Nelly Furtado Confronts Body Shaming at Manchester Pride

At Manchester Pride in August 2025, Nelly Furtado made a bold statement against body shaming by wearing an oversized white T-shirt featuring a cartoon outline of a woman's body, creating an optical illusion that highlighted and embraced her physique. The shirt bore references to her career, such as the 'Whoa Nelly' belt buckle and a 'Better Than Ever' tattoo nodding to her 2024 single, signaling her confidence and self-acceptance. Furtado has publicly addressed online criticism about her appearance, clarifying that she has not undergone any body or face surgeries aside from dental veneers, and has taken legal action against those spreading false health and beauty claims about her. She promotes a message of body neutrality and self-love, encouraging fans to accept themselves while also allowing room for change. Her fashion choice at the event was widely praised as an empowering clapback to critics, using style to communicate resilience and challenge societal beauty standards. This approach reflects her ongoing journey toward genuine confidence and self-expression in the face of aesthetic pressures in the entertainment industry.