Here’s why you’ll see more of this year’s Met Gala memes

The Met Gala red carpet has a new addition this year: a correspondent meme.

Saint Hoax, an influencer with over 2.8 million Instagram followers, will be live on the red carpet creation of the event – you guessed it – memes.

He will be “Instagram’s very first correspondent on the red carpet at the Met Gala,” the platform said. The event will take place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on Monday after being canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Saint Hoax’s presence on the mat is part of a larger effort by Instagram – which is the official sponsor of the 2021 Met Gala, the exhibitions and the catalog – to give fans a more behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest fashion evenings. world.

“For big cultural moments like the Met Gala, people dive into Instagram to connect with the action,” Ricky Sans, Instagram’s head of strategic partners for memes, told NBC News. “Now, more than ever, we are seeing a whole new generation of fashion gurus and culture designers emerge on the platform – they’ve grown up on memes, too.”

While Saint Hoax is the only one who creates memes from the actual mat, there will be a memes-fluencer community at an Instagram watch party creating similar content using a live feed from the mat.

Using the hashtags #ReelMetIcons & #MemetheMet, a handful of influencers – including @Mytherapistsays, @ideservecouture @Mufashdia, @juliancookies and @eljosecriales – will provide live commentary and reels around some of the carpet’s most iconic looks.

The theme for this year’s Met Gala is “In America: A Fashion Lexicon” and the dress code is “American Independence”. The extravagant and edgy tailoring of the event will likely lend itself to ideal fodder for memes.

“I am truly delighted to see the memes community continue to play such an influential role in driving cultural commentary around these great moments,” Sans said.

So how does a meme maker prepare for the biggest fashion event of the year?

“With an event like this, it’s not really about preparing, but rather anticipating who will steal the show and help create a moment that will be recognized and celebrated by internet culture,” said Saint Hoax. , a Syrian artist who prefers to remain anonymous using only his account ID, NBC News said in an email interview.

“I would say my process includes a bit of research, but mostly focuses on some sort of meditative area that helps me figure out what people are going to connect with. I’m trying to channel a moment that has resonance, accessibility and that illustrates what people are secretly thinking in their heads. “

Saint Hoax’s account has become known for his biting commentaries on American culture through pop culture references. He often merges politics and popular culture using satire.

“The culture of memes is really about tapping into the zeitgeist and having a little fun with it,” Saint Hoax said. “For anyone who follows my work, they will be familiar with the idea that I try to strike a balance between politics, celebrity culture, and social justice issues with a satirical angle. So, I look forward to hearing from you. see how it all comes together on Monday nights with a high fashion accompaniment. “

Those who follow the Met memes can also tune in to a livestream from the carpet itself, thanks to Vogue. The stream, which will be hosted by Keke Palmer and Ilana Glazer, will be broadcast live on Vogue platforms.