Misty Copeland's Met Gala Beauty Inspiration? A Post-Ballet Class Pony

05.05.2026, 03:37 allure.com

For ballerina Misty Copeland—who recently underwent hip surgery after retiring from American Ballet Theatre—this year's Met Gala theme held special significance. The "Costume Art" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art explores “the centrality of the dressed body," pairing garments with paintings, sculptures, and objects spanning 5,000 years of art. No other art form, however, is more closely linked to the human body, than ballet—a fact not lost on Copeland.

“The idea of ‘bodies’ feels really personal to me right now. Coming out of surgery, I’ve been thinking a lot about what the body carries, strength, history, resilience,” she says. “It’s also incredible to think about how the human body has always been such a central source of inspiration in art and fashion, and for me that’s deeply connected to movement and dance. As a dancer, my body has always been my instrument, but also something I’ve had to learn to listen to more deeply over time.”

For her Met Gala look, Copeland wanted something that honored all of that—"something that felt strong but soft, and still very much like me. And something that, to me, feels like a beautiful part of a lineage of Black ballerinas throughout history," she explains. "Beauty wise, I kept it clean and luminous. I always want to still look like myself, just elevated."

It was Copeland's tan co-ord that set the tone for makeup artist Mali Boykin. “The look immediately brought me back to this idea of brown as richness, warmth, and presence and I wanted the makeup to carry that same energy through the skin,” she says. “Bronzed skin became such an important part of the vision because it allowed me to create dimension while still honoring softness. It was less about matching the outfit and more about extending its feeling.”

Boykin wanted Copeland's skin to feel “fresh and luminous, but still elevated enough for the Met." Starting with her brows before skin prep or complexion (something she always does to ensure they stay in place), Boykin prepped the skin with Merit Great Skin Priming Moisturizer followed by light layers of Merit The Uniform in Shade 20 to even out the skin. She then used the brand's The Minimalist in Amber (to bronze and contour), Flush Balm in Lusitano (for a natural flush on the cheeks), and Day Glow in Citrine (to highlight). Eyes were tonal and glossy, while lips were subtly contoured using the Merit Signature Lip Liner in June (a new shade) and Signature Lip Blush in Archival.

Boykin worked closely with Copeland's hairstylist, Miles Jeffries, when creating the look. “It was a true creative exchange from the start," she says. “We shared mood boards, references, and instincts constantly. It was really about making sure every part of the look felt cohesive. Hair, makeup, and styling all had to feel connected, like one full story.”

For Jeffries—who also worked with Copeland for her appearance and performance at this year's Oscars—"the idea was to create texture that looked like Misty had her hair in a bun and took it down; the hair should dance!" he says. To do that, Jeffries blow-dried and lightly ironed the hair before pulling it back into a ponytail at the center back of the head. Then, he used the same iron to create soft bends and slight waves, giving the hair “flirty movement.” He finished with a mist of Parfums de Marly Valaya Hair Perfume.

In the end, Boykin feels she not only gave Misty what she wanted, but also created a look that reflected the night's theme. “If fashion is art, beauty has to be part of that conversation,” she says. “Makeup should never feel separate from the larger vision. Every choice was intentional. I wanted the beauty to feel connected to the full story and create something artistic that still felt true to Misty.”

More beauty news from the 2026 Met Gala:

Now, watch ballerina Tiler Peck's stage makeup routine: