Former 2NE1 leader and solo artist CL and BLACKPINK member Rosé made history as the first female K-Pop artists to grace the Met Gala 2021.

 The event, also known as the Met Ball, is an annual fundraiser event for New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Eleanor Lambert, a fashion publicist, founded it in 1948.

 In present day, the gala is organised by Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor-in-chief.

This year’s theme is “American Independence” and CL understood the assignment by showing up in a custom Alexander Wang hanbok-inspired cape that is made up of denim and worn over white briefs.

She completed the look with pointed nails designed by New York-based Japanese nail artist Mei (@nailsbymei), blonde hair styled by another Japanese duo Hiro and Mari (@hiromarihair) and make up done by artist Maki Ryoke (@makiryoke) who is also, yes you guessed that right - born in Japan. Talk about #AsianRepresentation

CL’s appearance to the event came as a surprise to many, as there were no hints that she was going to attend the event.

Nevertheless, this is not really her first time when it comes to being involved in the American fashion scene. In fact, CL has been working with Alexander Wang since 2016. She is also the first Korean ambassador for Beyonce’s “Ivy Park x Adidas” collaboration.

Meanwhile, Rosé made her debut at Met Gala’s red carpet wearing a black Yves Saint Laurent dress alongside the brand’s creative director, Anthony Vacarello.

Her outfit, which is a part of Saint Laurent’s 2021 winter collection, has a white bow detail across the chest area. She then partnered it off with black platform heels and jewelleries from Tiffany and Co.

Many BLINKs were excited for the member’s appearance at the fundraiser ever since was seen leaving Korea a few days before the red carpet. Fans were quick to find out that she was going to attend the event, as she was even spotted in New York leaving a YSL fitting.

Over the years, several male K-Pop stars also went to the Met Gala, including EXO’s Lay, Super Junior’s Siwon and solo artists Rain and PSY.