Is Hwasa’s outfit on “Knowing Bros” an homage to Britney Spears?
On the September 9th special episode of JTBC’s “Bros,” Hwasa brought a special performance of “I Love My Body,” wearing a school uniform.
Hwasa wrapped the blouse under her chest like a bralette, wore a gray cardigan over it, and donned a navy blue pleated miniskirt as the bottom. She completed the look with gray knee-high stockings and Mary Jane-style high heels. Her hair, styled in a ponytail, was adorned with a hair accessory reminiscent of cotton candy, capturing everyone’s attention.
Some criticized Hwasa’s outfit as “school uniform sexualization,” but the majority of netizens praised her fashion and performance. In particular, a foreign fan commented, “Hwasa looks like Britney Spears.”
The outfit mentioned by this fan is the one Britney Spears wore during her 1999 performance of the song “Baby One More Time.”
At the time of the song’s release, Spears, who was only 16 years old, came up with the idea for the outfit herself, which initially received criticism for being provocative. However, “Baby One More Time” became Spears’ iconic hit.
The American TV series “Glee,” which aired in 2010, remade Spears’ song and covered her uniform outfit.
When American singer Anne-Marie released the music video for “2002,” a nostalgic tribute to her childhood, she wore an outfit reminiscent of Spears’ look. Additionally, the song’s chorus included a reference to the outfit and created a buzz.
In 2021, Tyra Banks made headlines by referencing the outfit when she appeared on “Dancing with the Stars.” She wore a longer skirt and added a dress-like touch, wearing sparkling underwear inside the blouse, which caught people’s attention.
Hwasa has faced controversy several times over her performances. According to the police on September 10th, the Seoul Seongdong Police Station reportedly summoned Hwasa as a witness at the end of last month to inquire about the intentions and background of her performances.
