Mckenna Grace Wears a Filipino Designer to Pay Tribute to Katniss Everdeen

One of the most anticipated cinematic events of the year is the premiere of Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel to the original Hunger Games trilogy.

A retelling of events 25 years before the games of main protagonist Katniss Everdeen, the film depicts the 50th Hunger Games, known as the 2nd Quarter Quell. Topbilled by a powerhouse ensemble that includes Glenn Close, Elle Fanning, Jesse Plemons, Joseph Zada, and more, the movie will narrate the experiences that shaped eventual victor and mentor Haymitch Abernathy.

Also a member of the cast is American actress Mckenna Grace, who will bring to life Maysilee Donner, a female tribute from District 12 who becomes close allies with Haymitch. Leading up to its world premiere, the film opened a Hunger Games-themed costume exhibition in Paris, where the story of the fictional nation of Panem is told through fashion.

For the occasion, Mckenna paid homage to Katniss Everdeen, donning a recreation of one of her most iconic looks from the novels. The outfit was fashioned with a vintage bridal piece from Filipino designer Monique Lhuillier.

Fans of the Suzanne Collins series would immediately recognize Mckenna’s look as the wedding dress Katniss wore during her pre-Games interview in Catching Fire. In the books and the movie adaptation, she meets with host Ceasar Flickerman in the gown she was supposedly going to wear to her wedding with her star-crossed lover Peeta Mellark.

True to her moniker as the “Girl on Fire,” she dramatically spins and sheds off the gown’s voluminous layers, revealing a sleek ensemble inspired by the Mockingjay—an eventual symbol of their rebellion against the Capitol.

To achieve such a monumental moment, Mckenna was swathed in ivory-hued tulle, artfully hand-frayed and layered to create a rosette pattern. On her Instagram account, Monique states that the frock was embellished with ostrict feathers and lochrosen glass crystals. Conceptualizing and crafting the piece with stylist Molly Dickson, the gown took 1000 hours to finish.

Mckenna expresses that the dress was a tribute (no pun intended) to the magnificience of Katniss’ work with her fictional stylist Cinna. “What makes Katniss’ wedding dress so powerful to me is that it begins as a costume meant to turn her into a spectacle, but she and Cinna turn it into something powerful,” she says on Instagram.

“It’s truly incredible just how much deep and meaningful storytelling is told through these costumes alone,” the 20-year-old actress continues.

While access to the Hunger Games costume exhibit has already concluded in conjunction with Paris Fashion Week, fans can continue to look forward to the global premiere of Sunrise on the Reaping on November 20, 2026. May the odds be in our favor to secure those tickets!