Sixmilecross rugby legend’s son dresses stars at Met Gala

THE son of a Sixmilecross rugby legend has taken a leading role in one of the fashion world’s most glamourous annual events.

Jonathan Anderson, whose father Willie played for Ulster and Ireland, was one of the chairs at this year’s Met Gala.

Staged by Vogue magazine, it is held at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and is one of the biggest nights of the year in the global fashion calendar. Mr Anderson, who is the creative director at major fashion house Loewe, designed outfits for a host of celebrities including Ariana Grande, Jamie Dornan and Vogue editor, Anna Wintour.

Grande, who wore a mother-of-pearl bustier, took to Instagram to thank Leowe and Anderson for her look, stating, “I love you, thank you.”

Last month, Mr Anderson, who is also the founder and creator of the fashion label ‘JW Anderson’, was named as one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2024.

Previously, the accomplished fashion designer was also behind singer Rihanna’s all-red ensemble which the singer wore during her half-time performance at the Super Bowl in 2023. At the time, Willie Anderson told the TyroneHerald how proud he was of his son designing dresses for the likes of global superstars like Rihanna and Beyonce.

The Tyrone rugby legend said, “We’re very pleased and we’re very proud. He has had Rhianna in the past and now Beyonce, which is just fantastic. We always knew he was going to be something in design, as when he was young, he was drawn to drawing figures and designing shirts and suits on the figures.”

Actress Zendaya also recently wore one of his designs to the premiere of her latest movie ‘Challengers’, for which Anderson was also a costume designer.