Total transformation! How Mindy Kaling has evolved her Met Gala style following her impressive 40-lb weight loss as she attends annual benefit for the EIGHTH time looking thinner than ever in white

Mindy Kaling has come a long way since her very first Met Gala back in 2013, which she admitted left her feeling like an outsider for not knowing ‘the secret things you’re supposed to do’ at the prestigious event. 

In addition to discovering ‘you’re supposed to’ stay at a hotel uptown near the Metropolitan Museum of Art and stand in a van to ensure your dress doesn’t ‘wrinkle’ on the way over, the actress, 43, appears more confident on the red carpet following her recent 40-pound weight loss after making fitness a priority since becoming a mom. 

While showing off her slimmed-down frame in a strapless white gown with a corset bodice and shimmering daisy embellishments all over it, designed by Jonathan Simkhai, on Monday night, the performer, looked ethereal. 

As she graced the event for the eight time, the New York Times best-selling author, who rose to fame after writing and starring on NBC’s hit sitcom The Office between 2005 to 2013, was the epitome of elegance as she displayed her trim waist, prominent collarbones and gorgeous complexion. 

She accessorized her shimmery frock with a pair of diamond flower and fringe earrings and long dark locks in a low ponytail. 

Her latest look received rave reviews across social media, with fans hailing her as a fashion icon and raving that she looked ‘beautiful’ and ‘stunning’ on Twitter. 

In honor of her incredible style transformation over the years, DailyMail.com is taking a look back at every one of her Met Gala outfits, from her debut, where she wore a custom-made purple Lela Rose gown, to 2019, the year she was nearly unrecognizable while wearing a long platinum blonde wig. 

Style transformation: Mindy Kaling has come a long way since her very first Met Gala back in 2013, which she admitted left her feeling like an outsider for not knowing ‘the secret things you’re supposed to do’ at the prestigious event. She is pictured left on Monday night and right, in 2019

Despite scoring her own invitation, at 34, following the success of The Office and her starring role on The Mindy Project, which she created, Kaling previously admitted her first Met Gala was overshadowed by feelings of  imposter syndrome.

While appearing on Meghan Markle’s Archetypes podcast last year, Kaling confessed to feeling insecure after arriving to the event in the ‘backseat of a’ cab after a 45-minute drive, unlike most A-list attendees. 

Upon discovering celebrities typically are shuttled by a van to ensure they stay wrinkle-free, Kaling recalled thinking: ‘Oh, this isn’t how Cate Blanchett and Rihanna are coming to the Met.’ 

In pictures from the night, her uneasiness is visible as she tight-lipped smile, indicating she may have been feeling a little shy or reserved, compared to her most recent climb up the the Met’s famous staircase.

The mother-of-two, who has been vocal about becoming more conscious of her diet and doing a mix of workouts from jogging to tai chi to stay in shape over the past two years, waited three more years to returned to the benefit.

Her next appearance showed that Kaling was making the slow transition from trendy, and over-accessorized, to embracing more classic silhouettes with less gaudy jewelry.

In 2016, the Tony Award winner donned a strapless white gown to the Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology-themed gala. 

She completed her look with a single ring, drop earrings, a clutch and a natural makeup look.

Stunning: While showing off her slimmed-down frame in a strapless white gown with a corset bodice and shimmering daisy embellishments all over it, designed by Jonathan Simkhai, on Monday night, the performer, looked ethereal

Slimmer than ever: As she graced the event for the eight time, the New York Times best-selling author, who rose to fame after writing and starring on NBC’s hit sitcom The Office between 2005 to 2013, was the epitome of elegance as she displayed her trim waist, prominent collarbones and gorgeous complexion

All in the details: She accessorized her shimmery frock with a pair of diamond flower and fringe earrings and long dark locks in a low ponytail

The following year, Kaling returned in an off-the-shoulder navy sequined dress with fringe on the bottom. Later that year, she welcomed her first child, daughter, Katherine, who was born in December 2017.

Five months after giving birth, she wore a a stunning bejeweled crown and a sleeveless white satin gown with a large train.

She also added a pair of three-quarter-length navy gloves. 

In 2019, she left fans stunned by ditching her signature hair color and experimenting with a bright blonde wig. 

For her gown, the actress wore a stunning gold shimmering Moschino gown, an off-shoulder dress with an elaborate bow tying off the dress at her right shoulder. 

She also wore glitter ‘Blade’ pumps from Casadei, nails by the Luxuria Nail Bar with elegant gold rings and elegant gold earrings with large crystals dangling from them.

Uneasy: Despite scoring her own invitation, at 34, following the success of The Office and her starring role on The Mindy Project, which she created, Kaling previously admitted her first Met Gala was overshadowed by feelings of imposter syndrome (seen above in a custom-made purple Lela Rose gown in 2013)

More minimal: Her next appearance showed that Kaling was making the slow transition from trendy, and over-accessorized, to embracing more classic silhouettes with less gaudy jewelry (seen in 2016)

Timeless: The following year, Kaling returned in an off-the-shoulder navy sequined dress with fringe on the bottom. Later that year, she welcomed her first child, daughter, Katherine, who was born in December 2017; pictured above in 2017

At time, revealed on Twitter that she was styled by Jason Bolden, with makeup by Janice Kinjo, hair by Marc Mena and jewels by David Webb.

Before her red carpet appearance, Kaling took to her Instagram story to share how excited she was about the big event.

‘I am so excited about today,’ Kaling began. I love my dress. It just feels so on point. But you know what hasn’t been on point? My skin.’

‘I think my skin is freaking out because of the flight from Los Angeles but I do all the things,’ Kaling added. 

‘I drink so much water on the plane. I have to go to the bathroom like five times. I’m walking up and down the aisles to avoid thrombosis,’ she joked.

‘I mean, I’m 39 and I’m still breaking out, so I don’t know what’s going on,’ she added.

She then shared a shoutout to her skin care ‘angel,’ Joanna Vargas from Joanna Vargas Skin Care, who took care of the actress before hitting the red carpet.

New mom! Five months after giving birth, she wore a a stunning bejeweled crown and a sleeveless white satin gown with a large train

Not her best: In 2019, she left fans stunned by ditching her signature hair color and experimenting with a bright blonde wig

Between that and the great glam by makeup artist Janice Kinjo, the star certainly wan’t showing any hint of skin troubles by the time she hit the red carpet, with the beauty pro revealing that she worked with natural skincare from Burt’s Bees in order to get Kaling ready for the event.

She started with the brand’s Micellar Cleansing Towlettes, the Hydrating Facial Mist, and the Hydrating Stick with Aloe, before moving on to the makeup, starting off with the Burt’s Bees Dusky Woods Eye Shadow Trio, which she matched with the Blooming Desert Eye Shadow Trio.

After applying some false lashes for added glam, the makeup artist then added coats of the brand’s Nourishing Mscara for some ‘extra flair’.

Last but not least, she worked on perfecting the star’s complexion, using the Burt’s Bees Goodness Glows Full Coverage Liquid Foundation and the Mattifying Powder Foundation, before adding some color to her cheeks with the All Aglow Lip and Cheek Stick in Lilac Lagoon.

Last but not least, Kinjo applied some of the Goodness Glow Foundation to Kaling’s lips, before finally dabbing on a bit of the Liquid Lipstick in Tidal Taupe for the last touch of the night.

Beautiful: Her hard work at the gym and healthier eating habits were evident as she showcased her trimmer figure in a plunging navy dress at the 2021 Met Gala

Thinner than ever: Last year, she wowed in a lilac gown with a thigh-high slit on the side

After welcoming her son, Spencer, two, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaling began opening up about ‘fitness and exercise’ and how she’s ‘learned to embrace [my body] in the past six months [since having a baby]’ during an interview with Shape. 

Her hard work at the gym and healthier eating habits were evident as she showcased her trimmer figure in a plunging navy dress at the 2021 Met Gala, then again last year, lilac gown with a thigh-high slit on the side.

Despite initial speculation that she might have embarked on a dramatic new diet or Ozempic, the star insisted in April last yet that she continues to ‘eat what I like to eat’ – but ‘less of it.’ 

‘Honestly, I didn’t really do anything differently,’ she told Entertainment Weekly. ‘I eat what I like to eat. If I do any kind of restrictive diet, it never really works for me. I just eat less of it.’

She continued: ‘I wish there was something more juicy or dynamic about the way that I’ve lost a little bit of weight, but that’s the way I’ve done it.’

Mindy did, however, did state that she had previously adopted a much stricter food regime to lose weight after becoming a mother.