Cardi B versus Nicki Minaj: who did more with the Met Gala ‘camp’ theme?

Celebrity arrivals pose on the pink carpet for the Costume Institute Benefit Met Gala

We didn’t get any Rihanna or Beyonce at this year’s Met Gala, and the gala was the poorer for it. I’m shocked that Rihanna didn’t come, actually – she’s a Met Gala staple, and she always delivers. In lieu of Rih, we got Cardi B doing that kind of over-the-top excess. Cardi wore this custom Thom Browne dress which… I mean, it sucks. It looks like two king-sized quilts were repurposed. I question the color choice too – burgundy, really?? But yeah, over the top and campy. Cardi had a lot of fun with the theme even though she couldn’t walk two steps without ten helpers.

Cardi B at arrivals for Camp: Notes on F...

Cardi B at arrivals for Camp: Notes on F...

Did anyone catch the fact that Nicki Minaj and Cardi arrived on the carpet around the same time? I’m surprised there wasn’t some kind of gala throw-down, although it does look like Minaj was trying not to attract too much attention. Considering Nicki Minaj is all about that campy, cartoon Barbz image, I’m shocked that Nicki didn’t do more with the theme? This is just a dumb pink dress, you know? It’s Prabal Gurung, btw.

Celebrity arrivals pose on the pink carpet for the Costume Institute Benefit Met Gala

Celebrity arrivals pose on the pink carpet for the Costume Institute Benefit Met Gala

Also in Prabal Gurung: Halsey. Is it just me or has she lost a lot of weight recently? The look is… tacky. Therefore “camp.”

Celebrity arrivals pose on the pink carpet for the Costume Institute Benefit Met Gala

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.

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44 Responses to “Cardi B versus Nicki Minaj: who did more with the Met Gala ‘camp’ theme?”

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  1. lucy2 says:

    I like the drama of Cardi’s red gown.
    Nicki looks uncomfortable.

    • Aoife says:

      Cardi’s gown is dramatic and on theme. On the other hand, the first thing it made me think of was a placenta (sorry), and the second was Rihanna’s omelette dress from a few years ago. Nicki Minaj looks like she came in a nasty mall dress.

    • SKF says:

      Cardi’s was amazing. t wasn’t meant to be beautiful. saw on Vogue’s insta stories pull-up articles that her dress had a lot of detailing you can’t necessarily see in these photos. So the top of it is “anatomically correct” and the lines are supposed to be like naked muscles on a body. The front has breast with nipples made of actual rubies, and a vagina at the front. The bottom (as you can see here) has a bit upside down heart. There was a lot of other information too. It’s a pretty amazing dress actually. I think what is holding Cardi back from a Rih Rih like entrance is stature. She is tiny and gets a bit swamped by some of these amazing outfits. Rihanna has the stature to carry things a bit more goddess-like. Gwendoline Christie has this ability as well and her height plays a huge part in that.

      Nikki is a tacky snooze-fest and I cannot stand her anyway.

      Halsey is tacky and boring.

  2. Tallia says:

    I think CardiB looked amazing. It is the over top fashion I have come expect and want from the MET. Nicki Minaj looked like she was waiting for Ken to pick her up and take her to the Dream House, but in a very Skipper and not Barbie way.

    • Alissa says:

      I also thought she looked amazing. I wanted to clap when I saw it.

      Nicki’s look was awful! She’s had tons of truly campy looks before, so not sure why she didn’t commit here. Barbie is supposed to be her thing and Kacey Musgraves and Hailey Bieber both did a much better job with Barbie looks. She just looks bored and half-committed to the look.

    • manda says:

      Her dress was fabulous! Love her!

    • GreenTurtle says:

      Cardi’s dress is so well-rendered. I’m sure it will be polarizing, but I think it’s a work of art.

      LOVE!

  3. Oh No says:

    Nicki’s earlier eras were so fun and Campy, I’m surprised by this look.

    It’s like the Bolshoi and a Bratz doll had a baby and sent it to prom…

    Issa No

    • Some chick says:

      Excellent review!

      Nicki would have looked amazing at any other event.

      Cardi brung it. Not just camp, but perfectly fitted met gala camp. It’s not supposed to be practical.

  4. minx says:

    I don’t know about camp but Cardi’s outfit was great.
    Nicki looks unhappy.

  5. Karen2 says:

    Love Nikkis shoes btw. Other than that nothing interesting about any of those looks. Cardi had a better campy look at Coachella. As someone said FranknFurter is camp. Any guys turn up in suspenders?

  6. KMAC says:

    You are dead wrong about Cardi B’s gown. I am shook, that is high drama! “The Red Wedding” all in one dress. LOVE!

    • otaku fairy... says:

      I liked it a lot too.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      Cardi looks like a fertility goddess (specifically the Minoan goddess holding snakes)! The fake breasts, the bum applique, the blood red color.

      I love how the structure of the dress’s train makes it appear as if the floor is a circular well, that is higher at the rim and lowers in the center. It’s a great illusion.

  7. runcmc says:

    I really don’t like the butt sequin part of Cardi B’s dress, it makes me think of a baboon’s butt. Not a fun mental picture.

    Nicki looks uncomfortable and stuffed into her outfit. I hate when celebs with beautiful curves stuff themselves into ill-fitting clothing, making them look bad. Nicki has a beautiful body! Whyyy do that to her

  8. zee says:

    I think this theme was tough for Nicki because her usual style is already OTT Camp and that’s what we have come to expect from her. Coming up with something new and surprising is almost impossible for her.

  9. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    Nicki was not into the night at all. Is that an upside-down heart on Cardi’s ass? Queen of Heartass? Don’t like the quilted look. But Halsey’s shoes? I must barf now.

  10. Erinn says:

    I kind of love Cardi’s . It’s unexpected for sure – but I think the effect from a further away shot was worth it looking a bit like quilts up close. I love the feathers and the bodice of it.

    Nicki… I’m disappointed in her look. She looks like she’s gained some weight – which isn’t a bad thing. Plus she’s only about my height, so I know how much a tiny weight gain can make you look like you’ve gained more at that height. But she just looks uncomfortable – this is something I would have thought she’d have a ton of fun with.

  11. Va Va Kaboom says:

    Camp has to be intentionally tacky. Halsey’s outfit, and to some extent Nicki’s too, is just plain badly designed. There is no humor, allusion, or feeling of being “in on the joke”, it’s just ugly.

  12. Giddy says:

    I loved Cardi’s dress and it was so fun to watch all those guys fluff and position that train. I wonder how heavy that thing was.

  13. savu says:

    I got a little more “tribute to Wonder Woman” from Halsey, especially with the gold armbands. She could’ve leaned into it way more! But gauging how to dress for this has to be difficult, not knowing how much other people are gonna go for it.

    • otaku fairy... says:

      Wonder Woman was my first thought about her look too. It’s always weird to see her with long hair, but this is the best hair color for her.
      I actually liked Nicki’s look, even though it wasn’t as dramatic as what I’d expect from her with the camp theme.

  14. VintageS says:

    Can not abide Cardi, but she looks amazing. In fact she may best of show.

  15. Emby says:

    Nicki Minaj’s train reminds me of entrails.

  16. Lowra says:

    Cardi B reminds me of a placenta. A giant placenta. Yuck.

  17. Valois says:

    I don’t think Halsey‘s looking noticeably slimmer.

  18. Detriotgirl says:

    I feel like Rihanna already wore this dress in yellow, minus the weird butt appliqué, and Rihanna did it better. So, it doesn’t do much for me.

    • Raven says:

      No Rihanna has not worn an outfit like Cardi one here. The 2 dresses aren’t even close to looking a like.

      • Detriotgirl says:

        All I see when I look at Cardi’s dress is a giant bedspread trailing out behind her, which reminds of the yellow dress Rihanna wore a few years ago with a similar comforter looking train. Idk, to me, they are reminiscent. But, I also think all of these over the top gowns look the same in general. So… eh.

  19. Snowslow says:

    I think I’m a bit over Cardi B at this point. Overdose. Which, I suppose, is on theme.

  20. Nicegirl says:

    I can’t imagine Prabal Gurung will ever dress Nicki again after she threw shade on his design of her dress while on the red carpet.

  21. Raven says:

    Cardi dress was on point eitj the theme and I am here for it.

    As for Nicki style when she first came out was very campy, I’m disappointed that this is what she wore last night.

  22. Veronica S. says:

    Somebody called Cardi’s dress “day two of a heavy period,” and I can’t see anything else. I mean, I love it, but it’s hilarious.

    Nicki was a sad miss for me. She’s usually so dramatic and delightfully tacky by nature, so this pale pink was a shame. Where’s the barbie pink of her old days??

    • Raven says:

      The funny thing is the desiigner played up that look when she changed outfits inside for the after party

  23. Jess says:

    Literally every time I see Halsey I’m like… who is that? I know what she looks like and I actually really like her music, but for some reason her face makes me like face blind? I can never immediately identify her and I don’t know why!

  24. CES says:

    Cardi makes me think of the queen of hearts of Alice in wonderland. I don’t care for the look, but she was on theme.

    I think Nicki’s dress is pretty, but I wouldn’t necessarily say she’s in theme.

    Halsey also looks really pretty and I get a Wonder Woman vibe from her with the armbands as a previous commenter said.

  25. phlyfiremama says:

    Cardi B looks simply ON POINT. Even tough I dont care for her, the dress is STUNNING~it would have been PERFECTION without the baboon butt thing going on!

  26. serena says:

    Halsey looks gorgeous in that dress, love her!
    Nicki looks over it and yeah Rihanna is missed..

  27. Meg says:

    At first Halseys dark hair with red outfit and dark tan looked like wonder woman to me