Sam Fine Discusses Gabrielle Union’s Diana Ross-Inspired Met Gala Glam
Since 1994, the world’s most recognizable faces have been in the hands of Sam Fine on fashion’s biggest night out: the Met Gala. And, this year, Gabrielle Union was the […] The post Sam Fine Discusses Gabrielle Union’s Diana Ross-Inspired Met Gala Glam appeared first on Essence.
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By India Espy-Jones ·Updated May 12, 2026 < /> Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Since 1994, the world’s most recognizable faces have been in the hands of Sam Fine on fashion’s biggest night out: the Met Gala. And, this year, Gabrielle Union was the latest one. “Gabrielle has such a great spirit,” Fine says about the actress, who he’s been working with for over 20 years. “I really love how open she is to experimenting with her look, whether that’s adding bottom lashes or trying different hair src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/05/SnapInsta.to_684475795_18597898561007553_2019021729662616873_n.jpg" alt="Sam Fine Discusses Gabrielle Union’s Diana Ross-Inspired Met Gala Glam" width="400" height="512" />
This year’s theme was all about “Costume Art” with the Met Ball full of beauty worth its weight in gold (literally!) But, for Union, she >Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Foundation in shade 11.8 and concealer in shade 10, Fine established her complexion with deep golden undertones. Next, he built up the look’s most iconic feature. He gave her top lash line soft, wispy definition using Kiss The New Natural in Nude Blazer, a 12-millimeter lash designed for a no-makeup makeup look. But, it wouldn’t be a Diana Ross lash without an enhanced bottom set.
There, he used Impress Individual Lash Kit with 60 clusters ranging from natural and voluminous to wispy “to add subtle dimension and enhance that eye-opening effect,” he says. His intentional placement translated the icon’s look in way that’s both soft and dramatically refined.
As for hair, her double halo-like hairpiece was the artistic backdrop to her makeup. “It was going to be a lot bigger then I said ‘well, my husband has to stand next to me’ so we shrunk it a little bit,” Union told ESSENCE at the gala. Still, “I wanted to represent the beauty and fierceness of a Kwame Braithwaite picture.”
With a couple Braithwaite’s hanging up in their Hidden Hills home, she says her Met Gala reference was one of the photographer and founder of the “Black Is Beautiful” movement’s goddess’ in a gorgeous afro. “We wanted to create something structural that gave that same feeling,” she says.
Her beauty complemented her gown, which Michael Kors described in an Instagram caption as a “shimmering mermaid with the appearance of being nude and glistening at the same time,” he wrote. “Her cocoa crystal-encrusted tulle goddess gown is like a glamorous second skin and an homage to all the beautiful sculptures in the museum that focus on the nude body.”
The same nude was transferred to her nails, which artist Thuy Nguyen achieved using DND Gel’s Perfect Nude #867 as the base. Then, she went in with a liner brush to paint on her peach cream French tip and layered it with a chocolate color for a dimensional, creamy finish.
“What I love most is being part of those moments where everything comes together, fashion, beauty, and storytelling,” Fine says about Union’s entire Met Gala look. “It’s always about collaboration and creating something that feels iconic and lasting.”
TOPICS: 2026 Met Gala Gabrielle Union sam fineThe post Sam Fine Discusses Gabrielle Union’s Diana Ross-Inspired Met Gala Glam appeared first on Essence.
