There were a number of glowing gowns and bold looks on display at the 2021 Met Gala, but a dramatic look from Indigenous model Quannah Chasinghorse sent social media buzzing.
Chasinghorse, 19, became a viral sensation after a Twitter user shared a photo and called her a “QUEEN” in an excited tweet. On Instagram, Chasinghorse said that she used her Twitter account for the first time just to identify herself in the photo.
“This is me,” Chasinghorse wrote, alongside a series of emojis.
The pictures quickly went viral, racking up hundreds of 1000’s of likes and thousands of shares and comments. Many complimented Chasinghorse’s beautiful metallic gown and turquoise accessories and praised her interpretation of the gala’s theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.”
In her Instagram stories, Chasinghorse shared a post from photographer Emily Sullivan confirming that the much-admired jewellery came from “aunty” Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw, who was crowned Miss Navajo Nation in 2006. Billy-Upshaw personally flew the collection of jewelry to New York City so that Chasinghorse could wear it at the benefit gala.
Quannah Chasinghorse’s original jewelry was flown to New York City so that she could wear it at the gala.
Chasinghorse was also praised for her facial tattoos, which are called Yidįįłtoo. The model told Vogue that the hand-poked traditional art was done by her mom and is meant to commemorate important events in one’s life.
“The lines represent overcoming generational and personal traumas,” Chasinghorse said to Vogue. “To be able to bring (the tattoos) back is a powerful thing — you feel empowered knowing that you’re carrying on a tradition that was meant to be erased.”
Quannah Chasinghorse wore a metallic gown with turquoise jewellery and accessories.
Chasinghorse is of Hän Gwich’in (a tribe found in Alaska and Canada) and Oglala Lakota (a tribe found in South Dakota) descent.
On Tuesday morning, she posted on Twitter to thank people for their support of her Met Gala look.
“Mahsi’choo (thank you very much) everyone for being so supportive and uplifting,” she wrote. “I felt very alone there but some people were very sweet to me. The Met Gala was a dream and for the theme I wanted to represent indigenous art and fashion. Thank you Peter Dundas.”
Dundas also designed Megan Fox’s slinky red gown and Mary J. Blige’s metal dress. Chasinghorse’s Instagram story showed photos of her posing with both of them.
Quannah Chasinghorse (right) poses alongside other Met Gala attendees Mary J. Blige (left) and Megan Fox (center).
Chasinghorse made her modeling debut in a 2020 Calvin Klein campaign that emphasised the importance of voting. Before she was a model, she had a reputation as an environmental activist and has championed causes like protecting Alaska’s 20-million acre Arctic National Wildlife Reserve from fossil fuel extraction.
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Kerry Breen is a reporter and associate editor for TODAY.com, where she reports on health news, pop culture and more. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from New York University.
