The Tamesis
A tennis icon, Venus Williams always delivers good shots on the court. But tonight, she’ll be co-chairing the 2026 Met Gala alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Anna Wintour.
“Co-hosting the Met Gala is an incredible honor and, to be honest, I’m still trying to fully comprehend this moment,” Venus said Fashion The morning of the event. “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. Fashion has always been a big part of how I express myself, both on and off the court, so being part of something that celebrates the intersection of art, culture and identity really feels full circle for me.”
That’s not the only reason this is a special night for Venus. While she made her Met Gala debut in 2008 and has been a regular in recent years, tonight was her first Met Gala red carpet appearance with her husband, actor, producer and model Andrea Preti, whom she married last year.
Photo: Getty Images
Venus attended the event in a Swarovski crystal mesh gown designed by Robert Pruitt Venus Williams, “Double Portrait” (2022), a portrait of her commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery. She was styled by Ron Burton, with makeup by Karina Milan, hair by Jawara and nails by Gina Edwards, creating a shimmering Swarovski dress and jeweled look. Her necklace is a recreation of the Wimbledon plate necklace seen in the painting. The portrait is a deeply personal work by Venus, incorporating her family, career, the historic fight for equal pay in tennis and symbols of the black tennis champions who came before her.
Robert Pruitt, Venus Williams, Double Portrait. Conté crayon, charcoal, crayon and coffee on paper. 2022. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. © 2022 Robert Pruitt
