"I wanted my debut look to be something that celebrates my heritage"
The 2024 Met Gala was a fashion spectacle but a lot of attention was on an Indian woman wearing a butterfly-inspired gown.
Social media users wondered who she was but she has now been unmasked as fashion entrepreneur Mona Patel.
Mona stole the show at the event and sparked intrigue on social media, where many were in awe of her nude-coloured Iris Van Herpen dress and praised her style.
It was Mona’s Met Gala debut, which costs $75,000 to attend.
She revealed that she wanted her outfit to be something which “celebrated my heritage”.
Having worked with Zendaya’s longtime stylist Law Roach for the occasion, Mona Patel, who was born in Vadodara, Gujarat, perfectly encapsulated the dress code for the evening – The Garden of Time.
Mona Patel moved to the United States in 2003.
Since then, she has founded several companies, including HauteX Ventures and the health tech startup radXai.
Mona’s figure-hugging dress featured a butterfly, corset bodice as well as sheer, lace details on the side.
The outfit’s hem flowed down into a scalloped train and had gold-embroidered details on the material.
Gold butterfly embellishments were placed on her arms and reached up past her elbows.
The outfit had a unique touch – the wings of the butterflies mechanically moved on their own.
Mona slipped into a pair of gold heels that had rhinestone embellishments on top.
Her makeup comprised a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a shimmering, bronze shadow around her eyes.
A warm blush and contour were added to her cheekbones, while a satin, nude-coloured tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch.
Mona accessorised with a pair of teardrop earrings.
In March 2024, Mona said: “I wanted my debut look to be something that celebrates my heritage and also combines my love of couture, and when I heard of the theme, Iris Van Herpen seemed like the obvious choice.”
Reportedly, custom creations by the designer can cost anywhere from $20,000 to more than $100,000 and can take up to two years to complete.
Shortly after Mona Patel stepped onto the Met Gala red carpet, she took the internet by storm.
One Instagram user revealed who she was and said:
“This is the most beautiful dress that I have ever seen.
“Her name is Mona Patel, and everyone is losing their actual minds over this dress and rightly so.
“Not only is it on theme, but it genuinely might be the most incredible piece of work ever because…like, are you kidding me?
“The dress moves! It’s like a butterfly dress with a mechanism in it, and oh, gorgeous.
“And look, they move like butterflies. Oh my gosh, she slayed! She has slayed.”
According to Mona’s LinkedIn profile, she began her studies at Gujarat University but decided to continue her education in the US.
Along with having a $100 million business empire, Mona Patel also launched the nonprofit organisation Couture For Cause in 2017.
According to the official website, the nonprofit “aims to drive positive change through fashion and inspire every woman to realise her highest self”.
“Through fundraising events and global campaigns, we catalyse the fashion community and the industry’s most influential figures and brands to create a better future for girls around the world.”
Mona Patel is also no stranger to the entertainment industry and has mingled with Hollywood A-listers.
In 2021, she attended a Vogue100 event in collaboration with Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand.
She is married to businessman Chintan Desai and occasionally shares pictures of the pair on her Instagram page.
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