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13 Celeb Kentucky Derby Attendees Of Years Past That Prove This Thing Brings Out Some Super Random Famous Faces — PHOTOS
To be honest, I have never really followed the Kentucky Derby and know very little about it besides that it involves giant hats and mint juleps, both of which I enjoy. I know it's quite a southern tradition and growing up in Miami means I didn't have much exposure to it, but hey, it's Derby time again on Saturday, May 2, so why not celebrate the American tradition a bit.
One thing I did find interesting about the Derby is that it indeed does bring out a diverse crowd (like Ne-Yo performing this year, for instance), so I decided to round up some of the most random and unexpected celebrity attendees of Kentucky Derbies past. If Boy George found something fun to do for the celebration, I think we all can.
Nicole Richie
Way back in 2004, when Nicole Richie was known for The Simple Life, she went to the Derby decked out in a super dated yellow pantsuit that she would probably never be seen in today.
Joey Fatone
I don’t really know what Joey Fatone’s been up to in the past few years, but I do know that he keeps appearing on the Derby red carpets in really wild suits, from pink gingham to a blue plaid short suit.
Paris Hilton
Maybe I shouldn’t think Paris Hilton attending the derby would be so random, considering she will appear on any red carpet, it seems. Back in 2009, Hilton made a big hoopla about going to her first derby with then-boyfriend Doug Reinhart, where her most important worry was finding the right hat.
Pete Wentz
Pete Wentz said at the event in 2014 that the hats were what brought him to the Kentucky Derby, although he isn’t even wearing one. Tsk, tsk.
Boy George
Boy George is always fabulous and extravagant anyway, so he took his signature hat to DJ at the 2014 Barnstable Brown Gala as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. It was his first time in Kentucky and I think he rocked it out.
Ashanti
R&B singer Ashanti decided to make a stop in Kentucky in 2006 wearing a very 2006 floral dress and hat.
Queen Elizabeth
The Kentucky Derby is a super American tradition, but our English cousins couldn’t help their curiosity. No one can match Queen Elizabeth’s hat game, either. Back in 2007 she made an appearance with her husband, Prince Phillip.
Sean Combs
Who knew Puff Daddy liked horse racing? He palled around with fellow fancy people and, apparently, celebrated a winning ticket in 2002.
Adrian Grenier
I guess I am too used to seeing Grenier bro-ing around with his Entourage boys to see him have any interest in shmoozing with the Kentucky crowd, but he busted out his best church boy linen suit to attend in 2008.
Angela Bassett
Being the fabulous woman she is, Angela Bassett showed up to the derby in 2014 wearing a rich blue body-con dress and not so much a hat, but a flower atop her head.
Salt-N-Pepa
If there was a contest for the best and biggest hats at Kentucky Derby, they would definitely win. Pepa’s hat is giving me Mad Hatter vibes.
Ice-T & Coco
Ice-T and Coco went to their first Derby in 2012 after years of wanting to go and they definitely made their presence known.
Johnny Weir
I guess the unsurprising thing here is that Jonny Weir certainly has the knack for costumes to hold his own with the extravagant hat-wearing crowd.
