STYLE EVOLUTION

How Keke Palmer Went From “VP” to VIP on the Red Carpet

Updated: 
Originally Published: 

Keke Palmer  attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropo...
Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Morning, kids! That’s a Keke Palmer-ism, for the uninitiated. The actor-singer-dancer-talk show host has always had the gift of gab, but her sense of style has certainly grown up along with her. Over 15 years ago, Palmer was just a tween shouldering the burden of mid-aughts red carpet glam, but now she’s a full fledged couture chameleon who isn’t afraid to take fashion risks when the occasion calls for it. From the days when every look she wore had an element of sparkle, to her more recent obsession with a low-cut neckline, Palmer has worn it all. She now favors brands like Roberto Cavalli and Carolina Herrera and has a special penchant for New York-based Sergio Hudson. Likely, she gets her taste from her Nickelodeon days as the Vice President of a fashion label on True Jackson, VP and now, as a movie star, hitting the red carpet for her films like Hustlers, Lightyear, and Nope. Below, take a look back at Keke Palmer’s best red carpet moments from Akeelah and the Bee to now.

2023: Fragrance Foundation Awards
Taylor Hill/WireImage/Getty Images

The actress kept things simple, and entirely chic, for the 2023 Fragrance Foundation Awards in a plunging slip-style gown from her frequent collaborator Sergio Hudson.

2023: Met Gala
Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Palmer looked regal for the 2023 Met Gala in a strapless Sergio Hudson tweed dress and billowing train.

2023: Big Boss Premiere
Carol Lee Rose/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Letting her wild side run free, Palmer went with an animal print jumpsuit from Roberto Cavalli for the Big Boss premiere.

2023: New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Before winning the award for Best Supporting Actress, Palmer shined on the red carpet in this bump-baring Michael Kors number for the 2023 New York Film Critics Circle Awards.

2022: Michael Kors Show
Gotham/WireImage/Getty Images

Palmer brought the sunshine in this canary yellow knit dress and coordinating overcoat to Michael Kors’s spring/summer 2023 show.

2022: Governors Awards
TOMMASO BODDI/AFP/Getty Images

Palmer opted for a tiered wine red Robert Wun gown for the 2022 Governors Awards.

2022: CFDA Fashion Awards
Gotham/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

The actress bloomed in this billowing floral gown and coordinating knee-high boots by Carolina Herrera for the 2022 CFDA Awards.

2022: Nope UK Premiere
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Palmer certainly made a statement for the UK premiere of Nope in this lace Valentino number complete with feather detailing at the waist.

2022: Nope Premiere
Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic/Getty Images

The Nope premiere called for a standout look, so Palmer grabbed this ensemble right off the runway from Marc Jacobs’ fall 2022 collection.

2022: BET Awards
Amy Sussman/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Palmer wore a low-cut Conner Ives patchwork dress to the BET Awards.

2022: Lightyear Los Angeles Premiere
Jon Kopaloff/WireImage/Getty Images

Palmer wore this colorful David Koma look from the designer’s pre-fall 2022 collection to the Lightyear premiere.

2021: Met Gala
Taylor Hill/WireImage/Getty Images

Channeling Diana Ross, Palmer attended the 2021 Met Gala in a shimmering Sergio Hudson dress with long sleeves and an open back.

2020: MTV Video Music Awards
Photo by Jeff Kravitz/MTV VMAs 2020/Getty Images for MTV

For the remote 2020 MTV VMAs, Palmer hosted in a light blue Area mini dress.

2019: Time 100 Next
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Wearing a mini Cong Tri Spring 2020 dress with an attached train, Palmer attended the Time 100 Next event in November 2019.

2019: Hustlers Premiere
George Pimentel/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Palmer showed off a whole lot of leg in this crystal-covered Roberto Cavalli dress at the Toronto Film Festival’s premiere of Hustlers.

2019: MTV Video Music Awards
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/WireImage

Wearing a bright yellow Yousef Aljasmi Swarovski embellished gown, Palmer attended the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.

2016: American Music Awards
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Palmer embodied her inner Rihanna in this completely sheer silver Natalie Fedner set at the 2016 AMAs.

2016: VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail the Queens
Jim Spellman/WireImage

Looking like a Klimt painting, Palmer stepped out at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors event in this strapless gold dress from Baja East.

2016: Billboard Music Awards
Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Palmer wore this House of Harlot knee-length latex dress with a keyhole cutout to the Billboard Music Awards.

2016: GLAAD Media Awards
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images

This sheer lace Thai Nguyen dress stole the show at the 2016 GLAAD Media Awards.

2016: Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards
Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

Wearing the color of the night, Palmer attended the 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards in an orange leather midi dress from Alessandra de Tomaso.

2016: People’s Choice Awards
Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Going for a darker, romantic vibe, Palmer wore a cropped lace, off-the-shoulder top and black column skirt by Yousef Al-Jasmi to the 2016 People’s Choice Awards.

2015: Teen Choice Awards
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Color-blocking was all the rage around 2015, so this pink, black, and white mini dress from Giulietta was the perfect choice for the Teen Choice Awards.

2015: Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Palmer kept things fairly simple for the Vanity Fair Oscar party, opting to wear this chic, white Stella McCartney gown.

2014: Emmy Awards
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

The actress, who played Cinderella on Broadway, looked very much like a Disney princess in this royal blue mermaid gown.

2014: BET Awards
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Palmer showed off the unique cut-outs on this white and gold Alon Livné mini dress at the 2014 BET Awards.

2013: NAACP Image Awards
Jason Kempin/WireImage/Getty Images

Palmer has proven her love for blue over the years, here she wore this Naven halter dress in a gorgeous cerulean.

2012: Kids’ Choice Awards
Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

This purple, mini Marco Marco dress with a skirt made of large rosettes was the perfect look for the Kids’ Choice Awards.

2011: BET Awards
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images

You can tell Palmer was feeling herself in this silver mini Mandolo dress.

2011: Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards
Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Palmer looked adorable in this one-shoulder, sequin-covered Ina Soltani mini dress at the 2011 Kids’ Choice Awards.

2010: Teen Choice Awards
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images

It’s clear the actress loved some sparkle back in the day, which is why it’s no surprise she opted for this crystal-encrusted Collette Dinnigan mini dress for the 2010 Teen Choice Awards.

2009: MTV Movie Awards
Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Wearing a coral pink Matthew Williamson mini dress, Palmer attended the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.

2009: NAACP Image Awards
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Palmer looked angelic in this pleated Camilla and Marc mini dress at the 2009 NAACP Image Awards.

2007: Critics’ Choice Awards
Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

A 14-year-old Palmer looked adorable in a simple black dress at her first-ever Critics’ Choice Awards.

2006: Akeelah and the Bee Premiere

Palmer attended the premiere for her breakout film, Akeelah and the Bee, in this lace-covered strapless gown with a bow around the waist.

2005: NAACP Image Awards
Albert L. Ortega/WireImage/Getty Images

Palmer attended her first NAACP Image Awards in this white silk dress with a silver sequined belt.

2005: Screen Actors Guild Awards
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Palmer was just 12 years old when she wore this pink silk dress with a matching hair bow to the 2005 SAG Awards.

This article was originally published on