The 2023 BET Awards red carpet kicked off live from Los Angeles on Sunday night, celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop in particular. This year’s nominations in music, television, film, and sports categories counted Drake, Lizzo, and Beyoncé with the most nods, with Beyoncé maintaining her spot as the most decorated musician in BET Awards history. Taraji P. Henson played host for the past two years, setting the standard for plenty of high-fashion moments to come moving forward.
This year’s turnout saw plenty of naked dresses, with sheer and peekaboo panels sported by Ice Spice and Latto and intriguing cutaways from the likes of GloRilla, BIA, Victoria Monét, and Coco Jones, who chose a red sequined LaQuan Smith gown that hugged her every curve.
Last year, Lizzo turned up the glamour in a custom plunging Gucci gown in midnight-navy lurex with a feathered trim and leg slit; Chlöe offered a spin on architectural cutouts in a sequined Nicolas Jebran number; Halle Bailey jumped on the hip-cleavage bandwagon in a V-cut corset and low-slung skirt, courtesy of Mônot; and Janelle Monáe employed her outfit as commentary on the overturn of Roe v. Wade, choosing a Roberto Cavalli design with a leather harness to symbolize protection and empowerment. (She wasn’t the only one who used her platform to speak up about abortion rights that evening.) In 2021, Cardi B wore what was arguably one of the most memorable catsuits in history for her pregnancy reveal, choosing a blinged-out look that centered a sheer circle of mesh around her growing belly.
Clearly, the fashion at the BET Awards has been nothing short of iconic through the years, and that trend will surely continue. With a list of 2023 presenters and performers that also included Nicki Minaj, SZA, Cardi B, Latto, and Tyga, plenty of meaningful outfits rolled in as the night progressed.
Ahead, see the best celebrity appearances on the red carpet at the 2023 BET Awards, and get full details on their outfits.
