Sofia Carson's Old Hollywood Glam at Cannes Was Inspired by Grace Kelly — All the Exclusive BTS Details!

The actress attended the Cannes closing ceremony on May 25 as a L'oréal Paris ambassador — see every moment from the makeup to the dress and the diamonds

The 77th Cannes Film Festival ended with a stylish bang and leading the high-fashion parade was Sofia Carson.

The singer-actress, 31, has been to the prestigious event before, but this past weekend, she attended the closing ceremony on May 25 for the first time as a L'Oréal Paris ambassador.

Carson, who tells PEOPLE exclusively it was an "honor" to walk the carpet in partnership with the beauty brand, turned heads in an ultra-elegant look with an empowering message behind it. Read ahead for all the details.

Major Glam

Sofia Carson wanted to bring old Hollywood glamour to Cannes.

When it came to her makeup, she imagined a neutral eye look that would complement the color of her dress (more details on that ahead). Makeup artist Allan Avenda?o "so beautifully" brought Carson's vision to life with a rich smokey eye, plus wispy lashes and a nude lip, she says.

For hair, Carson wanted to channel the ever timeless Grace Kelly in her version of the actress' knotted bun.

The Cannes (Beauty) MVPs

A close-up look at the L'oréal Paris hero products Avenda?o and hairstylist Jennifer Yepez used on Carson, including: the Panorama Mascara, Colour Riche Satin lipstick in the pink mauve shade "Worth It" and the Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold hairspray to keep Carson's updo looking sleek and chic during the carpet.

"Hair and makeup are an indispensable part of the art of storytelling. They complete the story," Carson tells PEOPLE.

Dressed to Impress

"I believe wholeheartedly that fashion is a form of art and storytelling," says Carson, who selected a high-drama emerald Elie Saab spring 2024 haute couture gown with a train to pay homage to "feminine strength" and "the women that defined timeless Hollywood glamour," such as Audrey Hepburn, who Carson channeled in vintage Valentino at the L'oréal Paris Lights On Women's Worth event on May 24.

Timeless Bling

Cannes calls for elegant jewels — and so did Carson's look. "The dress felt like an invitation for regal statement jewelry," which, in this case, included a dazzling Chopard diamond necklace, bold multitiered drop earrings and a ring that Carson says "truly took my breath away."

Celebratory Pics

Before a big red carpet event, Carson likes to ground herself in calmness amidst the "exciting chaos" by being present in the moment. But to celebrate her attendance at the Cannes closing ceremony, she carved out some time to cheers with a glass of bubbly with her mom — and also snap a few radiant behind-the-scenes photos.

Riviera to Red Carpet

After glam, Carson took a moment to appreciate the stunning views and let all the excitement sink in.

"There is truly nothing that compares to the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. It is the true mecca of art, cinema and fashion unlike anything else in the world," she gushes.

The Fashion Finale

And there she goes! Carson looked poised and sophisticated as she smiled for the cameras. But most importantly, she let her authentic self shine. "My approach with this carpet as with all others is the same: a promise to remain true to myself. That is when I feel truly beautiful," she says.

Next up, fans can catch Carson in the new Netflix film, Carry-On (also starring Jason Bateman) and on stage in Florence, Italy, with Andrea Bocelli as she celebrates his 30 years in music.

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