Breaking her silence on the relentless scrutiny of her aesthetic, global pop icon and Wicked star Ariana Grande has issued a firm defence of her current appearance, specifically targeting the 'dangerous' culture of unsolicited physical commentary.
Following months of intense social media speculation regarding her facial features and weight, Grande, 32, used a new Vogue 'Life in Looks' segment and a joint interview with Erivo to address the 'beauty police.'
She specifically focused on her eyebrows, which have evolved from the high arches of her Victorious era to a straighter, more lifted silhouette.
Responding to critics who have branded her new look as 'uncanny' or 'surprised,' Grande stated bluntly: 'I know you don't, but I love them.' She further explained that her relationship with makeup has shifted from a 'disguise' to a form of self-expression, citing the 'Glinda effect' from her time filming Wicked as a catalyst for her lighter, more 'honest' aesthetic.
The latest remarks were published on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, following a high-profile appearance at the Golden Globes earlier this month. The comments were made during a sit-down in New York City and shared globally across Vogue's digital platforms.
Grande's rebuttal comes at a time of significant professional turbulence. While she has been praised for her performance as Glinda, the recent 2026 Oscar nominations saw a total shutout for Wicked: For Good, a snub that fans have partially attributed to the 'distracting' nature of the public's obsession with the stars' appearances.
Grande teared up during the interview as she described being a 'specimen in a petri dish' since the age of 17, asserting that society has developed a 'comfortability' with commenting on others' health and faces that is 'dangerous for all parties involved.'
The Evolution of the 'Glinda' Brow
The primary target for online 'eyebrow police' has been the star's departure from her signature 2016 look. In her Vogue feature, Grande explained that her current straight-brow style is an intentional choice influenced by the 'Aegyo-sal' aesthetic and her character in Wicked. She admitted that while she used to use 'thick eyeliner and heavy creases' to hide, she now embraces a 'clean girl' look that prioritises her natural features.
'I've heard every version of what's wrong with me,' she noted, 'And then you fix it, and then it's wrong for different reasons.' By choosing to keep the blonde, lifted brows long after filming concluded, Grande is asserting autonomy over her image, even as critics at the Golden Globes suggested the look gave her a 'perpetually worried' expression. For the singer, the brows are a symbol of her 'resilience' and her refusal to cater to fleeting internet trends.
Body Positivity and the 'Unhealthiest Version'
The conversation also touched on recurring concerns about her weight. Grande reiterated her 2023 stance, reminding critics that the body they often compare her current self to, the 'healthier-looking' version from years ago, was actually her at her lowest point. She revealed that during her 'fuller' phase, she was struggling with poor nutrition and antidepressants, stating, 'That, in fact, wasn't my healthy.'
By addressing these comments, Grande is attempting to set a boundary for the next chapter of her career. As she prepares for a potential 2026 tour, which she has hinted will be 'half the size' of her previous runs to protect her mental health, her message remains clear: self-approval is the only metric that matters.
