Never thought we’d see the day that one of those novelty beach cover-ups you get on vacation could double as a powerful rebuke of toxic misogyny, but here we are! Nelly Furtado took the stage at the Manchester Pride festival wearing a T-shirt that playfully but pointedly addressed online chatter around her body, and we’re beyond here for it.
For her performance, the “Maneater” singer wore fishnets and custom boots and long, tight braids in her hair, but the bulk of her outfit was a (cheap) optical illusion: a large white tee shirt painted to look like a woman’s body wearing a black bra, white tank top, chain necklaces, jeans and a gold rhinestone belt with a buckle that says “Whoa Nelly” (the name of her first album).
Shirlaine Forrest
Fun and kitschy, and oh, how I wish we lived in a world where the interpretation stopped there. Because this was clearly a pointed, though lighthearted, statement about recent chatter online about Furtado’s appearance at other festivals, where she’s looked beautiful, confident and, yes, bigger than when she first got famous 20 years ago (in case you think we’re reading too much into it, her stylist re-posted a graphic about her “shutting down body-shamers” with a “periodt.” sticker on IG Stories).
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 24: Nelly Furtado performs during Manchester Pride 2025 on August 24, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)Shirlaine Forrest
