Emily Ratajkowski's VMAs Look Featured Discreet Nod to Partner Romain Gavras

Emily Ratajkowski’s eye-catching attire at a recent awards event held a discreet, personal element.

The 35-year-old model offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her evening at Sunday's VMAs, leading an Instagram photo collection with an image of herself in a bold red-and-black dress characterized by dramatic open sides.

However, Ratajkowski's revealing outfit was not the sole detail that drew public attention.

In a subsequent close-up photograph, the model extended her tongue while showcasing her manicure and holding her event credentials. One of her nails appeared to display the initials "RG," corresponding to those of her partner, French filmmaker Romain Gavras.

Her VMA guest pass further clarified the connection, identifying Ratajkowski as "Romain Plus One."

"went to the VMAs as a @romaingavras @surkin @yunglean2001 groupie and had the best time," Ratajkowski wrote in the caption accompanying her Instagram post.

Another image depicted Ratajkowski posing between production trailers in the same distinctive red-and-black dress, this time accessorized with dark sunglasses and a small black handbag.

Followers of the model quickly reacted to her appearance.

"I love the very subtle cutout on that dress," one individual humorously commented.

"MY QUEEN SERVED AGAIN," another follower expressed.

Others focused on her association with the artists and director she mentioned, with one user inquiring, "Yung Lean’s guest?? Y’all go together or something??"

Behind the Scenes at the VMAs

Ratajkowski's attendance at the VMAs coincided with Gavras being recognized for his directorial contributions.

Gavras was the director behind GENER8ION's music video for "STORM starring Yung Lean," which received a nomination for Video of the Year at the Sunday ceremony. Gavras himself also secured a nomination for Best Direction for the video, as reported by MTV.

The video additionally garnered a Best Choreography nomination for Damien Jalet.

Ratajkowski and Gavras were also photographed together inside the Peacock Theater during the awards presentation, where the model was present to support her boyfriend as he celebrated his nominations.

Ratajkowski's manicure seemed to offer another personal link to Gavras's professional work. Alongside the "RG" initials, another nail featured a small black design, interpreted as a tribute to his movie poster for "Sacrifice."

Their Developing Romance

The couple's VMAs outing occurred just weeks after Ratajkowski and Gavras were seen together in Rome.

The pair were observed shopping and sharing affectionate moments in the Italian capital earlier in the month.

Their relationship first garnered public attention in November 2025, when Ratajkowski and Gavras were photographed together in New York City.

Ratajkowski subsequently confirmed their relationship on Instagram in February, sharing a picture of herself embracing Gavras within a photo carousel.

While Ratajkowski has maintained a degree of privacy regarding her relationship with Gavras, she has previously discussed how her perspective on dating evolved following her divorce from Sebastian Bear-McClard.

I really wanted to be chosen,

Ratajkowski shared with Harper's Bazaar in 2022, reflecting on her past approach to romantic relationships. She elaborated that after becoming single, her dating experiences shifted from being primarily about how others perceived her to focusing on identifying what she genuinely liked and disliked about the person she was with.

Romain Gavras: A Filmmaker's Profile

Gavras has established a notable career directing both feature films and music videos.

The French filmmaker's extensive music video credits include M.I.A.'s "Bad Girls," Jamie xx's "Gosh," and Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild." The latter earned him a Grammy nomination for his work.

His filmography includes the 2022 drama "Athena" and "Sacrifice." Filmmaking is a family legacy for Gavras, as he is the son of the renowned Greek-French director Costa-Gavras.

Prior to his relationship with Ratajkowski, Gavras was reportedly in a relationship with singer Dua Lipa in 2023.