Gigi Hadid Reveals How Bradley Cooper Inspires Her Met Gala 2026 Pose

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Gigi Hadid had a special trick for helping her pose and stay grounded at the 2026 Met Gala May 4: thinking about boyfriend of three years Bradley Cooper.

Gigi Hadid's Underwear Is On Display in Fully Sheer Met Gala 2026 Gown

Gigi Hadid has a super trick for posing at the 2026 Met Gala

In fact, the supermodel found that thinking of her boyfriend of three years Bradley Cooper helped keep her grounded on the steps at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for the “Costume Art”-themed gala May 4.

“I try to bring my mind to a happy place,” Gigi explained to Vogue during the event. “What we do in our job is just go to a happy place. Think of happy thoughts and the smile comes through the eyes and it makes you come to life.”

And while the 31-year-old does think of Bradley, 51, her mind first goes to 5-year-old daughter Khai, who she shares with ex Zayn Malik

“First happy thought, Khai my daughter,” Gigi shared, “and then my man.”

And of course, each thought serves a specific purpose for the Guest In Residence founder, as she’s found her eyes will do something different depending on her happy thoughts.

“When I think about Khai, maybe I'm giving joy,” she explained. “And then I'll serve something else to Bradley in the camera.”

Plus, those happy thoughts helped her feel present and not distracted by everything that was going on around her on the night, which was co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour. (See all the celebrities at the event here.)

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

“It happens so fast, and you're like, ‘I blacked out. How did I even post?’” she laughed. “So taking a deep breath and being like, ‘What does it smell like?’ Think of something—that first happy thought that brings me back here.”

And among those happy thoughts tonight was her custom Miu Miu gown. The sheer design gave a peek at her satin underwear as the gown was carefully decorated with florals that the model herself had helped place. 

In keeping with the night's “Fashion Is Art”-dress code, Gigi felt that she herself was the canvas while she “laid the patches where I felt made my body feel great.”

As she told Vogue, “It really was body as canvas.”

For more stars who gave their own artist spin to the 2026 Met Gala, keep reading. 

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Naomi Watts

in Dior. 

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter

in Dior. 

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Serena Williams

Matt Crossick/PA Images via Getty Images

Stevie Nicks

in Zara by John Galliano. 

Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Carey Mulligan

in Prada. 

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Tom Ford and Julianne Moore

in Bottega Veneta. 

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Hailey Bieber

in custom Saint Laurent. 

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Dwayne Johnson

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Kylie Jenner

in custom Schiaparelli. 

Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Camila Morrone

in Tory Burch. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Emily Blunt

in Ashi Studio. 

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Colman Domingo

in Valentino. 

Theo Wargo/FilmMagic

Anderson .Paak

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Joey King

in Miu Miu. 

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Paul Anthony Kelly

in Dior. 

Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Camila Mendes

in Manish Malhotra. 

John Salangsang/Shutterstock

Irina Shayk

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Heidi Klum

Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Angela Bassett

in custom Prabal Gurung. 

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Laufey

in Tory Burch and Bucherer Fine Jewelry.

Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Alysa Liu

in Louis Vuitton. 

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Finn Wolfhard

in Thom Browne. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Lisa

in Robert Wun. 

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Janelle Monáe

in Christian Sirano.

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Patrick Schwarzenegger

John Shearer/WireImage

Maya Hawke

in Prada. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Gigi Hadid

in custom Miu Miu. 

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Rosé

in Saint Laurent. 

John Shearer/WireImage

Lindsey Vonn

in Thom Browne.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

EJAE

in custom Swarovski.