Gabourey Sidibe of 'Empire' Stuns in Glittery Dress and High Heels at Tyler Perry's Studio Opening Gala

Gabourey Sidibe packed on the glam in a short dress this past weekend as she turned up at the Tyler Perry Studios opening gala with her "Empire" co-star Ta'Rhonda Jones.

Renowned filmmaker Perry had the grand opening of his new Atlanta studios on Saturday, and Sidibe was one of the many celebrities in attendance.

The 36-year-old star walked the red carpet in a sequin dress that stopped just above her knees. She accessorized with a patterned clutch and black pumps while donning a few pieces of jewelry.

"My surgeon said they’d cut my stomach in half. This would limit my hunger and capacity to eat"

A picture of Sidibe posing on the red carpet with Jones alongside details of the ladies' outfits was posted to Instagram by Fashion Bomb Daily.

Sidibe also shared two pictures of the duo on her Instagram page, tagging it: "Date Night." Meanwhile, the actress's slimmer frame was hard to miss in her glittery outfit.

Sidibe, who once weighed 300 pounds, underwent weight-loss surgery in 2016. The decision, she told PEOPLE a year later, was because of a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

"I just didn’t want to worry," she revealed. "I truly didn’t want to worry about all the effects that go along with diabetes. I genuinely [would] worry all the time about losing my toes."

In 2017, Sidibe published the memoir "This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare," where she chronicled more about her weight-loss journey.

In an excerpt published exclusively by PEOPLE, she penned:

"My surgeon said they’d cut my stomach in half. This would limit my hunger and capacity to eat. My brain chemistry would change and I’d want to eat healthier. I’ll take it! My lifelong relationship with food had to change."

Following the surgery, Sidibe also had to make some lifestyle changes, including working with a nutritionist for healthy eating and staying committed to fitness and exercise.

The experience helped her see her body in a new light. "I was in a war with my body for a long time," the "Precious" star recalled. "If I'd started treating it better sooner, I wouldn’t have spent so many years hating myself. But I love my body now."

Sidibe has been living her best life ever since. Earlier this year, she made her directorial debut on "Empire" and shared with ESSENCE what it felt like to take on the challenge.

"The hardest of seasoned crew might look at me and say, 'She doesn’t know what she’s doing,'" she explained. "So before they say that out loud, I have to show up and show them harder and faster that I do know what I’m doing."

"I’m the leader, and I’m going to lead us through this whole thing without taking my hands of the wheel," added the Oscar nominee.