The Story Behind Simone Ashley’s Cher-Inspired Met Gala 2024 Beauty Look

Dear reader, last night’s 2024 Met Gala was quite a spectacle, with Miss Simone Ashley channeling Cher on the red carpet. Makeup artist Hung Vanngo said Vogue that Ashley’s look was not only inspired by the music industry legend but also by the “element of water” (this year’s Costume Institute exhibit is designed around three zones: land, sea and sky).

Like Cher’s signature makeup in the ’70s, Vanngo created statement eyes on Ashley, using purple eyeshadow – the L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Eyeshadow Palette in Violet Amour – followed by application precise lipstick in a mauve shade, in harmony with the midnight blue sequined Prabal Gurung dress that Ashley wore.

Hairstylist Shon Hyungsun Ju also looked to the pop icon for inspiration for Ashley’s hair for the Met Gala, celebrating the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibition. “The original idea was to create Cher-inspired super long hair, but I adapted it because I was more inspired by Botticelli’s hair, more like a goddess with soft waves.” To recreate this on Ashley, Shon first straightened Simone’s naturally curly hair, before using a curling iron to create “a big flat wave”. Once the wave was set, the hair was finished with L’Oréal shine serum and Elnett hairspray for added shine.

Finishing off the modern-retro beauty look were Cher-inspired long almond nails, which manicurist Betina Goldstein created with press-on nails from Aprés Nail Official. These were covered in a navy blue gel with elongated crystals in bronze to match the crystal details on Ashley’s dress.

Check out all the celebrity looks from the 2024 Met Gala red carpet: