When Simone Biles steps on a red carpet, just like the competition floor, she doesn’t come to play—she comes to own it. And with the 2025 Met Gala just hours away, the Olympic legend is ready to turn heads all over again. After already shutting it down at the Kentucky Derby in a pink number that had fans raving, she’s heading into fashion’s biggest night with the same “watch this” confidence she brings to a balance beam.

It’s not her first rodeo. Simone made a jaw-dropping Met Gala debut back in 2021 wearing an 88-pound gown from AREA x Athleta—yes, 88 pounds—and declared, “I personally don’t think anybody’s dress is gonna be better than mine… this is going to be a statement.” And it was. She strutted in like she was sticking a landing, leaving no doubt that she belonged right alongside fashion’s elite.

This time around in the 2025 Met Gala, though, she’s dialing things back—just a bit. “Honestly, it’s just been designing for the apparel, what I’m going to wear, what my outfit looks like. So no big, big job,” Simone Biles told PEOPLE. “I’ve just been so busy. So really just show up, have a good time, wear a beautiful fit, and then just walk the carpet.” Sounds chill—until you hear she’s rocking five to six-inch heels.

Now that’s a power move. But it’s not just about the outfit. Simone, 28, is also part of the 2025 Met Gala host committee, alongside her husband Jonathan Owens and a stacked lineup including Usher, Doechii, Regina King, and Spike Lee. With this year’s theme—“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”—expect bold, beautiful, and unapologetically powerful fashion.

Simone hinted she and Owens will wear different designers but still show up “cohesive,” and honestly, could they be any cuter? So yeah, she’s keeping it “simple” this time, but make no mistake—Simone Biles doesn’t do forgettable. Whether she’s in the gym or on the carpet, she brings the kind of presence that turns a moment into a movement.

Don’t be surprised if she steals the spotlight again—heels, high fashion, and all. But at the same time, how did she make an impact in 2021 when she was suffering from the twisties?

Simone Biles makes a bold statement at the 2021 Met Gala

Simone Biles didn’t just show up to the 2021 Met Gala, she made an entrance that had everyone talking. It was just months after Tokyo, where she stepped back from competition to protect her mental health, but this time, she was stepping forward in full glam mode. Vogue personally reached out to her, pairing her with the New York-based fashion label Area and her sponsor Athleta for a look that was part fashion, part performance art.

“It wasn’t even on our radar,” said Area co-designer Beckett Fogg, still surprised their small, independent label was tapped to dress one of the world’s most celebrated athletes. And dressed her, they did. The final product? A jaw-dropping, three-in-one ensemble that took 6,650 hours and over 100 people to create. First came the starry black catsuit — a nod to Athleta’s logo — then a shimmering mini dress made of Swarovski crystal strands.

But the showstopper was yet to come. A detachable skirt that weighed 88 pounds and took six men to help her carry up the Met steps. The skirt alone featured more than 17,000 feet of crystal chains and 200 feet of tulle, designed to mimic ostrich feathers. “Fortunately, Ms. Biles has superhuman strength,” joked the designers, who were inspired by both the power in her performances and the glamor of icons like Josephine Baker.

But this wasn’t just sparkle, for sparkle’s sake. Area wanted to tell a story — about the intense work behind the scenes, whether it’s crafting a gown or nailing a gymnastics routine. “People are all about entertainment, but they don’t understand the craftsmanship,” said Piotrek Panszczyk. And Simone Biles? She wasn’t just wearing a dress — she was wearing a message. “Beautiful, strong, and empowered” is how she described how the look made her feel.

It was couture-meets-comeback, and she nailed the landing. And now, with the 2025 Met Gala coming up, the big question is: What will Simone Biles bring to the table this time? Whatever it is, we know it’ll be something to remember.