When it comes to award show red carpets, the BET Awards are a reliably good time — not just because the annual ceremony is one of the Blackest celebrations of the year, but because the celebrity style runs the gamut. From couture-level elegance to Halloween-ready getups, you never know what you might see on the event’s red carpet, and the 2024 BET Awards were no exception.
While there were plenty of buzzy moments onstage, the evening started with some equally notable moments as stars from music, film and TV showed up and showed out, giving us looks to emulate, admire and, in some cases, ask, “What were they thinking?” With that in mind, theGrio has rounded up some of the buzziest looks from the 2024 BET Awards red carpet, in no particular order.
Who wore their best (and most baffling) looks? We’ll let you pick the night’s winners.
1. Taraji P. Henson
Returning to host this year’s awards ceremony, Taraji P. Henson got things off to a glamorous and Black-tastic start in a custom Balmain gown designed by Olivier Rousteing and comprising gold chains. That’s what we call heavy metal.
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2. Usher
What befits a legend most? Casual elegance, according to Usher, who declared 2024 the “Year of the Father” as he accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award — and put a stylish spin on dad style in the process.
3. Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey isn’t letting new motherhood stop her slay; the actress-singer was chic and sleek in a black snakeskin-embossed gown.
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4. Ice Spice
Is Ice Spice entering her Hollywood glam era? The rapper debuted a Marilyn Monroe-like coif, pairing her signature tangerine tresses with an orange gown that showcased her navel, one of the evening’s other trends.
5. Victoria Monét
Leaning into one of the evening’s recurrent trends, Victoria Monét opted to make leather her look for the 2024 BET Awards in an edgy gown partly held together by piercings.
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6. Tyla
Tyla teased dominatrix style in a studded, navel-baring halter gown that gave just a peek at her wild side.
7. Tanner Adell
Country darling Tanner Adele represented for the genre she loves in a bouffant white bustier gown that would’ve done Dolly proud.
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8. Monét, Keke Palmer, Sade and Lashay of Divagurl
Keke Palmer and her fellow members of Divagurl brought back the girl group style of the early aughts in color-coordinated fits that could’ve been designed by Tina Knowles herself.
9. Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo presented an optical illusion in a slightly oversized, color-shifting suit by Ferrari Style.
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10. Remy Ma
Remy Ma left little to the imagination as she draped her curves in a chandelier-inspired creation.
11. Jessica Betts and Niecy Nash-Betts
Committed to each other and to couple style, Niecy Nash-Betts and Jessica Betts coordinated in blue hues.
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12. Meagan Good
Wearing one of the evening’s many micro-minidresses, another notable aspect of Meagan Good’s 2024 BET Awards look is that she rocked the red carpet solo.
13. Coco Jones
Strategic placement was the secret sauce in Coco Jones’ skin-baring sparkler.
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14. Tinashe
Tinashe channeled “Mad Max” in her heavily distressed and bound ensemble.
15. Andra Day
Sheer, sparking and sweater-like details gave Andra Day’s look arresting visual interest.
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16. Shaboozey
Subtle details gave Shaboozey’s suit a unique yet distinctly country vibe.
17. Angela Simmons
Angela Simmons’ green gown evoked old-school awards show style, but her bedazzled gun-shaped clutch sent mixed messages — and was likely a hassle to get through security.
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18. Sexyy Red
When in doubt, money is always a reliable accessory … at least, according to Sexyy Red, who showered the red carpet in one-dollar bills.
19. Blac Chyna
Is it a gown or a wet sheet? Blac Chyna left it to the viewer to decide, putting her own spin on the wet T-shirt red carpet trend most recently seen at the Met Gala.
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20. Lil’ Mo
If the best thing about the BET Awards is its many iterations of Blackness, that must extend to the dress code — as evidenced by singer-songwriter Lil’ Mo, who combined club kid realness with a poignant red carpet tribute.