NEW YORK, May 4 (Reuters) - Celebrities including

singers Sam Smith and Doja Cat and actress Nicole Kidman made

their entrances Monday at the Met Gala, the fashion world's most

coveted invitation, as protesters bashed billionaire Amazon ( AMZN )

founder Jeff Bezos' sponsorship of the event.

His wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, was among the first

celebrities to arrive at Monday's event, an annual fundraiser

for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute that has

become known for its extravagant fashion and high-profile

guests.

The couple are among the event's main sponsors with a

donation reported by media outlets at $10 million and were named

honorary chairs, which led to calls for a boycott over wealth

inequality and workers' rights.

Outside the museum, protesters in colorful outfits held

letters spelling out "tax the rich" and banners reading

"resistance red carpet" and "eat the rich".

Stars expected to attend include Rihanna, Beyonce, Venus

Williams and Kim Kardashian. Tickets cost $100,000 each but most

celebrities attend as guests.

Among the early arrivals to pose for photographers were

internet personalities Emma Chamberlain, in a skin-tight dress

with sleeves that hung to the floor, and La La Anthony, whose

dress dripped with jewels.

This year's dress code, "Fashion is Art" invited guests to

treat the body as a canvas.

French social media personality Lena Mahfouf wore a

sculptured bodice shaped like two silver hands and a flowing

skirt.

Another eye-catching moment was the arrival of actress

Gwendoline Christie who donned a long red gown, feathered

headpiece and lifelike mask.

(Writing by Costas Pitas and Kate Skelly; Editing by Cynthia

Osterman)