Lil Nas X Is Unrecognizable in Silver Body Paint at Met Gala 2023

And although his outfits spoke for themselves, Versace also broke down the meaning behind each piece. According to the luxe fashion house, the rapper's gorgeous choices "told a three-part LGBTQ+ American fairytale."

The brand noted on Instagram that Lil Nas X "arrived on the red carpet in a dramatic cape that exudes regality and represents concealing one's true self. The cape was then shed to reveal gleaming Medusa-adorned armor, a symbol of protection from the prejudices faced as a Black, queer person. Finally, the armor is removed to reveal a skin-tight bodysuit that represents living life as your true, unguarded self."
 
Or as Lil Nas X simply told host Keke Palmer, "It was royalty at first, then we got to the armor, then we got really sexy."

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