⁠7 stunning Nicki Minaj Met Gala looks you can’t miss

Every year, the Met Gala turns the Metropolitan Museum’s steps into the ultimate runway, where high fashion meets wild imagination. And if there’s one celebrity who knows how to own that moment with flair, drama, and unapologetic glam, it’s Nicki Minaj. Regardless of whether she's going bold, fashion-forward, or princess, Nicki never fails to provide us with an appearance worth talking about for days (and pinning on our Pinterest boards for years).

Year in and year out, Nicki has presented a range of Met Gala looks that have reflected her evolving persona, her clever nods to the annual themes, and her undeniable skill at high-fashion drama. From collaborating with top designers like Prabal Gurung and Burberry to stepping out in show-stopping silhouettes, the rapper’s red carpet evolution is nothing short of iconic.

Below, we round up 7 of Nicki Minaj’s most stunning Met Gala outfits, each one a fashion statement that made headlines and lived rent-free in our minds ever since.

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Nicki Minaj’s Best Met Gala Outfits – A Fashion Timeline

Nicki Minaj is known for many things: her sharp lyrics, alter egos, and signature pink, but her red carpet energy is a category of its own. Especially at the Met Gala, where she’s delivered some of the most unforgettable looks in the event’s history. While some stars play it safe, Nicki plays it bold, and this list proves just that.

Let’s take a stroll down the Met carpet and revisit seven times Nicki Minaj nailed the assignment (and then some).

2024: The Walking Garden in Marni

Nicki’s 2024 Met Gala look was nothing short of a botanical masterpiece. She wore a sculptural Marni dress adorned with oversized 3D florals in full bloom, giving the illusion that she had risen straight out of an enchanted garden. It was whimsical, weird, and completely on-theme, exactly what the Met Gala is all about.

2018: Red and Radiant in Oscar de la Renta

If drama had a dress code, Nicki’s 2018 Oscar de la Renta gown would be it. Draped in a rich, scarlet hue with a plunging neckline and flowing train, she looked every bit the high-fashion villainess, and we loved it. Bonus: She also used the moment to tease her upcoming music. Fashion and news? Queen moves only.

2012: Futuristic Chic

In 2012, Nicki served a look that was playful and ahead of its time, just like her. Though details were sparse, her choice of quirky, tech-infused fashion hinted at a world where pop culture meets sci-fi. It was a moment of fun chaos, perfectly reflecting the rapper’s early era.

2016: Dark Glamour in Moschino

Nicki arrived arm-in-arm with Jeremy Scott in 2016, wrapped in a custom black Moschino number featuring bold blue buckled straps and sheer paneling. The result? A fierce and futuristic take on the “Manus x Machina” theme, with just enough edge to turn heads and spark conversations.

2017: Sophisticated Rebel

For the 2017 Met Gala honoring Rei Kawakubo, Nicki toned down the theatrics and showed us she can do subtle just as well. Her outfit balanced structure and sensuality, with a striking black-and-red palette and dramatic sash detail. It was refined, but with a rebellious wink, very on-brand.

2019: Pink Princess in Prabal Gurung

Nicki embraced her inner fairy tale at the 2019 Met Gala with a voluminous pink Prabal Gurung gown. Layers of tulle, a high-low hem, and crystal embellishments made her look like a storybook character, the kind who drops verses instead of glass slippers.

2022: Burberry Babe

In 2022, Nicki went street-meets-couture in a risky Burberry look that included a leather baseball cap and a pearl-encrusted bustier. It was half edgy, half elegant, and once again proved that she can blend high fashion with her signature street-smart style like nobody's business.

From 2012's playful chaos to 2024's floral fantasy, Nicki Minaj has proven she's not just a music icon, she's a fashion chameleon. Each Met Gala appearance is like another version of Nicki revealing herself to stun us, demonstrating to the world she's always one step ahead and never afraid of a gamble.

Whether you're tuning in for the gowns, the drama, or just some style inspiration for your next mood board, one thing's for sure: when Nicki Minaj walks up those Met steps, we all watch and we never forget.