Ariana Grande’s appearance at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards drew attention beyond her Fendi dress when a body-language expert said the singer’s altered facial styling and posture signaled a shift away from the Glinda character she has embodied while promoting Wicked.
Casino.ca analyst Judi James told the Daily Mail that Grande’s VMAs red-carpet look — a custom black-and-white polka-dot Fendi dress with a sweetheart neckline and a central pink ruffle, paired with her signature slicked-back ponytail and ethereal makeup — included a subtle change in eyebrow shape that, she said, suggested the 32-year-old artist was shedding some of the wide-eyed, vulnerable qualities associated with her Wicked role.
"Ariana just silently announced something important [with her VMAs] red carpet appearance," James said. "One signature look of her Wicked character was the way her eyebrows were shaped into a steeple in the middle, making her look wide-eyed, innocent and fawn-like. Tonight, they seemed to have been growing back into a less pronounced peak, making her lose some of that aura of vulnerability." James also described moments of a more "flirty" and "confident" bearing as Grande posed on the carpet.
The remarks come as Grande has been balancing a busy slate of projects that include both acting and a return to live music. Late last month she announced the Eternal Sunshine tour, her first in seven years, which will open in nine major North American cities before an overseas run that includes a five-night residency in London. She is also in production on the film Meet the Parents 4 and is scheduled to appear in Wicked: For Good, the follow-up to the hit movie adaptation, which is slated for release Nov. 21, 2025. Grande was also recently cast in a film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
Grande has publicly discussed shifting priorities in recent years. In an interview with Variety last year, she said a tour was not on the horizon at the time because of her focus on acting, adding, "I feel so grateful to the acting, and I think my fans know that music and being on stage will always be a part of my life, but I don't see it coming anytime soon." On Instagram in July, she addressed fan concerns about abandoning music more directly, writing, "Very silly of you all to assume that just because I have my hands full with many things that I plan to abandon singing and music…!!!" She added that music has always been her "lifeline" and said she was "finding a balance" between projects while "working on a plan to sing for you all next year. Even if it's just for a little."
Observers noted that nonverbal cues at a high-profile event like the VMAs can be interpreted in different ways, and James framed her analysis as an interpretation of Grande’s visual presentation and body language. Grande’s announced tour and ongoing film commitments provide concrete indications of how she is dividing her time between music and acting going forward. Fans and industry observers will watch forthcoming performances and releases to see how those choices are reflected in her artistic direction and public image.