While we were locked into the Met Gala live stream and live-reacting to the parade of celebrity looks, one celeb got an overwhelming A+ for understanding the assignment: Yseult. Instagram users sounded off in the comment section to give the French singer her flowers for looking “sculpted and snatched” in her black-and-gold couture ensemble. One user said it best: “ATE, TORE, SHUT IT DOWN.”
And it wasn’t just longtime fans that stopped to leave a like. The snaps of her serving that bold custom look had others flocking to the comment section to ask, “Who is this diva?”
Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got the fast facts to turn you into a Yseult super fan.
A Leap of Faith Led to Singing Stardom
Yseult was destined for a breakout moment when she stepped onto the stage of Nouvelle Star, a French singing competition show, in 2014. Round after round, she heated up the competition by wowing judges with her covers of “Roar” and “Feeling Good.”
The singer didn’t end up taking home top prize in the final, but her momentum kept rolling, kicking off her journey to stardom the moment by diving full on into her musical ambitions. In an interview, the singer revealed that she skipped school to attend the competition auditions in Paris. With a rebellious streak like that, it’s no wonder she turned out such a head-turning look for the cameras at the Met Gala.
She Dropped Her Self-Titled Debut in 2015
What hits harder than a self-titled album drop? Yseult did just that in 2015, dropping her debut album, simply titled Yseult, on Polydor Records and setting the tone for her success. Her pop-leaning French tracks like “Summer Love” crossed language barriers and gave fans the feel-good energy they craved. As one listener put it, “No idea what she’s saying, but I love it.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Since then, Yseult has stayed ahead of the curve of the music scene. In 2024, she released her second, edgier-toned album MENTAL.
She’s Created Her Own Space in the Industry
Yseult isn’t content trying to fit into the mold of the music industry; she’s built her own lane to run in instead. In 2018, the artist launched her independent label, YYY, to take control of her sound and creativity. The risk of trusting her vision paid off when her single “Rien à prouver” launched under her label and connected with over 1 million listeners online.
“I think that I needed to walk alone and reconstruct myself alone,” Yseult said about doing her art on her own terms. “I really had to create a new family around me and start being independent by starting my own label, company and crew around me.”
She Closed out the Summer Olympics in Paris
In 2024, Yseult brought her signature jazzy vocals to the global stage, closing out the Summer Olympics ceremony in Paris. Standing in a single spotlight, she turned the closing ceremony into her own concert. She dazzled us with her cover of “My Way” — and that head-to-toe black outfit, which captivated as much as the ceremony’s ending fireworks. We’d give her a gold medal for that alone.
She’s a Global Beauty Brand Ambassador
One thing that’s undeniable: Yseult is a staple in the French capital. In 2021, the singer was announced as the band ambassador for L’Oréal Paris. Her magnifique looks graced a photo campaign promoting the beauty brand’s True Match Foundation.
“Being a L’Oréal Paris spokesperson feels like opening the gates of beauty to all. It means that my voice matters, that the voices of all women matter,” Yseult said. “Believe in yourselves, don’t ever give up, and trust your sorority.” She’s the blueprint for always showing up for the girls.
She’s Been a Fashionista and Model for a Minute Now
If you were introduced to Yseult as she shut it down at the Met Gala, just know that she’s been an IT girl in fashion for a minute. In 2018, the singer served big curls and a bright smile in a colorful commercial campaign for ASOS.
Since then, Yseult has been in high demand in the high fashion space, booked with brands like Balenciaga and Balmain. She’s been outspoken about her mission to empower other women, saying that she wants to “share a message of love, inclusivity, and diversity.” It’s been working for her so far, as she landed coveted fashion magazine covers, like French fashion mag Antidote, in 2020.
She’s Already Won an Award … and She’s not Done
In just over a decade, Yseult has opened doors and commanded global attention. In 2021, she was finally recognized for it. That year, the singer won the Révélation Féminine award at the French music awards, Victoires de la Musique. Ever the inspiration, the singer used her time at the mic to call out an unfair standard in the music industry, where Black and plus-size women have to put in extra work to get the same praise as their peers.
She told the crowd that night, “It might take 10 years; it might take 15 years. They don’t want to let us take the elevator? No problem. We’re tough; we’ll take the stairs.”