Simone Biles is speaking out about the real cost of showing up to a red carpet.
The Olympic gymnast took to TikTok on Tuesday to share her sticker shock after receiving the bill for a recent red carpet appearance. Between the stylist fee and hair and makeup team, the total, according to her, came to roughly $23,000.
“If that’s the new norm, y’all can have it,” Biles said in the video. “Y’all will never see me at another event. I’ma stay my ass right here where it’s free.”
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Biles directed the question at fellow celebrities, athletes and influencers, asking point-blank whether costs at that level are standard. She was careful to note there was no ill intent behind the post, as she simply wanted to know if what she experienced was normal.
“I see a lot of y’all at events, and there’s no way you guys are paying these prices each and every time,” she added.
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The athlete did not specify which event she was referring to, but her last public appearance happened on April 20 at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid. She was styled by Marc Desir in a one-shoulder gold minidress by Cong Tri.
While A-list actors and top-tier celebrities often benefit from brand partnerships, fashion loans and glam teams covered by labels or studios, not every public figure operates within that system. In 2024, actress Busy Philipps told Page Six that after factoring in hair, makeup and wardrobe — and accounting for what a studio will and won’t cover — she often ended up thousands of dollars out of pocket per appearance, leaving her to wonder what the point was.
Biles, who joked that the only solution might be to “put that leotard back on,” is one of the most decorated athletes in history and a household name. “I’m going to stay right here where it’s free,” she added, suggesting that unless the economics shift, red carpet appearances may no longer be part of her routine.