Ariana Grande Slipped Into Glinda Pink at the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony
CHRISTIAN ALLAIRE
July 28, 2024
In the Spotlight
Ariana Grande Slipped Into Glinda Pink at the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony
Last night’s Olympics opening ceremony was a star-studded affair—but few in attendance caused quite as much of a stir as Wicked co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who commanded the red carpet in looks that channeled their characters, Elphaba and Glinda. Turns out, attending the Olympics has always been a bucket-list item for Grande, who slipped into Glinda-pink Thom Browne for the affair. “I have always loved watching the Olympics with my family at home. We love to watch and keep up together,” says Grande. “I am so very excited about women’s gymnastics, and to be attending! It feels so special and once-in-a-lifetime to be here.” (Her favorite part of last night’s ceremony? “Celine and Gaga, of course,” she says. “And the inclusion of drag artists and celebration of queer people was so beautiful and special to watch!”).
Grande’s excitement for the 2024 Games matches the buzz that fans are feeling for the November release of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked. Both Erivo and Grande have already made a handful of appearances for which they’ve embraced method dressing—nodding to their film characters with shades of green and pink—and so they wanted to continue the stylish motif at the Olympics. “I’m just feeling really grateful. Truly,” Grande says of making the film. “We both truly gave this everything we had in us, so now it’s just about finally getting to step back, hold hands, take a deep breath, and share it with people. Some have loved it for years and years, the way we both have, and some who know nothing about it yet, and get to experience this beautiful story for the first time through us.”
In the big lead-up to the film, Grande says she’s built an unbreakable bond with her co-star Erivo, who also shined at the opening ceremony in an emerald Louis Vuitton look. “It’s a very special moment in our lives, and I’m so thankful I get to share it with Cynthia,” says Grande. “I think my favorite thing about working with Cyn, other than her being such a brilliant and remarkable performer and scene partner, would just be how fully loving, open, and honest we are able to be with each other. I think the thing that made every single day on this set together so beautiful was the space we were able to hold for each other. We laughed, we cried, we learned so much together, from one another and also from these characters we were fortunate enough to play.”
For Grande’s Glinda-inspired look, she looked to Thom Browne for a custom creation that channeled the iconic Good Witch. It resulted in a pink duchess silk-satin drop-waist dress, featuring a bow detail at the waist—complete with marching hair bows and white silk opera gloves. “For this look, it was really an ode to the history of French fashion and culture of the haute couture houses in Paris,” says Grande, who was styled by Mimi Cuttrell. “We worked closely with the Thom Browne team on this, who were such a dream to work with. Mimi and I drew inspiration from the beloved Audrey Hepburn and classic 1950s silhouettes to emulate an everlasting look.”
Her favorite details from the finished design? “Don’t make me choose! Every detail is so important and integral to the look,” she says. “The beautiful pink duchess satin fabric, the drop waist, the bow details, the shoes, and I also really loved my hair and makeup with it. The vision came together so beautifully, and I am so lucky to work with my incredible glam team.”
She teases that you can expect to see many more flawlessly executed Glinda looks to come ahead of Wicked’s November release. “The press-tour looks will be simply magical,” Grande says. “Mimi and I have been having so much fun brainstorming together, we can’t wait. Plenty of pink to look forward to, of course! But there are so many gorgeous Ozian elements to play off of. We will make Glinda proud. [Cynthia and I] are going to stay as present as possible and grateful every step of the way—and very caffeinated.”
Below, see how Grande got ready for the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony.
