Willow Smith [1] totally embodied the punk-pop artist she has grown into at Reading Festival on 28 Aug., and her beauty look was one for the festival hall of fame. The "Wait a Minute!" singer has never been afraid to experiment with her look, from buzz cuts [2] to bold lipstick [3], and rocked that edgy style in the form of tooth gems [4], a deep silver metallic mani, and visible armpit hair at the music festival.
The daughter of Will Smith [5] and Jada Pinkett Smith [6] is unapologetically herself, and so she should be. While Willow raising her tattoo-covered arms [7] to reveal armpit hair might seem like a statement to make a stand against the societal pressures of beauty standards, it's actually not. The 21-year-old has been letting her armpit hair grow for a few years simply because it's easier. In a 2017 Instagram post [8], she revealed there was no complex thought process behind the decision at all. Plus, in a 2018 episode of "Red Table Talk", the singer explained to her mother and grandmother [9]: "I mean I didn't really make the decision not to shave, I just kind of didn't shave. It takes too much time. I just want to get in the shower and get out of the shower. . . . I'm going to be like my ancestors and just do what I need to do."
The artist — who joined a star-studded lineup including the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me the Horizon, Halsey, and The 1975 spread across the weekend — also has a penchant for tooth jewellery. After regularly showing glimpses of her glittering smile (whether that's down to gems or grillz) on Instagram [10], it's clear that the star loves to decorate her teeth — and we're here for it.
Rocking out behind her guitar, Smith was dressed in a tartan miniskirt, a ripped white tank top with flannel detailing, black knee-high socks and Converse, a woolly hat, and '70s-style aviator sunglasses. Topping off the emo aesthetic with colourful beaded jewellery, Smith looked at ease on the stage as she performed in front of thousands. As a punk-pop muse, Smith's refreshing take on body hair makes for a rockstar role model. Ahead, see her Reading Festival look.