Lauren Wasser arrived at the Met Gala wearing striking gold prosthetic legs, years after both of her lower limbs were amputated following a toxic shock syndrome (TSS) diagnosis when she was 24.
For fashion fans, the first Monday in May means one thing: the Met Gala. And as usual, the night delivered plenty of headline-making outfits.
From Katy Perry stepping out in a face covering that appeared to limit her vision, to Bad Bunny leaning into a look styled as an older version of himself, the event once again gave people plenty to talk about.
This year’s theme was Costume Art, and 38-year-old model Wasser clearly embraced it.
She wore a gold Prabal Gurung suit, styled by Jaz and Sarah, finishing the look with her signature metallic prosthetics.
More than a decade ago, Wasser had the lower portions of her legs amputated after developing TSS, which she has linked to tampon use. The condition is considered very rare, with an estimated incidence of one to three cases per 100,000 menstruating women.
Wasser has spoken candidly about how quickly her health deteriorated in her 20s, saying she was close to dying.
“I was on my period. It was super heavy. I guess I must have passed out. They found me face down on my bedroom floor. I was 10 minutes from death.”
As her organs began to fail, she was placed into an induced coma. Reports at the time said doctors told her parents she had only a one percent chance of surviving.
Recounting what happened after she woke up, Wasser said her condition had progressed so severely that surgery became a matter of survival.
“My feet were turning black so when I finally woke up they needed to amputate my right leg or I was going to die.
“They’re telling me that we cannot give you any pain medication. I felt every single thing that was done to me.”
At first, only the lower part of her right leg was removed in an effort to stop the infection from killing her. But after years of ongoing pain and complications, she later chose to have her left leg amputated as well.
Since then, Wasser has used her platform to push for stronger safety measures and transparency around menstrual products.
Cleveland Clinic notes that while TSS is often linked with tampon use, it isn’t exclusive to people who use them.
“It causes toxins to spread into your bloodstream, causing severe organ damage or death,” the website says of the rare illness.
Symptoms of TSS can include:
- Sudden high fever
- Low blood pressure (feeling faint or dizzy)
- A rash that may resemble a sunburn
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Muscle aches
- Headache or confusion
- Redness of the eyes, mouth, or throat
Anyone who notices potential warning signs—particularly tampon users—is advised to seek medical advice as soon as possible.