Nelly Furtado has to be in the discussion for “Woman of the Summer 2025,” as she continues to deliver one viral moment after another with her new curvy look.
The Canadian pop star who has built a career on reinvention is once again commanding attention—this time for her presence as much as her voice. A clip from her “Better Than Ever” tour, filmed during a recent summer performance, has gone viral, amassing more than 800,000 views.
In the video, the 46-year-old singer takes the stage in a striped maxi dress with high slits, delivering a confident performance that sparked a wide-ranging conversation about her evolution.
@nellyfurtadofr SUMMER TOUR / HAMBOURG 2025 – Nelly Furtado a interprété la chanson Say It Right le 27 août 2025 à Hambourg
@Nelly Furtado #nellyfurtado #timbaland #hamburg #sayitright
“Her body, her energy, everything—this is what these girls pay for,” one fan wrote in response to the footage.
Another praised her unapologetic stage presence, noting how far the culture has shifted from the early 2000s, when women in pop were often pressured into thin, rigid body standards.
The comments have not all been celebratory. Some critics leaned on familiar fatphobic tropes, framing her appearance as a liability.
But Furtado, who has spoken candidly about her experiences with weight fluctuations during the pandemic and the changes brought on by motherhood, has long rejected outside narratives about her body. At Manchester Pride in 2024, she responded to detractors with humor, wearing a shirt that read “Skinny” in an optical illusion font, a wink at those policing her appearance.
“Everyone’s human,” she said in a recent interview, acknowledging the scrutiny while emphasizing her comfort in her own skin.
For many fans, the viral moment underscored a larger cultural shift. Where performers once faced unforgiving standards, Furtado’s confidence was read as a declaration of resilience and authenticity. “She looks better than ever—free and real,” one user commented on TikTok.
The singer’s reinvention extends well beyond image. Furtado has spoken about her ADHD diagnosis, her renewed creative drive, and her perspective as a mother. Onstage, whether revisiting hits from “Whoa, Nelly!” or “Loose” or debuting new material, she performs with the assurance of an artist no longer chasing approval.
The viral footage reframed her tour not as nostalgia, but as testimony to her endurance. At a time when social media amplifies both celebration and critique, Furtado appears to be thriving on her own terms—better than ever.