The Met Gala is broadly thought to be the “Vogue Oscars,” with a visitor checklist that includes the world’s most illustrious stars. However whereas the glamor is intoxicating as we scroll via the purple carpet protection on social media, it may be nearly overwhelming to work on the occasion on the evening in query. One one who has been there, busily creating content material from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Trendy Artwork is Galway-born Michaela O’Shaughnessy, a digital media knowledgeable who as soon as held the title of Senior Social Supervisor on the nice Condé Nast publication, Glamor.
With a number of Met Galas underneath her belt (or quite, underneath her glitzy ballgown) due to her tenure at sister publication Teen Vogue, she owes all of it to a finely tuned operation. Michaela reveals her favourite parts of the star-studded evening, flying the flag for Irish design and what working on the occasion is de facto about.
How was your response once you heard you had been going to your first Met Gala?
My first Met Gala was essentially the most surreal expertise. It has at all times been an occasion that I’ve liked to see unfold, even after I was again in Eire. The primary 12 months I moved to New York, I lived about three blocks from the Met and spent hours throughout the road watching all of the arrivals. To get began 12 months later was greater than a dream come true! I keep in mind considering to myself it was a as soon as in a lifetime expertise and I needed to take all of it in as greatest I might.
What’s your primary precedence once you work on the Met Gala?
My most important aim for the evening is to attempt to seize the most effective content material I can put up in actual time to put up on Glamor’s social channels and hopefully get some main engagement. With so many different media on the market protecting the identical occasion, it is actually vital to be additional on time and ensure our images are one of many first individuals see that evening.
Is it irritating, or do you benefit from the expertise?
If you first arrive, it’s kind of formidable to climb the steps, however when you get to your spot on the carpet and the expertise begins to reach, it is in full working mode.
I at all times breathe a sigh of aid when the final particular person is available in and all the pieces has gone properly
It is such a surreal expertise, however it could positively be very irritating too, as you are attempting to seize stay content material, talk again to the group on the workplace, and handle the social posts as properly. So loads is going on on the similar time and also you attempt to preserve all cylinders transferring. I at all times breathe a sigh of aid when the final particular person is available in and all the pieces has gone properly. It is fairly a protracted day. I’m going to the workplace within the morning to do some regular work, begin preparing round 1pm, then head to the MET for a 3:30pm check-in. Often it’s a must to hold round for some time earlier than heading to your spot on the carpet at 5:30pm and all of it begins at 6pm…till about 9pm. Then I am going to go house and proceed posting leftover content material.
How a lot consideration do you pay to the theme when selecting an outfit?
I often do not pay an excessive amount of consideration to the theme as a result of I am an expert there, in contrast to a participant.
You have worn Don O’Neill clothes earlier than – how vital is it to you to put on Irish?
Don has at all times been so good at dressing me for previous Met Galas and it was at all times so vital to me to put on one thing from a proficient Irish designer.
Are you able to summarize the environment of the night?
Completely manic with so many pinches.
Who has been your favourite celeb sighting over time?
Gosh, there have been so many! It was fairly humorous watching Kris Jenner sit on high of the carpet for over 20 minutes ready for all her women to get in. She actually appeared like such a proud mother, which was candy to see. What’s nearly extra thrilling than recognizing the celebrities themselves is definitely seeing them work together on the carpet.
Who do you most prefer to see on the purple carpet?
Undoubtedly, I am most enthusiastic about Harry Kinds. Often he is a kind of musicians who does not actually take care of the press, so the prospect to see him within the flesh is just about non-existent.
To learn extra about Michaela’s NYC life and profession trajectory, try her web site right here.
This text was initially revealed in 2019.
