Barbie, Elle Woods, Juicy Couture, and Glossier have one thing in common—pink. More specifically, a light rosy hue, dubbed “millennial pink” in the 2010s era when Glossier built a brand around said color. But if you’ve been paying attention the last few years, a vibrant and bolder shade of pink has been taking over the runways and red carpets—inevitably appearing in the e-commerce sites we (and by we I mean me) spent most of the pandemic browsing. Neon pink, hot pink, and Fuschia are just a handful of the names I’ve seen in product descriptions but you’ll know it when you see it.
Where soft pink stood aside or faded into the background, hot pink stood up, commanding the attention of a room. If these colors were characters on Euphoria, baby pink would be Cassie (sweet, soft, traditionally feminine) and hot pink would be Maddy (bold, fiery, confident). For a color so often associated with femininity, the bold version fittingly reflects a cultural shift for women in the last two decades. From baby pink representing softer and passive ideals to bold pink brazenly giving strength and confidence, the color has found its footing in balancing power and femininity. It’s not gender-exclusive either, Lil Nas X and Machine Gun Kelly make a strong case for men everywhere to expand beyond their neutral color palette. Below, find the best bold pink moments from Rihanna, Zendaya, Kim Kardashian, and more. Plus the shoppable items to add to your cart if you’re feeling inspired.
Lady Gaga Attends the Camp Themed Met Gala (May 2019)
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Lady Gaga showed up to the 2019 Met Gala with not one but THREE red carpet looks and two of them were pink. Designed by Brandon Maxwell the first look was a cape dress with a 25-foot train and the third was a form-fitting column dress. Paired with Gaga’s blonde hair and doll-like makeup, this pink moment was so chic even Barbie’s taking notes.
Doja Cat’s ‘Hot Pink’ Album (Nov 2019)
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Doja Cat doesn’t just wear pink, she named a whole album after the color. Hot Pink is Doja Cat’s third studio album released in late 2019. The album features Gucci Mane and Smino along with the TikTok viral track “Streets”.
Lil Nas X Attends the Grammy Awards (Jan 2020)
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You can always count on Lil Nas X to show up to the red carpet in a head-turning look and he doesn’t shy away from color. He wore a Western-inspired Versace outfit to the 2020 Grammy Awards and everything from the cowboy boots to the hat was pink (accentuated by gold detailing in true Versace fashion).
Lil Nas X Performs at the MTV Video Music Awards (Sept 2021)
Forever going to be thinking about this moment between @LilNasX and @jackharlow at the #VMAs… pic.twitter.com/zhAFkBb8BW
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) September 13, 2021
This clip of Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow slapping hands while performing “Industry Baby” at the VMAs last year went viral and you can’t miss Lil Nas X’s bright pink pants. The custom Montero track pants were paired with a group of ski-masked backup dancers all in hot pink.
Kim Kardashian Hosts Saturday Night Live (Oct 2021)
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If you’ve listened to Donda 2 then you might know where the sample of Kim Kardashian saying “I married the best rapper of all time” comes from. Last year, Kim hosted SNL and wore a hot pink velvet catsuit by Balenciaga during her opening monologue. She also showed up to the studio in a floor-length anorak coat and left wearing a spandex catsuit and shaggy jacket—all designed by Balenciaga and in the same hot pink shade.
Blackpink’s Jennie Stars in Grimes’ “Shinigami Eyes” Music Video (Jan 2022)
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K-pop star Jennie Kim made a cameo in Grimes’ “Shinigami Eyes” music video and the Blackpink star fittingly wore a head-to-toe hot pink outfit.
Rihanna & A$AP Rocky Pregnancy Reveal (Jan 2022)
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After months of speculation, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky confirm they’re expecting a baby in the most iconic way, naturally. Releasing a series of images shot by Miles Diggs, Rihanna lets her baby bump proudly peek out from a vintage hot pink Chanel jacket (from Karl Lagerfeld’s 1996 collection).
Machine Gun Kelly Posts Hot Pink Manicure (Feb 2022)
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MGK took his usual punk look from Hot Topic to hot pink posting a series of Instagram photos proudly showing off his pink manicure, pink striped sweater, and pink hair. While only the manicure is in the hue du jour, we still love to see it.
Valentino’s Hot Pink AW22 Show at Paris Fashion Week (March 2022)
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At Paris Fashion Week this year, Valentino debuted an entire autumn/winter collection in two shades: pink and black. Videos of the hot pink runway and models quickly flooded social media feeds. The exact shade of pink that Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli used will be added to Pantone’s official color scale under the name “PP Pink”.
Zendaya Attends Valentino’s AW22 Show at Paris Fashion Week (March 2022)
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Everything Euphoria star Zendaya does is highly documented but her front-row look for the Valentino A/W 22 runway show was a stand-out moment from Paris Fashion Week. She wore a blazer, shirt, and trouser combo featuring flower detailing all over (from Valentino’s new collection) and it’s a pink look Elle Woods would be envious of.
Alicia Keys on Good Morning America (March 2022)
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Alicia Keys recently visited GMA and wore a hot pink utility jumpsuit from her collaboration with loungewear brand Athleta. She kept the pink theme going, leaving the studio in a Moschino faux shearling overcoat and Jimmy Choo Saeda pumps.
Shop The Story
- Danielle Guizio Cropped Angora Pink Cardigan
- Steve Madden Pink Charlize Platform Heel
- SKIMS Fits Everybody Neon Pink Bike Shorts
- Jacquemus Pink La Montagne Cardigan
- H:ours Aimee Pink Mini Dress
- Zara Satin Pink Mini Dress
- Schutz Pink Anessa Heel
- Athleta Keys Pink Utility Jumpsuit
- GapFit Pink Foam Roller
- Superdown Jorden Pink Satin Top
