![Poonawalla at the Exhibition Opening of L'Exibition[niste] by Christian Louboutin as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020. Getty Images For Christian Louboutin](https://www.thenationalnews.com/resizer/v2/JDPVJN3LENG6LEKJXV7TIO6OII.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa23845297bbdf21a160f7ae2e8b078055540616bd7c0cd085cdea7d36fb9bcb&width=800&height=450)
Her dramatic Met Gala dress was the talk of the evening, but for many fashion followers around the world, the name Natasha Poonawalla is a familiar one. The Indian businesswoman and philanthropist is known as much for her style choices as her jet-setting lifestyle and celebrity friends, as she's often spotted at some of the biggest fashion events across the world, hobnobbing with everyone from Priyanka Chopra Jonas to Katy Perry and designer Christian Louboutin.
The striking Met Gala look she wore on Monday, celebrating the Indian sari, was created by Indian designer Sabyasachi and worn with an ornate Schiaparelli Couture corset that curved over her head. Accessorised with custom Sabyasachi Fine Jewellery pieces, her take on this year's theme, Gilded Glamour, which honoured New York's 19th century golden age between 1870 and 1890, was one of the most memorable looks of the star-studded evening.
Who is Natasha Poonawalla?
Natasha is the executive director of the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines. Her husband, Indian billionaire Adar Poonawalla, is chief executive of the company, which produces, among others, the Covishield coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford. Natasha is also chairwoman of the Villoo Poonawalla Charitable Foundation, named after her late mother-in-law, a responsibility that takes her to events around the world.
Natasha was born in Pune, Maharashtra, where she grew up. She later went to pursue her master's degree at the London School of Economics. It was during this time, while on holiday in Goa, that she would meet her future husband Adar at a New Year's Eve party.
"We’d see each other every few months. His focus was clear from day one. He was like, ‘I like you. I know I want to get married. This is it'," she told Vogue India of their budding long-distance romance.
Adar is the only son of Indian billionaire Cyrus Poonawalla, chairman of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, which includes the Serum Institute of India. Last month, Cyrus was named fourth on Forbes magazine's India's 100 Richest People list, with an estimated fortune of $24.3 billion. He ranks 56th in the world.
Natasha and Adar got married in 2006 and now have two boys, Cyrus and Darius.
Friends in high places
Often branded a socialite, Natasha, who was on the cover star of Vogue India in December last year, told the magazine she was so much more than that.
“I think I was misjudged a little bit,” she says. “People saw me dressing up and said, ‘She’s that fashion person on the racecourse.’ But I didn’t feel the need to expose the serious part of my life to everyone.”
The serious part, as an executive of the Serum Institute of India, was highlighted during the coronavirus pandemic when her and her husband's company became a key player in India's fight against Covid-19.
"This year, people have realised what I do,” she tells Vogue India.
Still, there's no denying her A-list friends, including her close friendship with Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan and her sister Karisma Kapoor, as well as actresses Malaika Arora and her sister Amrita Arora, all of whom appear often on her Instagram feed.
French designer Louboutin also makes regular appearances.
"There’s nothing in the world like friends who make you giggle non-stop," she once posted with a photo of the two of them.
Chopra Jonas and her husband Nick are also often seen photographed with Natasha, and so are Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor and husband Anand Ahuja.
In January, when the Jonases announced they were expecting their first child together via surrogacy, Natasha posted a congratulatory message along with a photo of herself with the happy couple.
"Congratulations PC and Nick! Thrilled for you guys… brace yourself for life’s greatest joyride! Wish you all the love and strength for this new chapter. From sleepless party nights to sleepless parenting nights — with you all the way!" she said.
A life in fashion
Natasha's Met Gala appearance on Monday was not her first time at the event.
In 2019, she turned heads in an icy-blue custom-made dress by designer Peter Dundas. The crystal embellished mini-dress worn, with a detachable draped skirt in blue and cinched at the waist by a silver belt, matched the theatrics on of the red carpet. As a nod to her Indian heritage, Natasha completed the look with a diamond maang tikka on her forehead.
Of her headline-grabbing dress at this year's Met Gala, she told Vogue India that she chose the Sabyasachi-Schiaparelli ensemble because it was "strong but feminine" and "a powerful tool for social change”
“Fashion to me is wearable art. Art in this sense is communication — it allows people from different cultures and times to communicate with each other via images, sounds and stories," she said. “I feel blessed to be present and happy to have survived the struggles that came with being part of the effort to fight the pandemic."
Scroll through the gallery below for the best-dressed celebrities at the Met Gala 2022:
-
Event co-hosts Blake Lively, wearing Atelier Versace, and Ryan Reynolds arrive at the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2. EPA -
Kim Kardashian, in Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday, Mr President' dress, and Pete Davidson. AFP -
Kylie Jenner wears an off-white wedding dress-style gown. AFP -
Billie Eilish, wearing Gucci. Reuters -
Gigi Hadid, wearing a Versace jumpsuit and puffer. AP Photo -
Kendall Jenner, in a full black gown. AFP -
Bella Hadid, wearing a black lace design. AFP -
Daniel Roseberry and Carey Mulligan, wearing a gown with a gold bodice and train by Schiaparelli. AFP -
Megan Thee Stallion, wearing in a gold two-piece Moschino design. Reuters -
Lizzo, wearing black and gold Thom Browne. AP Photo -
Khloe Kardashian, wearing a gold column Moschino gown. AFP -
Emma Stone, wearing Louis Vuitton. EPA -
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, both wearing Thom Browne. Reuters -
Cynthia Erivo, wearing Louis Vuitton. EPA -
Camila Cabello, wearing all-white Prabal Gurung. Reuters -
Camila Mendes, wearing a gold Ami dress. AFP -
Shawn Mendes, wearing Tommy Hilfiger. EPA -
Dakota Johnson, wearing Gucci. AP -
Austin Butler and Priscilla Presley, wearing Prada. AP Photo -
Kate Moss, wearing a black velvet Burberry gown. AFP -
Vanessa Hudgens, wearing a sheer black gown by Moschino. EPA -
Kacey Musgraves, wearing Moschino. EPA -
YouTuber Emma Chamberlain, wearing Louis Vuitton. AFP -
Anna Wintour, wearing a multi-coloured sequin gown. EPA -
Kris Jenner, wearing a yellow kaftan-style dress. AFP -
Co-chair of the 2022 Met Gala Lin-Manuel Miranda and his wife Vanessa Nadal. AFP -
Gemma Chan, wearing Louis Vuitton. AP Photo -
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, wearing Louis Vuitton. AFP -
Phoebe Dynevor, wearing Louis Vuitton. AP -
Maude Apatow, wearing a sheer black Miu Miu dress. EPA -
Amber Valletta, wearing a gold gown. EPA -
Kaia Gerber, wearing shimmering Alexander McQueen. AFP -
Dove Cameron, in a sheer gown with wing detail. AFP -
Miranda Kerr, wearing white Oscar de la Renta. EPA -
Jared Leto, matching Gucci's Alessandro Michele, both wearing Gucci. AP Photo -
Addison Rae, wearing a shimmering gown. AFP -
Awkwafina, wearing a peach to red ombre gown. AP Photo -
Emily Ratajkowski, wearing vintage Versace. AFP -
Lily James, in a beaded gown. AFP -
Lily Allen, wearing a feathered Chanel gown, with husband David Harbour. AFP -
Lily Aldridge, in a crystal Khaite gown. AFP -
Simone Ashley, in a black skirt with a gold crop top by Moschino. AFP -
Chloe Bailey, in a full gold gown. AP Photo -
Naomi Campbell, in a black Burberry gown with sequinned detail. AP Photo -
Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy. AP Photo -
Cara Delevingne, wearing a red suit. AFP -
Elon Musk, wearing white tie, with his mother, Maye Musk. AFP -
Emma Corrin, wearing oversized Miu Miu. AP Photo -
Gwen Stefani, wearing neon yellow Vera Wang. EPA -
Kerry Washington, wearing black sheer Tory Burch. EPA -
Jessica Chastain, wearing oxblood sequinned Gucci. AFP -
Amy Schumer, Venus Williams, Gabriela Hearst and Xiye Bastida in head-to-toe black on the red carpet. EPA -
Tessa Thompson, wearing pink tulle Carolina Herrera. AFP -
Ariana DeBose, wearing black and gold Moschino. EPA -
Sarah Jessica Parker, wearing monochrome Christopher John Rogers. EPA -
Michaela Jae Rodriguez, wearing ombre gold and silver Moschino. AFP -
Anitta, wearing purple peplum Moschino. AP Photo -
Lila Grace Moss, wearing a nude sheer Burberry gown. AFP -
Nicki Minaj, wearing a full black Burberry gown. EPA -
Bad Bunny, wearing Burberry. AFP -
Karlie Kloss, wearing lace Givenchy. AFP -
Cardi B, in a gold gown. EPA -
Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz in a pink Givenchy dress. EPA -
Glenn Close, in a pink caped dress, and Italian designer Pier Paolo Pasolini. AFP -
Katy Perry, in a black dress with a full train. AFP -
Winnie Harlow, in a white tulle design. AFP -
Nicola Coughlan, wearing a black and pink gown. AFP
