How Keke Palmer Went From “VP” to VIP on the Red Carpet
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. 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, she has proven she’s a true VIP. Take a look back at her best red carpet looks from the Akeelah and the Bee premiere back in 2006 to now.
Palmer kept it simple in a satin Prada dress to the Italian premiere of Nope, adding a bit of edge with her black opera gloves.
The Nope premiere called for a standout look, so Palmer grabbed this ensemble right off the runway from Marc Jacobs’ fall 2022 collection.
Palmer wore a low-cut Conner Ives patchwork dress to the BET Awards.
For the second Lightyear premiere, Palmer was a vision in white thanks to this strapless dress from 16Arlington, which features a hem covered in feathers.
Palmer wore this colorful David Koma look from the designer’s pre-fall 2022 collection to the Lightyear premiere.
Channeling Diana Ross, Palmer attended the 2021 Met Gala in a shimmering Sergio Hudson dress with long sleeves and an open back.
For the remote 2020 MTV VMAs, Palmer hosted in a light blue Area mini dress.
Palmer brought the drama in this Khyeli Fall 2018 dress with a train of cascading feathers to the 2019 IFP Gotham Awards.
Wearing a mini Cong Tri Spring 2020 dress with an attached train, Palmer attended the Time 100 Next event in November 2019.
Acting as the emcee for the night, Palmer arrived to the 2019 Angel ball in this yellow and purple tiered J. Mendel Spring 2020 gown.
Palmer showed off a whole lot of leg in this crystal-covered Roberto Cavalli dress at the Toronto Film Festival’s premiere of Hustlers.
Wearing a bright yellow Yousef Aljasmi Swarovski embellished gown, Palmer attended the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.
Palmer attended a Golden Globes afterparty in this low cut, shimmering Pamela Roland dress.
This pink jacquard two-piece set from Houghton was ahead of its time.
Palmer embodied her inner Rihanna in this completely sheer silver Natalie Fedner set at the 2016 AMAs.
Palmer mixed it up with this super cool, Off-White denim jumpsuit at the premiere for Ice Age: Collision Course in July 2016.
Looking like a Klimt painting, Palmer stepped out at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors event in this strapless gold dress from Baja East.
Palmer wore this House of Harlot knee-length latex dress with a keyhole cutout to the BMAs in May 2016.
This sheer lace Thai Nguyen dress stole the show at the 2016 GLAAD Media Awards.
Wearing the color of the night, Palmer attended the 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards in an orange leather midi dress from Alessandra de Tomaso.
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.
Palmer wore this colorful Moschino midi dress to the premiere of Fox’s Scream Queens in September 2015.
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.
Palmer showed off a new haircut at the Dope premiere, where she wore this chic, low-cut jumpsuit.
The actress proved that mint is most definitely her color when she attended the premiere for Brotherly Love in this low-cut Bibhu Mohapatra dress with a high slit.
Palmer kept things fairly simple for the Vanity Fair Oscar party, opting to wear this chic, white Stella McCartney gown.
The actress, who played Cinderella on Broadway, looked very much like a Disney princess in this royal blue mermaid gown.
Palmer showed off the unique cutouts on this white and gold Alon Livné mini dress at the 2014 BET Awards.
Palmer has proven her love for blue over the years, take this Naven halter dress in a gorgeous cerulean.
This purple, mini Marco Marco dress with a skirt made of large rosettes was the perfect look for the Kids’ Choice Awards.
Palmer tapped Naven again to dress her for the NAACP Image Awards in 2012. This time, she wore a bright pink, strapless dress, keeping the silhouette simple to let the bright hue really standout.
You can tell Palmer was feeling herself in this silver mini Mandolo dress.
Palmer looked adorable in this one-shoulder, sequin-covered Ina Soltani mini dress at the 2011 Kids’ Choice Awards.
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 TCAs.
This colorful Adam spring 2009 dress fit in perfectly on the KCA red carpet.
Palmer stood out in this canary yellow BCBG Max Azria dress at the 2010 NAACP Image Awards.
Wearing a coral pink Matthew Williamson mini dress, Palmer attended the 2010 MTV Movie Awards in 2009.
Palmer looked angelic in this pleated Camilla and Marc mini dress at the 2009 NAACP Image Awards.
A 14-year-old Palmer looked adorable in a simple black dress at her first-ever Critics’ Choice Awards.
Palmer attended the premiere for her breakout film, Akeelah and the Bee, in this lace-covered strapless gown with a bow around the waist.
This blush pink, crystal-covered gown was the perfect choice for a 13-year-old Palmer at the premiere of Madea’s Family Reunion back in 2006.
Palmer attended her first NAACP Image Awards in this white silk dress with a silver sequined belt.
Palmer was just 12 years old when she wore this pink silk dress with a matching hair bow to the 2005 SAG Awards.
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