Highlights From TIME Magazine's 100 Gala - Ashley Graham, Ava DuVernay, Viola Davis & More

As celebrities gear up for next week’s Met Gala, dozens pre-gamed with TIME magazine’s 100 Gala.

On Tuesday night, the 100 Most Influential People attended the soiree in New York City and enjoyed not only a performance by most influential John Legend, but a sweet toast by actress Viola Davis. “Everybody in this room, I’m sure at some point, has gone through something in their lives, and you survived it,” Davis said.

She added, “But not only did you survive it, you took that trauma, and that hurt, that revelation, or whatever it was, and you used it to connect, to give, to influence, to help, and that is the beauty and the purpose of what we are here on this Earth to do.”

Here, here.

Now, on to the most important part … what did folks wear? It’s a known fact when you get invited to TIME’s 100 Gala, you better show up with your best garments in tow.

Check out photos from the night’s event.