Emily Ratajkowski used her nails to send a quiet message about her relationship at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards.
The model, 35, attended the 2026 VMAs as the plus-one of boyfriend Romain Gavras, the French director who was nominated for his work on Gener8ion and Yung Lean’s music video “Storm.” Her backstage pass for the event identified her simply as “Romain Plus One,” a detail she later shared on her Instagram account.
Ratajkowski documented the night in a slideshow posted to Instagram, where she has more than 29 million followers. “Went to the VMAs as a @romaingavras @surkin @yunglean2001 groupie and had the best time,” she captioned the post.
Her choice of outfit drew immediate attention. The model wore a black and red George Troch knit dress with completely cut-out sides that ran from her shoulder to her low hip, leaving most of her torso exposed. The gown hugged close to her chest and twisted at the back. She offered followers a 360-degree view of the look in her social media post, wearing her hair tousled with a middle part and a dramatic smokey eye.
The subtle tribute to Gavras appeared in a photo shared by her nail artist. On Ratajkowski’s left hand, her middle finger was painted with the initials “RG,” while her ring finger displayed a symbol that appeared on a poster for his movie “Sacrifice.” Gavras, seated beside her during the show, wore the same symbol on his cap, pairing it with a gray button-down, black blazer, sunglasses and the headwear.
The couple’s relationship first surfaced publicly when Ratajkowski hard-launched their romance on Instagram in February. They have been together since before that announcement, though she had kept their status private initially.
Gavras, 43, is a Greek-French director known for his visually striking music videos and films. His feature “Sacrifice,” which starred his now-girlfriend, marked a significant collaboration between the two before their romantic relationship became public knowledge.
The awards show itself proved eventful beyond their appearance. Ratajkowski’s last VMAs attendance came in 2023, when she wore a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier halter dress that also showed substantial skin, baring her abs in a similarly revealing silhouette. The model has established a pattern of bold fashion choices at the annual ceremony.
After the main event concluded, the pair joined Madonna’s after-party at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood. The gathering drew a notable crowd including Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter and additional celebrities, where Ratajkowski and Gavras closed out their evening.
One follower commented on Ratajkowski’s Instagram post with dry understatement about her dress: “I love the very subtle cutout on that dress.” The remark highlighted the extreme nature of the garment’s design, which left little to imagination while still maintaining structural elements through its knit construction.
The director’s nomination for “Storm” represented continued recognition of his music video work, which has long formed the backbone of his creative reputation. Gavras has directed clips for major artists including Kanye West, Jay-Z and M.I.A. Over the course of his career.
Ratajkowski’s fashion choices at high-profile events have consistently generated discussion, though her VMAs 2026 look added the personal dimension of her coded nail art tribute. The combination of public display and private reference framed the evening as both a professional appearance for Gavras and a relationship milestone shared on her terms through social media documentation.