‘Off Campus’ Star Ella Bright Brought Vintage Glamour to the VMAs, and Her Corset Came With a Surprising Confession

Some stars treat awards season as a victory lap, but for Ella Bright, the VMAs arrived as a well-earned breather between productions. The ‘Off Campus’ star has reportedly wrapped filming on Season 2, and before production kicks off on her new coming-of-age movie ‘Narcs’, she found time for music’s biggest party of the year. It’s a busy stretch for an actress who has quickly become one of streaming’s most-watched rising names.

That rise has come courtesy of Prime Video’s hit hockey romance series, which is based on Elle Kennedy’s book series of the same name. Season 1 leaned into the classic fake-dating trope, with Bright playing music student Hannah Wells, affectionately nicknamed Wellsy by her love interest Garrett Graham, played by Belmont Cameli.

When the MTV Video Music Awards took over the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday night, Bright made sure to arrive in style. Outlets shared photos showing the actress in a black corseted dress with a sweetheart-style neckline and layered choker, her dark hair styled in loose waves.

Other photos from the night captured her in a black gown paired with a choker and sunglasses, while The Hollywood Reporter described the ensemble as a glamorous, edgy all-black look. The corset was clearly the centerpiece, with Cosmopolitan calling it a plunging corset dress.

“Off Campus” star Ella Bright poses at the #VMAs pic.twitter.com/T5qG8VxL1B

— Variety (@Variety) September 27, 2026

Bright was happy to share the details of her outfit, and it turned out to be a thrift-lover’s dream. “Yes, it’s a vintage Cavalli. It’s got a great corset. Honestly, I can breathe in it… So, it’s good, it’s a lot of fun,” she told Extra on the carpet.

That comfort factor is no small feat on a red carpet where corsetry, feathers and crystals ruled the night. Choosing a vintage piece also gave her look a touch of individuality that stood apart from the fresh-off-the-runway couture worn by many of her fellow attendees.

Bright wasn’t just there to pose for photographers. She presented alongside her on-screen partner Belmont Cameli, with the pair introducing rising pop singer Sienna Spiro’s performance. The audience reaction was so loud that Bright had to briefly pause when the two took the stage.

🎥| Taylor Swift and Ella Bright hugging at the #VMAspic.twitter.com/ItGxlLOAOQ

— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) September 28, 2026

Fans had been anticipating the moment before the show even began. Place cards revealed ahead of the event showed Cameli and Bright seated side by side, and both actors wore sunglasses on the carpet, with Cameli opting for a cool denim look to complement Bright’s all-black ensemble.

The appearance also doubled as a chance to hype the show’s return. Season 2 centers on the love story between Alli, played by Mika Abdalla, and Dean, played by Stephen Kalyn, and Bright has said it includes some of her favorite moments from the series so far.

She kept the details vague but promising. “Yeah, there’s a lot of things going on. There’s some amazing ensemble moments. So, I’m really excited for everyone to see it,” she said in the same Extra interview, while also joking, “So chill and normal” when told that Nicole Kidman had reportedly rewatched the series multiple times.

On "Off Campus" and off screen, Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli are besties. 🫶 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/GipfskvI0Z

— E! News (@enews) September 27, 2026

Beyond acting, Bright also discussed how fans are responding to her music, making the VMAs a fitting setting for a performer with ambitions on both sides of the entertainment world. With a second season in the can and a new film on the horizon, her schedule shows no sign of slowing down.

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