Gigi Hadid has a super trick for posing at the 2026 Met Gala.
In fact, the supermodel found that thinking of her boyfriend of three years Bradley Cooper helped keep her grounded on the steps at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for the “Costume Art”-themed gala May 4.
“I try to bring my mind to a happy place,” Gigi explained to Vogue during the event. “What we do in our job is just go to a happy place. Think of happy thoughts and the smile comes through the eyes and it makes you come to life.”
And while the 31-year-old does think of Bradley, 51, her mind first goes to 5-year-old daughter Khai, who she shares with ex Zayn Malik.
“First happy thought, Khai my daughter,” Gigi shared, “and then my man.”
And of course, each thought serves a specific purpose for the Guest In Residence founder, as she’s found her eyes will do something different depending on her happy thoughts.
“When I think about Khai, maybe I'm giving joy,” she explained. “And then I'll serve something else to Bradley in the camera.”
Plus, those happy thoughts helped her feel present and not distracted by everything that was going on around her on the night, which was co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour. (See all the celebrities at the event here.)
“It happens so fast, and you're like, ‘I blacked out. How did I even post?’” she laughed. “So taking a deep breath and being like, ‘What does it smell like?’ Think of something—that first happy thought that brings me back here.”
And among those happy thoughts tonight was her custom Miu Miu gown. The sheer design gave a peek at her satin underwear as the gown was carefully decorated with florals that the model herself had helped place.
In keeping with the night's “Fashion Is Art”-dress code, Gigi felt that she herself was the canvas while she “laid the patches where I felt made my body feel great.”
As she told Vogue, “It really was body as canvas.”
For more stars who gave their own artist spin to the 2026 Met Gala, keep reading.
Beyoncé
in custom Olivier Rousteing and Chopard jewelry.
Rihanna
in Maison Margiela with Briony Raymond, Glenn Spiro, Dyne, Fred Leighton and Desert diamond jewelry.
Kim Kardashian
in custom Allen Jones breastplate, Whitaker Malem skirt and Christian Louboutin shoes.
Bad Bunny
in custom Zara.
Cardi B
in Marc Jacobs.
Hailey Bieber
in custom Saint Laurent and Belperron jewelry.
Blake Lively
in Atelier Versace, Christian Louboutin shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
Sabrina Carpenter
in Dior, Christian Louboutin shoes and Chopard jewelry.
Anne Hathaway
in Michael Kors.
Kylie Jenner
in custom Schiaparelli.
Katy Perry
in Stella McCartney.
Heidi Klum
in custom Mike Marino.
Connor Storrie
in Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Gigi Hadid
in custom Miu Miu and Jessica McCormack jewelry.
Tessa Thompson
in Valentino, Pandora jewelry and Chillhouse nail polish.
Lisa
in Robert Wun and Bvlgari jewelry.
Teyana Taylor
in Tom Ford.
Blue Ivy Carter
in Balenciaga and Henry & Henry jewelry.
Kendall Jenner
in Gap Studio by Zac Posen and Buccellati jewelry.
Doja Cat
in Saint Laurent.
Charli XCX
in Saint Laurent.
Carey Mulligan
in Prada and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Margot Robbie
in Chanel.
Sunday Rose Kidman Urban & Nicole Kidman
in Dior (Kidman Urban) and Chanel (Kidman).
A$AP Rocky
in Chanel.
Emily Blunt
in Ashi Studio, Jimmy Choo shoes, Kurt Geiger bag and Mikimoto jewelry.
Cher
in Burberry.
Zoë Kravitz
in Saint Laurent.
Suki Waterhouse
in Michael Kors and Christian Louboutin shoes.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
in Thom Browne.