Nelly Furtado's incredible response to body shamers as star returns to spotlight

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By Phoebe Egoroff

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Nelly Furtado is proving she has no time for body-shamers, and she’s doing it with her signature wit and style.

The Grammy-winning singer headlined Manchester Pride on Sunday, stepping onto the stage in a tongue-in-cheek outfit that had the crowd buzzing.

She wore an oversized T-shirt featuring a cartoon hourglass figure styled in a crop top and denim mini skirt, complete with a playful belt emblazoned with the words “Whoa Nelly,” a nod to her chart-topping 2000 debut album.

GettyImages-2231926621.jpg Credit: Shirlaine Forrest / WireImage / Getty Images.

The look didn’t stop there. Turning around, fans were treated to the back of the shirt, which displayed the cartoon’s tattoo: a cursive message reading “Better than ever.”

Furtado, 46, reinforced the cheeky theme with fishnet tights and colorful boots, which carried the same empowering phrase; also the title of one of the standout tracks from her latest record 7, released in September 2024.

It’s not the first time the Canadian star has wowed audiences with daring fashion choices in recent weeks. Just two nights earlier, at the UK’s Big Feastival, she hit the stage in a distressed denim bra and skirt by Stella Xingyi, layered over a bow-tied Thirteen Crosby tank.

The edgy outfit was finished with a pinstriped Samuel Gärtner trench, a wide belt bearing her iconic catchphrase “Whoa, Nelly!” and a pair of sleek knee-high boots.


Fans quickly flooded her Instagram with admiration for the look. “Thanks for showing the 80s born babes how to get older and still be awesome [...],” one wrote, while another declared: “Stunning as always!!! That style…Grrrrrrrrr [...].”

But while Furtado’s confidence shines through in her performances, she has also been candid about the pressures of fame. Earlier this year, she took to Instagram in an orange bikini to address false speculation about her body.

The singer reflected on how the spotlight has made her more aware of aesthetic scrutiny, but also how it has deepened her sense of self-love and inner confidence.

She made clear that she has never undergone plastic surgery, cosmetic augmentation, or injectables; aside from recently getting veneers on her top teeth, per Glamour UK.

GettyImages-2231546912.jpg Credit: Justin Goff Photos / Getty Images.

Instead of feeding into negativity, Furtado encouraged her fans to embrace individuality and self-expression, reminding them that it’s normal to feel comfortable with your natural reflection, and equally normal to want change.

“HAVE A BODY NEUTRAL 2025 [...], BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, LOVE WITH EVERY INCH OF YOUR HEART [...],” she wrote in a heartfelt message to her followers.

Featured image credit: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images.