In the heart of Miami, where the rhythm of Latin music meets the pulse of high fashion, November 2025 marked a historic milestone for global superstar Maluma. Stepping into the spotlight not just as a nominee, but as the co-host of the 26th Annual Latin Grammy Awards alongside Roselyn Sánchez, the Colombian icon transformed the MGM Grand Garden Arena into his personal runway. In an exclusive “Getting Ready” feature for ELLE, Maluma invited us into his inner sanctum—a suite filled with the scent of espresso, the frantic energy of a world-class glam squad, and a meticulously curated rack of custom couture. For “Papi Juancho,” this night was about more than just music; it was a masterclass in “sophisticated reggaeton,” proving that the modern Latin star is as much a force in the atelier as he is in the recording studio.
The Hosting Debut: A New Chapter in Style
For Maluma, hosting the 26th Annual Latin Grammys was the culmination of a decade-long journey at the intersection of culture and fashion. Having previously graced the cover of ELLE as the magazine’s first-ever solo male cover star, his return to these pages for a “getting ready” diary felt like a homecoming. Making his hosting debut, Maluma shared that his goal was to “elevate the presence of Latin men in fashion,” moving beyond the streetwear labels typically associated with the genre. To achieve this, he collaborated with his longtime stylist to create a visual narrative that spanned three distinct outfit changes, each representing a different facet of his evolving artistic identity.
The atmosphere in his prep suite was one of focused creative intensity. “When you’re hosting, you’re not just an artist; you’re the face of the evening,” Maluma explained as he reviewed the final fittings. His look for the night was built on a foundation of precision tailoring and unexpected details, moving away from the “bedazzled” aesthetics of his earlier career toward a more refined, sculptural luxury. This transition reflects a broader shift in his life—balancing the demands of global superstardom with the grounding influence of fatherhood—resulting in a style that is “effortlessly powerful.”
The Red Carpet: Monochromatic Mastery
Maluma’s arrival on the red carpet was a lesson in coordinated elegance. Accompanied by his partner, Susana Gomez, the duo presented a unified front in striking monochromatic ensembles. Maluma chose a custom, jet-black velvet tuxedo that featured a “distorted” peak lapel and subtle, hand-stitched silk piping. The choice of velvet was a deliberate nod to Old Hollywood glamour, reimagined for a Latin audience. By keeping the color palette dark and focused, Maluma allowed the silhouette and the quality of the materials to speak for themselves, signaling a “grown-up” approach to awards season fashion.
The coordination with Susana was not merely about color, but about a shared “atmosphere of sophistication.” While Susana dazzled in a gown with delicate lace details, Maluma’s look provided the structural anchor. This red carpet moment was widely hailed by fashion critics as one of the most “impeccably elegant” of the night, setting a high bar for the ceremony that followed. For Maluma, the red carpet is the “opening act” of the story, and his choice of a classic yet modernized tuxedo ensured that the narrative began with a statement of undeniable authority.
The Multi-Look Marathon: Three Acts of Couture
Once inside the arena, the hosting duties demanded a series of high-speed transformations. Maluma utilized a “triple-threat” wardrobe strategy, moving from his red-carpet velvet into a more avant-garde, structural suit for the show’s opening. This second look—a slate grey ensemble with a unique, wrap-around closure—was designed to offer maximum mobility for his high-energy hosting segments. “You have to be able to move, to breathe, and to command the stage,” Maluma noted during his fittings. The grey suit featured a subtle metallic sheen, catching the stage lights and ensuring he remained the visual focal point of the massive MGM Grand.
His final change of the evening was a return to his “reggaeton roots,” but with a high-fashion twist. This look featured a sleeveless, leather-trimmed vest paired with wide-leg wool trousers and layers of heavy silver jewelry. It was a fusion of “street and suite” that paid homage to the genre that built his career while demonstrating his current status as a fashion innovator. By alternating between these three distinct moods—the classic, the structural, and the edgy—Maluma proved his versatility, treating the hosting gig as a dynamic performance where the clothes were just as important as the teleprompter.
The Legacy of the “Greatest” Wardrobe
As the 2025 Latin Grammys drew to a close, Maluma’s fashion choices remained the primary talking point of the evening. Beyond the glamour, the “Getting Ready” process revealed a man who is deeply involved in the technicalities of his brand. From the choice of eyewear—a crucial element of his visual identity—to the specific “shine” of his jewelry, nothing was left to chance. This level of intentionality is what has made Maluma a favorite of houses like Versace and Dolce & Gabbana, and his hosting debut served as a definitive audition for his next role: a permanent fixture in the global fashion elite.
Ultimately, Maluma’s night at the Latin Grammys was a celebration of “Latin excellence” in all its forms. By inviting ELLE into his prep routine, he offered a rare glimpse into the labor-intensive reality of being a modern icon. As he left the arena, still buzzing from the success of the broadcast, Maluma’s message was clear: “We are showing the world that Latin music doesn’t just sound good—it looks like the future.” With his hosting debut now in the history books, the industry is left wondering not if he will return to the stage, but what high-fashion heights he will scale next.
