Nelly Furtado delivered a powerful message about body acceptance during her Manchester Pride performance, using fashion as her weapon against online critics who have commented negatively about her appearance at recent festivals.
The 46-year-old Grammy winner took the stage on August 25 wearing a statement-making oversized white T-shirt featuring a cartoon woman’s silhouette with an hourglass figure, complete with a black bra and cropped tank top design. She paired the eye-catching piece with sparkly fishnet tights, pink fingerless gloves, and colorful boots emblazoned with the words “Better than ever.”
Creative Fashion Statement Addresses Critics
The T-shirt’s design served as both a playful nod to her musical career and a pointed response to body-shamers. The cartoon figure’s belt buckle featured “Whoa Nelly,” a reference to her 2000 debut album. The back of the shirt displayed a tattoo design that connected to her recent song, “Better Than Ever.”
This wasn’t a random fashion choice but rather a deliberate artistic statement. It addressed recent online criticism about her curvier figure during festival performances. Her stylist confirmed the intentional message by reposting a graphic about Furtado “shutting down body-shamers” with emphasis on social media.
Ongoing Message of Self-Acceptance
This Manchester Pride appearance builds on Furtado’s earlier advocacy for body positivity. At the beginning of 2025, she shared an inspiring message on Instagram alongside makeup-free bikini photos. The note encouraged her followers to embrace body neutrality.
“HAVE A BODY NEUTRAL 2025, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, LOVE WITH EVERY INCH OF YOUR HEART,” she wrote in her January 5 Instagram post.
In that same post, she addressed the pressures she faces as a public figure while promoting self-love and confidence. “This year I became aware of the aesthetic pressure of my work in a brand new way, while simultaneously I experienced new levels of self-love and genuine confidence from within,” she explained.
The singer also took the opportunity to dispel rumors about cosmetic procedures, stating transparently: “For whoever cares, I have never had any face or body surgeries or augmentation, besides for veneers on the top row of my teeth, quite recently.”
She further clarified: “I have not had any face or lip injections or fillers of any kind, but I do have a loving, old school facialist who I purchase serums and creams from and I started that when I was 20.”
Furtado also revealed some behind-the-scenes secrets about achieving certain looks for public appearances. “The day before photo shoots and red carpets, I drink a lot of water and sleep on my back. Sometimes on the red carpet or at photo shoots my makeup artist uses face tape to give my eyes, skin and makeup more lift. Sometimes my stylist uses body tape to give a certain look to different silhouettes,” she shared.
Throughout her message, Furtado emphasized the importance of individual expression and self-acceptance. She urged her supporters to embrace authentic self-expression and personal uniqueness. Furtado stressed that people should feel comfortable accepting their current appearance while also respecting those who desire change.
Her concluding thoughts expressed a compassionate understanding of the human experience. “We are all cute little humans just bouncing around the earth looking for hugs,” she wrote.
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