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Kim Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe dress only for a few minutes before changing into a REPLICA

'I would never want to sit in it or eat in it or have any risk of any damage to it,' said Kim Kardashian before the Met Gala 2022 event

BY SIMRAN AGARWAL

UPDATED MAY 4, 2022

(L-R) Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian attend The 2022 Met Gala celebrating 'In America: An Anthology of Fashion'. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Reality star Kim Kardashian dazzled on the red carpet of the Met Gala 2022 in Marilyn Monroe's classic 'Happy Birthday, Mr President' gown, but it turns out her Marilyn Monroe moment was limited. The original was only worn for a few minutes when Kim posed for shots on the steps with the help of her beau, Pete Davidson. Later, Kim changed into a duplicate of the valuable Jean Louis gown.

Kim successfully changed into the replica with a little help from a white-gloved worker from Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, who loaned her the look. A separate dressing room, which is also owned by Ripley's, was set aside for Kim, 41, to change into an exact replica of the glistening gown. Before the Met Gala, Kim told Vogue, "I'm extremely respectful to the dress and what it means to American history. I would never want to sit in it or eat in it or have any risk of any damage to it and I won’t be wearing the kind of body makeup I usually do."

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Monroe's gown is so delicate that it's kept in a dark, temperature-controlled vault set to 68 degrees and 40-50 percent humidity, and Kardashian is the first person to wear it since she unveiled it in 1962.

Marilyn Monroe''s "Happy Birthday Mr. President" dress and other possessions are displayed at a Christie''s auction August 19, 1999 in Beverly Hills, CA. (Photo by Dan Callister/Online USA)

Of course, the museum item couldn't be altered, so instead of spending the night in the perfectly-fitting replica, Kim lost 16 pounds in just three weeks in order to be able to wear the historic dress for a few minutes. "I would wear a sauna suit twice a day, run on the treadmill, completely cut out all sugar and all carbs, and just eat the cleanest veggies and protein," Kim told Vogue. "I didn't starve myself, but I was so strict."

Kim's hard effort paid off when she put the famous dress on again and fastened it up, making her one of the best-dressed stars of the night, alongside Blake Lively, Alicia Keys, and Janelle Monáe.

Starting Memorial Day weekend, the original gown will be on display at the Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Hollywood location for fans to see.