Debut with Pete Davidson

Designed by Jean Louis, Monroe's dress originally cost $12,000 and was reportedly so tight that the late star had to be sewn into it prior to her very sexy performance for President John F. Kennedy on May 19, 1962, at a Madison Square Garden fundraiser, just three months before she died.

Ripley's purchased the dress from Julien's Auction back in November 2016 for a whopping $4.81 million, making it one of the most expensive dresses in the world.

RELATED: Inside Kim Kardashian's Marilyn Met Gala Fitting: From Pete Davidson's Support to Required Gloves

Kardashian truly channeled Monroe with platinum blonde hair, styled in a sleek twisted bun, to pull together the entire look.

Fans previously hypothesized that Kardashian would wear the dress after The Sun reported that she and Davidson, 28, visited Ripley's Believe It or Not!.

Since Monroe's gown could not be altered, Kardashian took small shuffling steps up the red carpet as Davidson, decked out in a classic black suit and sunglasses, held her hand the entire way.