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‘Obsession’ Breakout Inde Navarrette Turns Heads at the Academy Museum Gala in a Spotted Schiaparelli Bubble Gown

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LOS ANGELES - JUN 21: Inde Navarrette at The Black Phone Premiere at the TCL Chinese Theater IMAX on June 21, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA
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Few breakout stars have had a year quite like Inde Navarrette’s. ‘Obsession,’ the horror film from first-time feature director Curry Barker, was made for just $750,000 and went on to gross more than $500 million worldwide, becoming one of the most profitable productions in Hollywood history. At the center of it was Navarrette’s unforgettable performance as Nikki Freeman.

That success has also turned her into a fashion fixture. W Magazine put her on its cover, and she made her front-row debut at the Marc Jacobs Spring 2027 show in a cherry-print denim set. Fashion houses have been courting her ever since.

The sixth annual Academy Museum Gala on October 17 in Los Angeles was another big stage. Inde Navarrette’s Academy Museum Gala look was a sculptural, spotted strapless gown from Schiaparelli’s fall 2026 couture collection.

In the carpet clip, the gown’s fitted strapless bodice is covered in a leopard-like pattern of dark spots on a warm tan base. The skirt balloons out into a puffed, bubble-like shape before tapering toward the hem, where the spots thin out into a softer gradient. Reports describe the surface as heavily embellished with rounded, glossy brown discs, which gives the dress its textured, almost three-dimensional look.

She kept the styling classic. A diamond necklace sparkled at her collarbone, and statement drop earrings added more shine, while her hair was pulled back and the makeup featured bold brows, lined eyes and a neutral lip. The effect was full Old Hollywood glamour, with a playful edge from the exaggerated silhouette.

The gown made an impression. WWD included Navarrette on its best-dressed list from the night, alongside Kate Hudson and A$AP Rocky, and other outlets singled her out as one of the evening’s best looks. At just five feet tall, she carried the dramatic volume with ease.

She works with stylist Enrique Melendez, and the pairing of a couture bubble skirt with classic pumps and old-school jewelry shows a clear sense of balance.

Navarrette’s rise has been fast. Before ‘Obsession,’ she had mostly small roles on shows like ’13 Reasons Why’ and ‘Superman & Lois.’ The film, which premiered in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, was then picked up by Focus Features in a deal reportedly worth more than $15 million and backed by Jason Blum’s Blumhouse.

It opened to $17.2 million at the domestic box office, and her performance has been compared to Natalie Portman’s turn in ‘Léon: The Professional,’ which she has cited as an inspiration. Some of her wildest scenes have even become memes.

Hollywood is clearly paying attention. According to reports, she has met with Jake Schreier, who is directing the ‘X-Men’ reboot, and with Michael Mann, who is developing ‘Heat 2.’ She has also locked in her next project, ‘Invertigo,’ from director Matthias Hoene.

She has also said she would love to take on an action film with a small-framed assassin or the live-action adaptation of ‘Fourth Wing.’ With casting directors and fashion houses reaching out, she has more options than ever.

Navarrette wasn’t the only ‘Obsession’ name at the event. Director Curry Barker and co-star Michael Johnston also attended the gala, giving fans a mini reunion of the film’s key creatives.

The trio’s success has been one of the year’s biggest stories, and their presence on the carpet felt like a victory lap. Barker returned to TIFF with Navarrette a year after the film premiered, saying it felt like the one-year anniversary of their lives changing.

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The guest list around her was packed. Taylor Swift, Kate Hudson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kerry Washington, Janelle Monáe, Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow all walked the carpet, along with Maya Hawke and Alexa Demie.

Among those more dramatic looks, her bubble gown stood out for its playful volume. It was a confident choice for someone who is still new to the red carpet spotlight.

The look works because it embraces a bold idea without feeling chaotic. The leopard-like spots give it personality, the bubble silhouette adds drama, and the polished hair and jewelry keep it grounded.

It also fits her broader fashion identity, which blends gamer-girl nostalgia with high-fashion moments. A couture dress that feels both whimsical and elegant is exactly the kind of statement a breakout star should make.

What do you think of Inde Navarrette’s spotted Schiaparelli bubble gown at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala?

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