But the arrivals of frequent Met Gala attendees were also exciting, as was the case for indigenous model, actor and activist, Quannah Chasinghorse. The 2024 event marked Chasinghorse’s fourth Met Gala and, as always, she turned heads with her on-theme outfit.

Here’s what we know about Quannah Chasinghorse.

Quannah Chasinghorse is a successful model

Chasinghorse is of mixed indigenous descent – her mother is of the Hän Gwich’in tribe from Eagle Village, Alaska, while her father belongs to the Oglala and Sicangu Lakota tribe from South Dakota.

The 21-year-old grew up obsessed with fashion, but the lack of indigenous representation was always a deterrent. “It was really hard for me to feel like I had the potential to be a model,” she said in an interview with Vogue in 2021.

Chasinghorse has since walked for major fashion labels such as Chanel, Tommy Hilfiger and Prabal Gurung.

She’s also an activist

Fashion and modelling aside, Chasinghorse is also deeply invested in climate change.

Her mother and grandmother were also climate activists, and their influence led to the young model being a constant presence at climate change rallies, even as a teenager.

“As indigenous people, we don’t consider ourselves separate from or more important than nature. When you grow up with a connection to the land, it’s natural that you want to defend it, because it is a part of you,” she wrote in an essay published by CNN in 2022.

She wore custom H&M to the 2024 Met Gala

According to Nylon, Chasinghorse was instrumental to the creation of her custom Met Gala gown by H&M. The model worked closely with the brand’s creative adviser and head of womenswear, Ann-Sofie Johansson, to create the dramatic periwinkle gown that featured lavish fabric.

The off-the-shoulder dress featured ruching on the sleeves, a corset bodice, and a large hoop skirt that created drama. It also incorporated forget-me-not flowers in a nod to Chasinghorse’s home state of Alaska.

Johansson told Nylon that the brand looked to some of its archival pieces from the 1940s and 1950s for inspiration when designing the dress.

Chasinghorse paired the gown with floral-themed accessories by Indigenous artist Heather Dixon, including a belt, earrings and several hair pieces.

Though the gown was heavy, Chasinghorse told Nylon it was comfortable because of the corset’s design.

“I love it because it’s so bold and big, and it’s very different from what I usually wear,” she said. “I bring a little bit of an edginess to my looks, but this one is going to be more on the femme side, so I’m really excited.”

The star believes the Met Gala has become more inclusive since she first attended

Speaking to Nylon ahead of the event, Chasinghorse said her experience attending has changed since her first Met Gala in 2021.

“My first year going, I did this article explaining that when you’re in those spaces and you don’t see anyone who looks like you, you’re just kind of alone, and you don’t feel like you belong,” Chasinghorse told Nylon.

Following the 2021 event, Chasinghorse told Business Insider it was “just such a weird space to be in”. She recalled “standing there and looking at everyone and feeling so alone. Like, really, really lonely”.

“No one knew me,” she added. “No one cared to ask. People are there for themselves, and it shows.”

Chasinghorse also told Nylon that she connected with other 2024 attendees who made their Met Gala debut on Monday and was grateful to become a “safe space” for them.

“You get the nerves, but it’s really nice to be able to be almost like a safe space for someone. It’s really cool to have a bit more experience in those spaces,” she told Nylon. “I know that if I had someone I could go to, just how these people are coming to me, I would’ve felt a lot more relaxed and a lot more like I belonged.”