Do Celebrities Actually Enjoy The Red Carpet?

Do not be fooled: Being on the red carpet isn't nearly as glamorous as one would think. Curse you, Ryan Seacrest. But no matter how many publicists have elbowed me (intentionally or unintentionally, I’m not sure), or how many celebs I’ve seen B-line their way through the crowds for the sake of foregoing any interviews, I can’t get enough. Call me crazy, but seeing Chris Pratt’s epic sideburns from afar is totally worth it. So when I hit the carpet at the 2016 MTV Movie Awards over the weekend, I wondered if celebs actually enjoy red carpet weirdness as much as I do, or if they go along with it because they fear their publicists will eventually start elbowing them, too. Either way, I needed answers.

Is the awkwardness of posing for and talking to strangers enjoyable for stars? Are they just dreaming about the after parties? Or their so-close-yet-so-far Netflix session they’ll have when they get home? I asked some celebs on the red carpet on Saturday in an attempt to get into the brain of a celebrity, see how they feel about the Hollywood tradition, and find out what their favorite (or least favorite) parts are — prior to or after a red carpet — that aren’t normally seen.

1. Ashley Rickards

“I do [like them] because of the fans. That’s my favorite part. I love seeing them. It makes me more excited to talk about the projects. I want them to see, ‘cause everything I do is for them. I’m not really trying to do anything but make people laugh or feel something, so when I see them then go and do an interview, it’s much more authentic.”

Beforehand: “The worst part is figuring out, as I’m doing now, if you need to tape yourself or simply tape things down. I took a gamble today," she says of her plunging neckline.

Afterwards: “The best part is taking it off, all the little things that you realized had to go into the outfit to make it right." And then, the good part comes: Sweatpants, all of it.”

2. Farrah Abraham

“I love red carpets. I’m f*cking prepared for the red carpet! You didn’t see me strutting in here with like socks on. I make the awards show.”

Afterwards: “I’m a little bit more active, so after, I need an after party that sets the damn party. [A lame after party] is just like refreshments and like a crouton and they’re just like, ‘See ya!’ It’s cheap. I’m a little fabulous, and I’m trying to go over-the-top.”

3. Lilly Singh

“I love meeting all the cool people. Because everyone’s just in this awkward space together, so you get to bond a little bit. The thing that I absolutely despise is that it’s awkward! Especially when you’re taking pictures, they’re just like, ‘Lily, Lily!’ and you’re like [awkward posing] and you’re trying to be hot but it’s an awkward situation.”

Beforehand: “It literally takes like three days to get ready. Three whole days. Gotta set my stylist appointment, and then it’s like, ‘Oh, how’s your hair?,’ you set a mood board. Four, five people are working on my outfit, working on me, and it’s just so much prep.”

4. Holland Roden

“No, [I don't like them]. I don’t like getting my picture taken. I know it sounds weird coming from an actor but I don’t mind a moving camera, I just don’t like the still camera. I just don’t have a lot of good angles, never have. The photographers are very sweet though, you see the same ones over and over again. [It bothers me] a little bit, but they’re just doing their job. Can’t take it personally.”

Beforehand: "I’ve got a good group of girls, we listen to fun music. Water all around."

Afterwards: “I love going to dinner with my friends after a carpet. It’s just calm and easy. Noor is amazing in Santa Monica, and a place called Guerrilla Tacos."

5. Tyler Posey

“I love ‘em all. I just have a lot of fun. I don’t take things seriously. I just have a sh*tload of fun.”

Afterwards: “I like all the backstage stuff. I like being able to go to the VIP greenrooms, that’s fun… I don’t know. I’m a normal dude. I guess I am [an after party guy]. I usually shut down the after party.”

6. Grace Helbig

“I like that it’s such an isolated world that you’d obviously never experience in any real day-to-day life. It’s a very special, bizarre ecosystem that happens. What I don’t like is that it’s a little stressful. My favorite thing is the photographs, because it’s literally just adults screaming at other adults to look at them. Over and over and over and over again. It’s hilarious.”

Beforehand: “Just make sure you don’t do anything human, like sit down. You can’t sweat, you can’t do anything."

Afterwards: “Afterwards is like a reward… I can’t wait for pants. Specifically sweatpants. [Afterparties]... it’s all about like catching it on the right night or the right time, where you’re like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it!’ or like, ‘No.’”

7. Hannah Hart

"I have to say that I like the attention. I don’t like the repetitive nature of it."

Beforehand: “A lot of anxiety about makeup and hair and your outfit. You’re not supposed to move or touch your hair or face."

Afterwards: "[Afterwards] it's a big sigh of relief.”

8. Adam DeVine

“Honestly, if I were to choose the carpet color, I wouldn’t go red. I’m a gray guy or a beige. Red is like a little obnoxious. No one looks good with red. It really pops my zits. All of a sudden [they’re] really exposed."

Beforehand: "[The best part] is the drinking vodka."

Afterwards: "[The best] is the mini cheeseburgers they give you at the after party. And then also some more vodka there.”

Well there you have it. Seems like celebrities' preferences are as varied as us common folk — imagine that!