Hollywood star Taraji P. Henson turned heads Monday night at the 2025 Met Gala, stepping onto the red carpet in an ethereal all-white outfit that was as meaningful as it was magnificent. The event, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, embraced the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a powerful celebration of Black fashion and cultural identity.
The evening’s dress code, “Tailored for You,” encouraged guests to explore deeply personal expressions of style—and Henson did just that. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, the Oscar-nominated actress revealed that her look was more than fashion—it was a tribute to her spiritual rebirth.
“It is paying homage to the Yoruba culture and the women who paid honours to a deity,” Henson explained. “They wore white because it represented transformation and spirituality.”
Henson, glowing in her custom ensemble, shared that the choice of white symbolized her ongoing personal transformation. “I think that’s where I am right now. Because I am at peace. I fought for the peace that I have found now. I feel like I am in a transformation from the old me to a new me. I cannot explain it—it’s an overwhelming feeling of peace.”
Her look was inspired by Yoruba traditions in which women don white to honor spiritual deities, emphasizing purity, power, and inner change. Henson’s homage to the West African heritage brought a deeply rooted cultural dimension to the fashion-forward gala.
This year’s Met Gala also saw standout appearances from prominent Nigerians such as Tems, Ayra Starr, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Burna Boy, each embracing the theme with bold, culturally rich statements of style.
Asked about her personal life and journey as a single mother, Henson didn’t hold back. “I am not dealing with anybody else’s son. Not ever, not anymore,” she said, laughing. “That is why I do what I do.”
