We've all been there. You spend hours getting ready for a big night, you look in the mirror, and everything is literally perfect. Then, five minutes out the door, disaster strikes. But for most of us, "disaster" is a coffee splash or a loose thread. For Jenna Ortega, it was a giant blue ink stain on a white couture gown at the Scream VI global premiere.
It was March 2023. New York City was buzzing because Wednesday had just turned Jenna into the biggest star on the planet. She showed up to the AMC Lincoln Square Theater looking like a high-fashion dream. She was wearing this incredible, deconstructed tuxedo mini dress by Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture. It was sharp. It was edgy. Honestly, it was the perfect "Goth Glam" transition from her Netflix character to her role as Tara Carpenter.
Then the photos hit the internet.
The Sharpie Incident: A Jenna Ortega Wardrobe Malfunction Breakdown
If you look closely at the red carpet shots from that night, there’s a very obvious blue smudge right on the white fabric of her bodice. It wasn't a shadow. It wasn't a design choice. It was a Sharpie stain.
How does a multimillion-dollar couture look get ruined in seconds? Fans.
📖 Related: Harry Enten Net Worth: What the CNN Data Whiz Actually Earns
Jenna is known for being incredibly sweet to her supporters. Before hitting the actual carpet, she spent time signing autographs for the crowd outside. In the chaos of fans pushing forward with posters and pens, an uncapped blue Sharpie "interacted" (as the fashion world politely puts it) with her dress.
Basically, a fan accidentally stabbed her gorgeous white dress with a permanent marker.
Most celebrities would have had a complete meltdown. Imagine your stylist, Enrique Melendez, spent weeks securing a one-of-a-kind Gaultier piece only for it to be tagged like a subway car five minutes before the cameras start flashing. But Jenna? She didn't even go inside to change. She didn't try to hide it with a shawl. She just walked out there and owned it.
Why #SharpieGate Actually Made Us Like Her More
The internet immediately went into a frenzy. People were calling it the "Jenna Ortega wardrobe malfunction" of the year, but the way she handled it turned a potential PR disaster into a masterclass in being chill.
👉 See also: Hank Siemers Married Life: What Most People Get Wrong
A few days later, she posted the look on Instagram. Most stars would have Photoshopped the stain out. Jenna did the opposite. She tagged the photos with #sharpiestainwhogivesashit. She even gave a shout-out to Olivier Rousteing (who was guest designing for JPG at the time), basically saying, "Sorry I ruined the art, but life happens."
Honestly, that’s why her brand is so strong. She doesn't lean into the "perfect, untouchable star" trope. She’s fine with being a human who gets ink on her clothes.
Wardrobe Malfunctions or Just "Modern Goth" Problems?
Since that 2023 incident, Jenna has had a few other close calls that people love to label as mishaps. Just recently at the 2026 Golden Globes, there was a lot of talk about her Dilara Findikoglu gown.
The dress featured some pretty aggressive side cutouts and a "whale tail" detail—a deliberate peek of a black thong at the back. Some blogs tried to claim it was an accident or a "malfunction," but let’s be real. In 2026, if you see a thong on the red carpet, it’s a choice. Jenna has been leaning heavily into this "Soft Goth" aesthetic that involves a lot of sheer fabrics and architectural risks.
✨ Don't miss: Gordon Ramsay Kids: What Most People Get Wrong About Raising Six Mini-Chefs
When you wear Givenchy or Versace from the 90s archive—like she did at the SAG Awards—the fit has to be precise. One wrong move and you’re a headline. But Jenna’s team, specifically Melendez, has a reputation for "no alterations" stipulations. If the dress doesn't fit like a glove naturally, she doesn't wear it.
The Evolution of Her Style Post-Wednesday
It’s interesting to see how her style has shifted. She told The Cut that playing Wednesday Addams actually bled into her real life. She used to wear a lot of color, but now her closet is basically a void. A very expensive, chic void.
- The 2023 Golden Globes: That ethereal tan Gucci gown with the floor-sweeping sleeves was her "I'm not just Wednesday" moment.
- The 2025 Emmys: She wore a Givenchy bodice that arrived in a literal coffin-style box. No malfunctions there, just pure drama.
- The 2026 Golden Globes: The Dilara Findikoglu look. This was the "riskiest" she's ever been, pushing the limits of what counts as a "malfunction" versus high-fashion edge.
What to Do When Your Own "Wardrobe Malfunction" Hits
Look, you’re probably not wearing Jean Paul Gaultier to the grocery store. But you can still learn from Jenna’s Sharpie incident. Most people panic when they stain their clothes or lose a button.
The Jenna Ortega Method for handling a fashion disaster:
- Don't hide it. If you try to cover a stain with your hand all night, you just look awkward. If you act like it’s not there, people eventually stop looking at it.
- Acknowledge the humor. Her hashtag was iconic because it took the power away from the "gotcha" photographers.
- Own the mess. Perfection is boring. A blue ink stain on a white dress tells a story—in her case, it told the story of a star who cares more about her fans than a dry-cleaning bill.
If you ever find yourself with a permanent marker stain on white fabric, you can try dabbling it with rubbing alcohol or hairspray (old school trick), but sometimes the best move is just to say "who gives a sh--t" and keep moving.
Next time you see a headline about a "Jenna Ortega wardrobe malfunction," take a closer look. Usually, it’s just a young woman taking a big fashion risk and having the confidence to back it up, even when things go a little sideways.