Heidi Klum Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Transformation for Her 2026 Met Gala Look
Heidi Klum truly outdid herself for her 2026 Met Gala appearance.
The 52-year-old transformed into a living statue using prosthetics for fashion’s biggest night, which took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Monday, May 4. After the gala, on Tuesday, May 5, Klum shared an exclusive behind-the-scenes look on Instagram, revealing the intricate process behind her custom Mike Marino outfit. In the video, Klum arrived at a studio, where her FX team began the lengthy transformation, inspired by the 1847 sculpture, the Veiled Vestal by Raffaele Monti.
“This year’s Met Gala theme is ‘Costume Art,’” Klum noted in the video. “And this is my interpretation.” The footage depicted makeup artists applying prosthetics to her face and showed a concealed zipper at the back of her costume.
Klum, donning a bald cap, also displayed her painted hands, joking, “I need to get my nails done. Chop, chop, chop. I usually don’t keep my nails this short,” she laughed.
To achieve this look, Marino mentioned that they first 3-D scanned Klum’s “entire body.”
“Using that scan, we sculpt the design, complete with all the folds and draping, going through a lengthy yet artistic process,” he explained, comparing it to traditional methods of classical sculpting. “We’re just applying more advanced materials.”
In a humorous moment, Marino even fed Klum a burger while she was being painted. To help the mold slide onto her body more easily, she wrapped herself in plastic. “I already look stunning,” she exclaimed once dressed in the costume. “Look at this! Wow!”
Klum’s prosthetic face was carefully adhered to her skin, with final makeup adjustments to perfect the look.
“We are tackling one of the most intricate designs ever, and our creations need to move flawlessly,” Marino added. Klum wrapped up the video by showing herself stepping out of her sprinter van to pose on the red carpet.
“It all begins with a vision,” Klum wrote in her post. “This year’s Met Gala theme was ‘Fashion is Art,’ and here’s my interpretation…a moving piece of fine art. I cherish the collaborative spirit with talented artists who worked diligently to transform my idea of turning fabric into sculpture into what everyone witnessed at the Met’s steps. Thank you from the depths of my heart 🤍.”
