Jeannie Mai Says She Spent an Hour Taping Her Daring Gown in Place to Avoid a Wardrobe Malfunction (Exclusive)

"It's like my favorite dress because I'm wrapped like a little present," the host tells PEOPLE at a Lifetime holiday event

Jeannie Mai goes the extra mile for fashion.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the television host, 45, leaned into the holiday spirit at the It's a Wonderful Lifetime Yuletide event in West Hollywood, Calif. Mai appeared in a daring backless dress with a high halter neck.

The red ensemble, which was on-point for the festive occasion, featured a ribbon detail at the neck, reminiscent of a holiday gift. The plunging back (and partially exposed sides) posed a risk on the red carpet, but thankfully, the fashion expert is no stranger to body tape.

"It's double-stick taped to my back," she told PEOPLE at the event. "But I think my favorite part of it is it's like a piece of origami. I was sitting at home for more than an hour, shaping it to my body to make sure it's taped in the right places because if I move in the wrong, it's like, 'Oh, it exposes a little more than a Christmas spirit.'"

Mai added, "But other than that, it's like my favorite dress because I'm wrapped like a little present."

Related: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Romance Takes Center Stage in Lifetime's Christmas in the Spotlight Trailer

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The star also spoke to PEOPLE about making her acting debut in Lifetime's holiday movie Christmas in the Spotlight. She explains that after "hosting for such a long time," she eventually "caught the [acting] bug."

"I'm obsessed with it," Mai says. "I was on set going through the process in such a different way than hosting. It was really nice to take my mind away from being me and transforming myself into a character that I want people to love on screen."

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The movie, which premieres on Lifetime on Nov. 23, follows a popstar, Bowyn, who develops an unexpected romance with a professional football player. While there are no direct references, the premise draws inspiration from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance. Mai plays the role of Bowyn’s manager.

"It was very actually true to my own soul because my friends all call me about their relationships, especially when they're getting into public ones," Mai says of Bowyn's storyline. "And I'm like, 'All right, girl, I got some things to say about this.'"