Nigerian music stars Ayra Starr and Tems wowed fans on Monday night at the 2025 Met Gala in New York, as they hit the red carpet with American singer Coco Jones in dazzling outfits that honoured Black culture and fashion.
The event took place on Monday, May 5, drawing celebrities from across the world to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for fashion’s biggest night.
The trio’s group photo quickly flooded social media, with fans praising their style, confidence and cultural pride.
Tems, who first stunned the Met Gala crowd in 2023, wore a deep blue ball gown dress designed by British-Nigerian designer Ozwald Boateng. Her outfit, inspired by Black dandyism, featured a green tie, a playful hair ribbon, and an umbrella nodding to Harlem Renaissance icons.
Ayra Starr, known for her “sabi girl” charm, rocked her first Met Gala appearance in a flowing Boateng gown that turned heads on the carpet.
Coco Jones kept things classy in a cream suit jacket dressed up with lace, pearls, a long braid and soft glam makeup that added a touch of Hollywood sparkle.
This year’s Met Gala theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” and its sub-theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” centred on celebrating Black designers and style leaders—something Ayra, Tems, and Coco fully embodied.
Also spotted at the gala was celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who served on the official host committee.
Nigerian-American actress Ayo Edebiri joined other global stars like Rihanna, who made headlines by revealing her third pregnancy in a Marc Jacobs suit dress, Zendaya in Burberry, and music legend Diana Ross, who wowed in a silver cape embroidered with her family members’ names.
The 2025 Met Gala was extra special as it brought back the formal host committee, last seen in 2019, with names like Simone Biles, Doechii, Janelle Monáe, Usher, and Tyla, in a night that shined a spotlight on Black excellence.
