Nelly Furtado is no stranger to being in the public eye, as she’s gifted us with many bangers over the years. From “I’m Like a Bird” to “Promiscuous” and TikTok’s personal fave, “Maneater,” the Grammy winner knows how to turn ’em out and give fans a good show. During her recent slew of festival performances, the Canadian artist took the opportunity to shut down body-shamers with a simple and legendary fashion statement.
On Sunday, August 24, she headlined Manchester Pride in the UK, where she rocked an oversized T-shirt featuring a cartoon hourglass figure. The design included a slimmer body, which paid homage to her 2000 debut album, Whoa, Nelly! on the animated belt buckle. On the back of Nelly’s shirt, the cartoon figure had a back tattoo, which was a nod to her more recent song, “Better Than Ever.”
Her outfit was complete with all the Y2K vibes, from her silver barrettes to fishnet tights and bright-colored fingerless gloves. The statement comes after Nelly’s onstage outfits received criticism for her curvier body shape—but this isn’t the first time she’s addressed naysayers.
Earlier this year, the “Say It Right” singer addressed body-shamers with a makeup-free bikini pic and positive message on Instagram.
“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 wrote in her January 5 post.
She also debunked rumors that she had any cosmetic procedures done, confirming that she’s only gotten veneers on her top teeth. “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 continued. “So far, I have not had any face or lip injections or fillers of any kind.”
In her message, she shared that she wanted her fans to “express yourself freely, celebrate your individuality and know that it’s perfectly OK to be OK with what you see in the mirror, and it’s also OK to want something different.”
“HAVE A BODY NEUTRAL 2025, 😉, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, LOVE WITH EVERY INCH OF YOUR HEART ♥️,” she added.
You tell ’em, Nelly!
