The Kentucky Derby is as much about fashion as it is about fast horses. Every year, fans flock to Churchill Downs dressed to impress in pastel dresses, bold hats, and seersucker suits. But last year, two women found themselves at the center of a style storm after critics accused them of breaking the unspoken dress code.
Gabriela Moura, a social media influencer with millions of followers, and Olivia Dunne, the former LSU Tigers gymnast, both faced backlash for their 2025 Derby outfits. The controversy has reignited the age-old debate: where do you draw the line between Southern charm and showing a little too much skin?
The Backlash Begins
Moura, who attended the Kentucky Oaks, the traditional pre-Derby race, was slammed by some fans for showing too much cleavage. In a video response, she defended her choice, saying, "I don't know if you're going to misunderstand what I'm saying in this video, but big boob girls are going to understand what I'm saying." She added, "Girls with big boobs, there's no way to hide it."
But not everyone was buying it. "As a person from Kentucky, I feel ashamed the Kentucky Derby isn't getting the fits it deserves," one critic wrote. Another chimed in, "Influencers don't understand it's not always about looking as hot as possible."
Dunne, meanwhile, was officially called out by GLAM magazine for her Derby dress and "hard-to-ignore bikini tan lines." The magazine wrote that her look "seemed much more appropriate for a casual beach party" than the typically polished Derby aesthetic. Fans echoed the sentiment, with one saying, "Beautiful, but tan lines are not pretty. Cover them."
Fashion vs. Tradition
The Kentucky Derby has a clear dress code that encourages "upscale attire." The official guidelines say women should wear "colorful dresses and bold hats," while men opt for seersucker suits and bow ties. But as these two influencers proved, interpretation is everything. Some argue that the Derby's strict fashion rules are part of its charm, while others believe the event should evolve with the times.
In a show of solidarity, Moura and Dunne refused to apologize. Dunne even commented on Moura's post, writing, "Obsessed with this & u!!!!" Their defiance has sparked a larger conversation about body shaming and double standards in fashion.
More Derby Drama
This isn't the first time the Derby dress code has made headlines. From Derby Dress Drama: Influencers Gabriela Moura and Olivia Dunne Called Out for Fashion Faux Pas to Sue Bird Ditches Derby Dress Code: No Hat, All Attitude at Churchill Downs, the debate rages on. Even Paige Spiranac's Derby Dress Photo Racks Up 500K Views—And She Didn't Even Attend proves that fashion and controversy go hand in hand at the Run for the Roses.
As for the official stance? The Kentucky Derby continues to encourage fans to "dress to impress," but as Moura and Dunne have shown, what's impressive to one person might be inappropriate to another. The conversation is far from over.
