Heidi Klum prepares for her "living statue" transformation at Met Gala. Video: Instagram Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum presented one of the most unique looks at the Met Gala on 4/5. For the "Fashion is Art" theme, the 53-year-old drew inspiration from "The Veiled Vestal," a statue created in 1847 by Italian sculptor Raffaelle Monti (1818-1881). Commissioned in 1846, the work depicts a priestess of the goddess Vesta from ancient Roman mythology. The statue is currently on display at Chatsworth House, England.
On Instagram on 5/5, Heidi Klum shared behind-the-scenes footage of her transformation into an artistic masterpiece, aided by makeup artist Mike Marino. Marino has also helped Klum create her iconic Halloween costumes over the years. According to the video, the supermodel revealed they discussed the "Veiled Vestal" concept during her initial call to him about attending the Met Gala.
In addition to Raffaelle Monti's statue, Heidi Klum's look also drew inspiration from Giuseppe Sanmartino's 1753 marble sculpture, "Veiled Christ," according to the supermodel's media company.
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The "Veiled Christ" statue is on display at the Sansevero Chapel Museum in Naples, Italy. Photo: Sansevero Chapel Museum
To create Klum's appearance, Mike Marino stated that the team used full-body 3D scanning technology. Based on the scan, artists meticulously crafted all statue details, including fabric folds. Heidi's representative explained that the costume, made from latex and spandex, aimed to convey "the stillness and presence of marble, while allowing movement and vitality within the form."
Marino also noted in the video that their method mirrored classical artists' techniques for bronze and marble works, differing only in materials and advanced technology. Heidi Klum's outfit was one of the team's most challenging designs. In an interview, Marino mentioned it took about four or five hours to complete Klum's makeup.
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A close-up of the German supermodel's transformation. When asked how she put on and changed the outfit, Heidi stated there was a zipper at the back. Photo: Instagram Heidi Klum
Born in Germany in 1973, Heidi Klum is one of the world's highest-earning models. According to Cosmopolitan, she currently has a net worth of approximately 160 million USD. Klum is renowned for her love of costumes, earning her the title "queen of Halloween" in Hollywood. She lives with her husband and children from previous relationships in a villa in Bel Air, Los Angeles, USA. Before her relationship with Tom Kaulitz, she had two relationships and four children: Leni, Henry, Johan, and Lou.
The Met Gala is the planet's largest fashion event. This year's theme explored fashion not merely as attire, but as a form of sculpture and painting across 5,000 years of history. Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour hosted the event, with Jeff Bezos and his wife serving as honorary chairs. According to CBS News, attendance tickets for this year's Met Gala increased to 100,000 USD (2.6 billion VND), up from 75,000 USD (1.9 billion VND) last year. A table for 10 guests cost from 350,000 USD (9.2 billion VND).
Phuong Thao (according to ABC News)
