See 7 Side-by-Side Photos of McKenna Grace Paying Tribute to “The Hunger Games” on the “Sunrise on the Reaping” Press Tour

Emily BlackwoodSun, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTC

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McKenna Grace during the ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ press tour; Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.’Credit: Molly Dickson/Instagram; Murray Close/Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection -

McKenna Grace plays twin sisters Maysilee and Merrilee Donner in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

The actress’ fashion choices on the press tour have referenced characters and moments from the franchise

Grace has shared that embracing fashion has helped transform a longtime source of anxiety into something fun

McKenna Grace has been channeling Panem.

Throughout The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’s press tour, the actress has donned looks inspired by the franchise, and she confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that “everything is a reference.”

“It’s just homage to all the people that were a part of this franchise before I was,” Grace told the outlet in October 2026 while speaking about the latest movie, which hits theaters on Nov. 20.

She also added that the experience has been “healing” after struggling to “figure out” her style. In an October 2026 interview with PEOPLE, Grace explained that she was a “deeply insecure teenager” and that fashion had been a source of anxiety due to her severe scoliosis.

However, undergoing spinal surgery in 2022 helped her become more confident. “It’s so exciting to be in a place now where fashion has turned into something fun and exciting and a way to pay tribute to the films that I’m a part of and these things that I’m such a fan of,” she said.

From recreating iconic gowns from the original film to subtle nods for fan-favorite characters, see McKenna Grace’s best Hunger Games-inspired looks side-by-side with their on-screen counterparts.

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Katniss Everdeen’s Catching Fire Wedding Dress

Mckenna Grace in ‘The Hunger Games Catching Fire’ dress; Jennifer Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,’Credit: McKenna Grace/Tiktok; Collection Christophel/STUDIOCANAL/Murray Close via Alamy

Grace kicked off her Sunrise on the Reaping press tour on Oct. 6 in Paris, where she wore a vintage Monique Lhuillier gown inspired by Katniss Everdeen’s wedding dress in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The original gown, designed by Tex Saverio, featured a sculptural metal bodice and layers of ruffles.

In the 2013 film, Katniss’ dress transforms into a black Mockingjay gown during a televised interview, marking an act of rebellion against the Capitol.

“I wanted to pay homage to Katniss, and this dress is so iconic,” Grace wrote on Instagram, adding that she’s “still pinching” herself about the look.

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Katniss Everdeen’s braids

McKenna Grace during a photo call for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’ in Sydney, Australia; Jennifer Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.’Credit: Don Arnold/WireImage; Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection

Ever since Jennifer Lawrence brought Katniss’ signature side braid to the big screen in 2012, the hairstyle has become synonymous with the franchise. And it’s a tradition Grace is continuing.

Grace plays twin sisters Maysilee and Merrilee Donner in the movie, and she told PEOPLE that she wanted to honor her own character through her fashion choices, including “always wearing my Maysilee Donner braid.”

Her hairstylist Glen “Coco” Oropeza also told The Tease that they have been intentionally “doing a braid in every look because of her character in the movie.”

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Effie Trinket’s butterfly callback

Mckenna Grace attends 27th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival Honors; Elizabeth Banks in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.’Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty; Murray Close/Getty

While attending the 27th annual Newport Beach Film Festival on Oct. 18, Grace wore a strapless black Nicole + Felicia gown covered in 3D butterflies — a familiar symbol in the Hunger Games universe.

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Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) famously wore butterflies in her hair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and Grace confirmed to PEOPLE in October 2026 that she incorporated butterflies into her press-tour wardrobe as a nod to the deadly “butterfly mutts” featured in Sunrise on the Reaping.

The actress explained that she wanted to incorporate subtle references to the upcoming film, including wearing “black for District 12.”

04 of 07

Katniss Everdeen’s Catching Fire party look

McKenna Grace during the ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ press tour; Jennifer Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’.’Credit: Molly Dickson/Instagram; Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection

Stylist Molly Dickson shared an Instagram photo of Grace wearing an “archival Chloé” black dress with red shoulders that closely resembled Katniss’ look in Catching Fire.

The resemblance was no coincidence — in another photo from the post, Grace held up an image of Lawrence wearing the original outfit in the film.

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Rue’s interview dress

McKenna Grace at the “Today” show on October 26, 2026; Amandla Stenberg in ‘The Hunger Games.’Credit: Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images; Disney+

Dickson also told Teen Vogue that the aquamarine archival Betsey Johnson babydoll-style minidress the actress wore for her appearance on Today was inspired by what Rue (Amandla Stenberg) wore during her interview in the original film.

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Jena Malone’s Catching Fire premiere ensemble

McKenna Grace during the ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ press tour; Jena Malone attends the ‘Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ New York Premiere in 2013.Credit: Mckenna Grace/Instagram; Jim Spellman/WireImage

It wasn’t just the films that Grace pulled fashion inspiration from.

The actress told Entertainment Tonight that she was “lucky enough” to get to wear the same cream and gray color-block midi dress that Jena Malone wore for the Hunger Games: Catching Fire premiere in November 2013.

Grace also posted the look on her Instagram alongside a photo of Malone in the same ensemble, captioning the image “also extremely casual about this.”

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Jennifer Lawrence’s 2011 Oscars gown

McKenna Grace at the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala; Jennifer Lawrence at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty; Frazer Harrison/Getty

In her interview with Entertainment Tonight, Grace made one thing clear: She’s not just a Hunger Games fan.

“I’m such a big Jennifer Lawrence fan,” she said. “She’s like my favorite actress.”

And her fashion tributes to Lawrence extend beyond Panem.

At the 6th annual Academy Museum Gala, the Sunrise on the Reaping star stepped out in a custom red Mônot gown inspired by the iconic Calvin Klein dress Lawrence wore to the 2011 Oscars.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”