How Actor Gabrielle Union's Met Gala Look Was Inspired By 5YO Daughter

A flurry of excitement surrounded the MET Gala 2024 on May 6 in New York City as celebrities from across the globe dressed to the nines for the 'Garden Of Time' theme. Among these was Gabrielle Union, who turned heads with a shimmery ombre Michael Kors number, making her look no less enchanting than a mermaid. Not only was the gown aesthetically appealing but also held an adorable meaning for the 51-year-old American actress and advocate. Union told People magazine that the dress was inspired by her daughter Kaavia's love for mermaids.

The 5-year-old girl could not attend the MET Gala, but her mother's dress sure captured her infectious spirit on the red carpet. Union told People magazine, "She's a water baby — she loves the water. And she was like, 'Mommy, you look like a mermaid!'" 

Gabrielle Union At MET Gala

This year's appearance at the MET Gala marked Union's fifth time on the celebrated red carpet. The actor, best known for her roles in Bring It On and 10 Things I Hate About You, walked alongside her NBA-famed husband Dwayne Wade.

Her dress, curated by designer Michael Kors embodied a mermaid silhouette of fish-scale-like patterns in an ombre of teal and silver colours. She donned it with a classic sleek hair bun.

In an earlier interview, Union revealed that she has been saving some of her iconic MET Gala outfits for Kaavia. She said that she has them stored in a temperature-controlled storage unit to retain the fabric's quality.

"I have a storage that's just full of things that I'm like, 'I want to be able to tell this story or how I felt wearing this'. So even if [Kaavia] never wants to wear any of it, she will have this little bit of her mom and the stories that go with it."

Union and Wade got married in 2014 and had Kaavia James Wade through a surrogate in 2018. Union calls the 5-year-old a total 'water baby' who is obsessed with mermaids. Kaavia's zodiac sign is Scorpio, which is also a water sign.

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Union and Wade have posted glimpses of Kaavia taking up swimming since she was only a few months old. The little girl takes after her talented parents and has already garnered a large following on her social media account, run by her parents.