Boricua Power: Bad Bunny & JLo to Co-Host Met Gala 2024, Putting Puerto Rico in the Spotlight

MIAMI - The Met Gala 2024 is set to make history by featuring two Puerto Rican stars, Bad Bunny and Jennifer Lopez, as two of its hosts. The star-studded hosting team also includes Chris Hemsworth, Zendaya, and Vogue's Anna Wintour, with Jonathan Anderson of Loewe and Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, serving as the evening's honorary chairs.

The Met Gala, often referred to as the "Oscars of Fashion," is a beacon of style and glamour, drawing the eyes of the world to the famous steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This year's event, themed "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," promises to be an unparalleled display of fashion and creativity.

The first Puerto Rican born host

The first Latino to host the Gala was Dominican born designer Oscar de la Renta in 1991. He reprised the role in 2001 with Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera. Salma Hayek and her husband, François-Henri Pinault, were honorary chairs 10 years later. Colombian designer Lauren Santo Domingo was host in 2013, followed by Lin-Manuel Miranda in 2022, and Penélope Cruz in 2023.

While Lopez and Miranda both have Puerto Rican parents, they were born in New York City. This is the first year that a Puerto Rican born artist has been invited to host.

Bad Bunny is a global sensation in the music industry and a style icon in his own right. After this May, he will be considered fashion royalty. Known for his bold and unique fashion choices, he made a memorable statement last year with a backless suit by Jacquemus. He will be attending the gala for the third consecutive year.

Jenny from high fashion

Jennifer Lopez, a revered figure in both music and film, has graced the Met Gala's red carpet 13 times. She is renowned for her stunning and impactful fashion statements, such as the Philip Treacy headpiece she donned last year.

While she has chosen bold attire for her performances and red carpet appearances, Lopez has often expressed her love for couture. Her fashion icons are Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Audrey Hepburn.

The 2024 Met Gala

The theme for this year's Gala ties in with the spring exhibition at the Costume Institute. The dress code, "The Garden of Time," hints at a night filled with imaginative and nature-inspired fashion.

This year's exhibit will showcase about 250 pieces from the Institute's permanent collection, many of which have rarely been seen by the public. These items, spanning various decades, will be displayed in innovative ways, incorporating advanced technologies like AI and CGI.

Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator at the Costume Institute, describes the exhibit as "an ode to nature and the emotional poetry of fashion." The exhibition aims to offer a sensory experience, reinvigorating appreciation for fashion's beauty and complexity.

The Met Gala, transcending its origins as a fashion industry event, has become a global cultural phenomenon. The 2024 edition, which will take place on May 6, with Puerto Rican hosts, emphasizes diversity and representation in the arts. This aligns with the event's broader goals of celebrating creativity and cultural influence across various industries.