- Instagram sponsored this year's Met Gala and hosted a glamorous after party on Monday night.
- In the crowd, I spotted dozens of creators — including some that got famous on competing platforms.
- From TikTok's Avani Gregg to the artist behind the Bored Apes, here's what Insider saw at the party.
Hours after the likes of Kim Kardashian and Blake Lively walked the red carpet, inside an opulent Upper East Side mansion, the party was just beginning for Instagram execs like Eva Chen and Charles Porch, who were partying with TikTok stars, NFT artists, and meme creators at the company's Met Gala after party.
Instagram, which sponsored the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit for the second time this May, threw its extravagant after party inside the James B. Duke House, a chateau-style mansion built in the early 1900s — a fitting venue, given the "Gilded Glamour" theme of this year's Met Gala.
The mansion was filled with "Instagrammable" backdrop fodder for social media posts — from a room filled with lush greenery to a decadent parlor with crystal chandeliers hanging from above. Many influencers, including TikTok fashion star Kate Bartlett, flocked to the grand staircase to capture their Met Gala "fit pics."
The guests arrived in waves and included some who had attended the Gala itself and others who were there only for the party.
Not all of the guests were fashion elite.
There was a group of meme creators like Nina Marie Daniele, Davis Burleson of the "What's Poppin Show," and Tessa Evelyn Scott, who was chosen by Instagram to live-meme the Met Gala from The Mark Hotel around the corner.
And a handful of artists, including Devon Rodriguez — a famous TikTok portrait artist with 25 million followers — and Seneca — the lead artist behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection — also made appearances.
Beyond the glamour of the night, several details about who was and who was not at Instagram's party jumped out.
Instagram curated a guest list of content creators.
Creators were everywhere at the party — including some who introduced themselves as from TikTok, despite the event's host.
Here are some creators spotted at Instagram's party:
- Avani Gregg (41 million TikTok followers)
- Devon Rodriguez (25 million TikTok followers)
- Hannah Stocking (21 million Instagram followers)
- Brad Mondo (7.4 million YouTube subscribers)
- Jessica Wang (5.2 million TikTok followers)
- Remi Bader (2.1 million TikTok followers)
- Boman Martinez-Reid (1.5 million TikTok followers)
- Kate Bartlett (1.3 million TikTok followers)
- Sai De Silva (373,000 Instagram followers)
- Caroline Vazzana (310,000 Instagram followers)
- Young Emperors (263,000 Instagram followers)
- Deja Foxx (47,000 Instagram followers)
Over the past year, Instagram has driven home that it wants to be the destination for creators, and inviting influencers to its glamorous Met Gala party is one of many ways the platform is trying to woo them.
NFT artists, including one behind the Bored Apes, were also at the party.
Instagram's guest list proves that NFT artists are of growing interest to the platform. In addition to Seneca, Instagram also invited artists Diana Sinclair and Elise Swopes.
It's worth noting that Instagram has been testing its own NFT features.
Instagram execs were side-by-side with creators and celebrities.
Instagram's broader shopping and creator partnerships teams were seen hobnobbing at the event. Eva Chen, vice present of fashion and shopping partnerships, and Charles Porch, vice president of global partnerships, were two of the highest-ranking Instagram execs at the party.
Ricky Sans, head of memes, and Besidone Amoruwa, who spearheads partnerships with Web3 creators, were also in attendance.
Absent from Monday's events was Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram and honorary co-chair for this year's Met Gala.
Luxury fashion designers were also in the crowd.
Fashion and commerce are also priorities for Instagram, which could explain why fashion designers like Peter Do, Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada, Batsheva Hay, and Susan Alexandra were spotted at the event.
Guests also saw performances from SZA and Anderson .Paak
DJ duo Coco and Breezy also performed.
Even Eric Adams, New York's new mayor, made an appearance.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyqutKim55lmaPAta3Gq5imZZ2awW6zwKWYZpmWqbKzec%2Baqa2xXZbDorrIZquio6SkuG6uzqucnWWRpbK0eZFpaWtlZQ%3D%3D