PHOTOS BY AMANDA SEGUR

It's rare to find a charity benefit with so much soul. At last night's DKMS gala held at Cipriani Wall Street to fight leukemia, it seemed almost everyone had a personal connection. "I remember starting this with my mom and her doctor," shared Katharina Harf COO of DKMS Americas, "and though my mother didn't make it, I feel we are still doing the work she started." Katharina was there to host and present Rihanna with an award for her help working for their shared cause. Carmindy, whose cosmetics company and tireless personal work has been a huge help in the fight, lost a best friend's mother to leukemia. Pharrell, who looked dapper in black tux, was there to DJ the event, but paused to share that he lost both grandmothers to the disease: "I know what it's like as the family to be on the losing end." But there was also the usual red carpet madness. As Rihanna, our lovely December/January cover star was whisked by in a frenzy of flashbulbs, one reporter shouted, "Love the red hair! Why red?"

"Because it's badass," Ri replied, disappearing into the cavernous and elegant Cipriani ballroom.

Iman glided down the carpet minus her rock star husband David Bowie, who however, met her at the end, choosing to stay away from camera crews. We're sure he's seeing even more of them now that his son, Duncan Jones, is directing films. Another musical prodigy skipped the carpet for cocktails: Mary J. Blige was in the house for a special performance. Other guests who came out to support included Michael Clinton, Keri Hilson, Cyndi Lauper, Leighton Meester, Vera Wang and celebrity stylist and national ambassador for Make A Wish, Mary Alice Stevenson.