Behind the glitz and glam of the Met Gala are actual folks working on a regular basis jobs. Most lately, mannequin Christian Latchman, whose face many might have seen in discussions in regards to the Met Gala, went viral on TikTok for sharing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the realities of modeling for the 2025 Met Gala.
“Actually the face of the MET GALA this 12 months however nonetheless gotta clock into my 9 to five,” he captioned the put up, showcasing clips of him working a retail job and his face showing within the Met Gala’s promotional content material.
“The common mannequin life-style behind the scenes,” he added.
@christian.latchman The common mannequin life-style behind the scenes #fypシ #mannequin #relatable #metgala ♬ authentic sound – ꧁༺☦︎༻꧂
And it’s true, Lachtman’s face at the moment fronts the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Type” webpage. The marketing campaign picture, styled in a Wales Bonner tux and shot by Tyler Mitchell, additionally covers Monica Miller’s new ebook impressed by the 2025 Met Gala.
“I’m grateful and grateful for everybody from Vogue, the Met museum, and everybody past that,” he mentioned in a separate video. “That is meant to point out the grind behind modeling.”
Within the video, Latchman revealed that he obtained a name from his agent in regards to the photoshoot whereas he was on his technique to work in January. Requested to get on a airplane to New York that very same day, he rotated, packed a bag, and booked a flight to the airport, with no thought what was ready for him on the opposite aspect.
“I had no thought what I used to be going to New York for,” Latchman defined. “I used to be simply winging it. I used to be like, ‘I do know I’ve a job to do, and imma do it.’ That is the approach to life.’”
Nonetheless, on the time, Latchman didn’t know what the photoshoot might be for till he noticed Ana Wintour strolling previous him, and casually saying “hi there.” Subsequent factor , the mannequin recollects being escorted to an space, studying he was going to be shot by Mitchell, being wearing a swimsuit that he was not allowed to sit down in, eat in, drink in or be in unattended, and signing an NDA.
Now, Latchman isn’t simply modeling for vogue’s largest evening—he’s embodying its theme. This 12 months’s Met Gala, the primary to heart Black model and historical past, is co-chaired by an all-Black roster of males—Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton. The “largest evening in vogue,” themed across the legacy of Black dandyism, takes place on Could 5.
