Breathtaking Photos of Joanna Gaines in a Glamorous Strapless Black Gown at State Dinner

Joanna Gaines, star of Fixer Upper, looked stunning in a strapless black gown with a thigh-high slit as she and her husband, Chip Gaines, attended a state dinner at the White House on April 26. The dress featured an off-the-shoulder wrap around her upper left arm, and her long, cascading side ponytail added to her glamorous look. This was certainly a departure from her typical casual style while renovating homes.

The event was held in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee. It was particularly meaningful for Joanna because her mother, Nan, is Korean, and she has spoken candidly in the past about struggling to fully embrace her Korean heritage as she was growing up. Her father is of German descent.

In fact, during a November 2022 episode of her podcast "The Stories We Tell With Joanna Gaines," the Magnolia Network founder tearfully apologized to her mother for not fully embracing her Korean culture. She said, "The culture that was half of me as a Korean little girl, as a Korean teenager, as a Korean woman. That I felt that guilt and that regret. Like dang it, that's my mother, this is her culture."

Joanna revealed that it wasn't until she visited Koreatown in New York City during her college years that she was truly awakened to the beauty of her heritage. She said, "That I am this culture, this Korean history, this Korean story, my Korean mother, my Korean grandmother. That's the richest part of who I am. And walking in the fullness of that really changed the narrative for me."

The state dinner was a date night for Joanna and Chip, and they were among the 200 guests invited to attend by President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden. Other notable attendees included actress Angelina Jolie and her son Maddox, who is fluent in Korean and studied at Seoul's Yonsei University. Angelina wore a flowing ivory gown with a matching blazer draped over her shoulders to the event.