Iman! Heidi! Coco! All of the Models Turned Up to amfAR’s New York Gala

At Cipriani Wall Street in downtown New York, amfAR hosted its annual gala, which was attended by 700 glamorous supporters who all rallied in the name of AIDS research. The results were a million dollars ($1.4 million to be exact) raised, countless social media posts, and a hopeful spirit around a tragic pandemic.

Supermodels were in abundance, such as Iman, Heidi Klum, Coco Rocha, Cindy Bruna, Elsa Hosk, and Duckie Thot. Famous artists in attendance included Julian Schnabel, Leo Villareal, and Ellen von Unwerth (currently the subject of a retrospective at New York’s Fotografiska). The room was awash in royal blue lighting and white tulips. Many models and social media influencers dressed in floor-length gowns, many of which were sheer or with voluminous trains. Immersive photo experiences, perfect for sharing across social media (and promulgating the amfAR mission), had the celebrities lining up.

For amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost, the night was all about raising funds for AIDS research. He told Vogue, “We’re trying to amplify the message around the AIDS epidemic and remind people that it’s not over. In many parts of the world, it’s still a terrible problem. Our work is ultimately about bringing a cure, and tonight helps to amplify that message. Almost everything raised tonight will go towards cure research. We have scientists around the world focused on the most exciting areas of biomedical research, everything from gene therapy to CAR T cells.”

Honorees included Iman, Marc Glimcher, and Matthew Lopez. In a Bottega Veneta tuxedo, Lopez accepted his award from Anna Wintour and explained to Vogue why amfAR’s work is important to him: “AmfAR was one of the first organizations on the front line of the fight against AIDS. They haven’t gone away because the need hasn’t gone away.…There wasn’t a time in my life when I was unaware of the AIDS epidemic. It’s easy to sometimes forget with all the strides that have been made and the treatments that there is still so much work left to be done. The fact that amfAR is still there working and fighting is necessary.” The playwright, who is currently basking in the success of his hit Broadway play The Inheritance, is already planning to work on a new musical adaptation of Some Like It Hot next year.

The gala was bookended by energetic musical acts. Sofi Tukker kicked off the night by sending a shock through the crowd with an electrifying performance of their new song “Purple Hat.” Charlie Puth later closed out the night, dressed in a powder blue tuxedo that he comically removed throughout the performance while demonstrating his stellar vocals. Donna Karan, Diplo, Zac Posen, Padma Lakshmi, Luka Sabbat, Fairfax Dorn, and Edward Enninful were among those spotted in the crowd enjoying the concerts.

Following Puth’s performance, the crowd migrated to the Up Down nightclub for an after-party. The evening was an ongoing party with a vital imperative: The fight against AIDS is not over, but with the help of amfAR, the cure is closer than ever.