Four years after one of the most talked-about red carpet moments in recent history, Kim Kardashian has revealed that she continues to harbour regrets about her appearance at the 2022 Met Gala. The reality star and business mogul wore Marilyn Monroe’s legendary “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress to the “Gilded Glamour” themed event, but it is not the gown itself or the controversy surrounding it that bothers her most. Instead, Kardashian says her biggest regret centres on the styling — specifically her decision to go platinum blonde.

In a recent vlog and interview, Kardashian opened up about the preparation process, admitting that the entire team “f**ked up” the look. She explained that she had been repeatedly advised against doing full “Marilyn hair” because it might make her resemble a wax figure of the Hollywood icon. As a result, she arrived at fittings with her natural dark hair and only bleached it platinum blonde shortly before the event. Looking back, she believes committing to the blonde hair much earlier would have created a far more authentic and striking interpretation.

The dyeing process was extremely demanding. Kardashian revealed it took over ten hours and significantly damaged her hair. She has since described the decision as one of her “biggest regrets in life,” saying she still thinks about it “once a week.” In hindsight, she feels a sleek dark hairstyle — perhaps channelling Jackie Kennedy — might have been more flattering and less risky. She has even experimented with Photoshop, trying different hair colours on images of the look to see what might have worked better.

The 2022 Met Gala appearance was already highly controversial. Kardashian borrowed the fragile, crystal-encrusted gown from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! archive on the condition that she would lose enough weight to fit into it. The dress, which Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang to President John F. Kennedy in 1962, is considered a cultural artefact. Many criticised Kardashian for potentially damaging the historic piece, while others accused her of cultural appropriation and criticised the extreme measures she took to wear it.

Despite the backlash, the moment became one of the most memorable in Met Gala history. Kardashian arrived in the gown covered by a fur coat before dramatically revealing the look on the steps. The image went viral instantly, sparking countless debates about celebrity, fashion, and preservation of history. While many focused on the dress and the weight loss controversy at the time, Kardashian now says the hair was the element that truly disappointed her.

In her reflection, Kardashian emphasised that the team lacked focus during preparations. “We were doing every family member. We weren’t focused,” she admitted. She believes that had they committed fully to the Marilyn aesthetic from the beginning — including the signature curly blonde hairstyle — the overall result would have felt more cohesive and iconic. Instead, she arrived with freshly bleached hair pulled into a tight bun, a choice she now views as a missed opportunity.

Kardashian’s honesty about the regret has resonated with many fans, who appreciate her willingness to revisit past decisions with self-awareness. Some have praised her for reflecting on the experience years later rather than dismissing the criticism. Others, however, continue to focus on the broader controversies surrounding the look, particularly the handling of Monroe’s dress. The resurfaced comments have also reignited debates about whether borrowing and altering such a significant historical garment was appropriate in the first place.

This is not the first time Kardashian has reflected on her Met Gala choices. She has previously discussed the physical and emotional toll of transforming her body for the dress. Yet her latest comments shift the conversation from weight and controversy to creative styling decisions. It offers a more personal insight into how even the most meticulously planned celebrity moments can leave lasting regrets.

As one of the most photographed women in the world, Kim Kardashian’s every red carpet appearance is analysed in detail. Her 2022 Met Gala look remains one of her most polarising, yet it also cemented her status as a fashion risk-taker. Whether or not she ever gets the chance to reinterpret the Marilyn concept, her candid admission shows a level of self-reflection that many fans find refreshing.

Four years on, the platinum blonde bun may still bother her, but the image of Kim Kardashian as Marilyn Monroe continues to spark conversation. It serves as a reminder that even global superstars with teams of stylists can look back on defining moments and wish they had done things differently — especially when it comes to something as deceptively simple as hair.