Banana Costume Steals the Spotlight at the 2024 Emmys Red Carpet

Fans who tuned in to watch celebrities walk the red carpet at the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards might have noticed that one person was dressed a bit unexpectedly.

While most people arrived for the awards show dressed in glamorous gowns and stunning suits, it surprised some to see a human-sized banana walking through the crowds of celebrities and reporters.

It was later revealed that the person inside the costume was Leo Tsao, the Taiwanese American also known by their drag persona Nymphia Wind. The fashion designer notably won the sixteenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race earlier this year.

Tsao’s unexpected look involved a lime green bodysuit with matching pointed-toe heels. But Tsao’s body was mostly hidden while walking through the throng of people. Video clips shared on social media showed golden fabric made to look like a banana peel covering Tsao before they pushed their arms out on either side of the costume, forcing the peel to flap down as the TV personality became visible.

Tsao posed for photographers on the red carpet in a pose that made the banana costume look as if it was halfway peeled. Tsao was covered by the lime green fabric from head to toe, with a mouth outline drawn onto the costume. A wirey black hairpiece was attached to Tsao’s head to top off the look.

The banana costume stole the show on the red carpet, with many celebrities turning to look as they tried to identify who was wearing it.

The awards show’s official accounts on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, revealed that it was Tsao inside the costume in posts that excitedly announced, “The Queens of @rupaulsdragrace are here!”

“UGHH SO GOOD 🥹,” one fan tweeted as another dubbed Tsao “ICONIC.”

“Idk who this is but that’s crazyyyy,” one X user noted.

“Nymphia 😂❤️,” a fan laughed on Instagram while another commented, “nymphia the icon u are.”

Next: See the Glamorous Red-Carpet Fashions from the 2024 Primetime Emmys